Between 705 & 1200 SQ/FT My Mini Garagemahal

[Metallitubby]

Nice! Borbets and all, classic, its silly how those things have appreciated in recent years.

When I sold it, it had a special set of OZ Superturismos (aka not white). This was 1999 after all.

 

[fouckhest]

When I sold it, it had a special set of OZ Superturismos (aka not white). This was 1999 after all.

I am all for some period correct love! lol, I had an mk1 with borbet type A for a brief moment in time...looking back, I really wish I had kept that car.

1984 GTi Rabbit 007 by fouckhest, on Flickr

 

[Metallitubby]

mk1 with borbet type A

Westy with euro bumpers.

headasplode.gif

 

[Metal-Marc]

Nope. I sold it to a guy that lived in Maine, but now lives in California. Vortex did an article about the car during the sale, since at the time I was dating the author/writer and Vortex moderator.

VWvortex Feature Car: 1996 Golf Harlequin VR6

www.vwvortex.com

*They give me a shout out at the very end of the article in case you were wondering what my real name is.

Mike? You're Mike? Nice to meet you Mike.

 

[Metallitubby]

Mike? You're Mike? Nice to meet you Mike.

Sure.

 

[fouckhest]

Westy with euro bumpers.

headasplode.gif

Lol, I actually traded my e30 for that car straight up, drove it for maybe 6months and then sold it for my b5 avant, another car I wish I never sold...but it had to go to fund my r32 lol

 

[Metallitubby]

Lol, I actually traded my e30 for that car straight up, drove it for maybe 6months and then sold it for my b5 avant, another car I wish I never sold...but it had to go to fund my r32 lol

Trading up. Nothing wrong with that!

 

[Trapps]

When I sold it, it had a special set of OZ Superturismos (aka not white). This was 1999 after all.

Great looking wheels. In about 2001 I imported a set of them from the UK for a Contour; I loved them until I found a set of BBS RX.

 

[Evtron]

I remember that Harlequin from my Vortex days. One of my all time favorite MKIIIs!

 

[Metallitubby]

In about 2001 I imported a set of them from the UK

This is what I did as well. MSW had their version (still made by OZ), but I was a stickler for the OZ lettering on the silver wheel at the time. Nowadays, I could just print/cut them out of vinyl!

 

[fouckhest]

Found a little free time today and painted the brick wall where the garage attaches to the house, I think it was a good change, hopefully can get my dry erase board mounted on the left has side tomo or one night this week

https://flic.kr/p/2mQaxEo

 

[sublue99]

This is a great build thread. It took me 3 hours to read every word today. Thanks for sharing.
I worked on and owned VW’s from 1983 to 2008. Now I’m a Subaru guy. Ha Ha.

 

[Metallitubby]

@fouckhest , I ended up borrowing your idea for the illuminated duplex receptacle covers. I only used two in my shop, but they make such a difference. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[fouckhest]

This is a great build thread. It took me 3 hours to read every word today. Thanks for sharing.
I worked on and owned VW’s from 1983 to 2008. Now I’m a Subaru guy. Ha Ha.

Thanks for following along!

@fouckhest , I ended up borrowing your idea for the illuminated duplex receptacle covers. I only used two in my shop, but they make such a difference. Thanks for the heads up!

Awesome, they are pricey, but really worth every penny IMO!

 

[Metallitubby]

Awesome, they are pricey, but really worth every penny IMO!

Home Despot has them for $7/each now. I had to trim the duplex openings due to poor quality control, but that's to be expected from Chinese ****.

 

[MrPink]

Looks good, I am not an OG Vortex member by any means, but I have been around VW's since 2005ish, when I bought my first TDI. I have had plenty of them over the years and then got into muscle cars again after working at a local vw/audi place for 10yrs or so. I'd love to find a mk4 vr6 wagon, but my ever-growing family won't fit in one lol

 

[Metallitubby]

I'd love to find a mk4 vr6 wagon, but my ever-growing family won't fit in one lol

Now there's a car you don't see anymore.

 

[MrPink]

Now there's a car you don't see anymore.

Yep, I found a few over the years. Most were silver w/ black interior or the dark green w/ tan interior, 99% of them were GLX trim levels so leather, sunroof, etc... Since my family is decent size(Wife and 2 girls under the age of 10, 70lbs pit bull, and a 35lbs lab mix) and we camp a ton, I don't foresee me getting a mk4 wagon(unless it is strictly a project vehicle). We've been looking at suburbans w/3rd row to replace my Jeep.

I have a decent amount of the VW specialty tools still and a few rare-ish parts(mk4 non a/c heater panel from Europe), and a bunch of ALH parts.

 

[Metallitubby]

I have a decent amount of the VW specialty tools still

Me too. Who knows when I'll need to lock VR6 cam gears in-time in the near future!

 

[fouckhest]

Not an overwhelming garage progress weekend, but did get my MrCool mini-split installed. Got started on Friday, in my fashion I wanted it specifically on the wall which is the existing house. All that being said, this meant I had to cut holes in 6 floor joists (I think) for the power/refrigerant/drain lines, yeah, that took longer than expected. But got it all finished up yesterday in the afternoon, downloaded the app and we were off to the races.

Oh yeah, also got my dry erase board install, lol....Spent today getting my r32 closer to being ready to put back to stock, hoping it goes away early January, then I can start the lift install, get the widebody car out from under the house and start on my storage/parts room buildout!

Mini split by fouckhest, on Flickr
Mini split by fouckhest, on Flickr

Outdoor unit placed under the end of the shed roof to keep it out of the elements (need to clean up the sprayfoam)
Mini split by fouckhest, on Flickr

Dry erase board
Mini split by fouckhest, on Flickr

 

[jbrentd]

Good work! You'll have to let us know how the mini split performs. What size did you go with?

 

[fouckhest]

Thanks

I went with a 12k unit, it is “technically” a bit undersized, but we have mild winters and my back yard/garage is relatively shaded in the summer, so I expect once I have ceiling insulation it will be more than sufficient to take the chill off in the winter and take the humidity out of the air in the summer

 

[Metallitubby]

It's really starting to come together now.

 

[fouckhest]

Yup! Excited to get some trim installed and then get the lift out there....a little scared that is going to make it feel small

 

[Metal-Marc]

AC in the garage during summer time is priceless.

 

[Metallitubby]

get the lift out there....a little scared that is going to make it feel small

Feeling small and actually being small are two totally different things though. Just as long as it meets your needs/wants at this point. Don't sweat the perceptions.

 

[Jagmandave]

Yep, waiting for the lift install too, for the same reasons as you said. In my shop design I had my lift installed sideways rather than straight on from the garage door. I figure yours will be easier to get on/off, but then I'm working with 10ft long cars. I also had my scissor lift further in and a straight drive on. Your cars are a little bigger than the classic Minis and Sprites I work on so your design may work better for you....but it does seem to take out more space - we'll see.

I agree A/C and heat in the garage are an absolute must. I think our climate is a little more extreme than yours, so I went with a unit about twice the capacity, but it really does the trick when I need it. Taking out the humidity on a hot muggy summer day is a godsend!

I've forgotten, is there a man door between the old shop and the new one or is the garage door the only way in/out from the future "parts warehouse"?

 

[fouckhest]

I've forgotten, is there a man door between the old shop and the new one or is the garage door the only way in/out from the future "parts warehouse"?

The brown garage door is currently the only way in/out, however, I plan to build a pair of bi-fold doors that will allow for an easier way in/out of the new shop. Also, the current garage door limits the opening of the people door that goes to the outside to get to my shed.

 

[ScottyG]

Great Progress! I missed the updates on Vortex (Vr6en), forgot to come here and check it out.

 

[fouckhest]

Great Progress! I missed the updates on Vortex (Vr6en), forgot to come here and check it out.

Thanks man appreciate it!

 

[fouckhest]

Had a semi-productive/big weekend....couple things happened.

1.) The buyer/middle man came to pickup my R32 that I parted out to fund finishing my garage. Not only got rid of the shell, but also cleared out some other parts that have been collecting dust for years.

2.) Since the blue car was gone, Sunday I spent some time putting up some garage art. Seemed like a fun little project that would allow me to feel a little sense of accomplishment. Also got the tool box rolled out into the new shop, which took entirely too long b/c it was nasty, so I had to clean out/off the top, then clean all the stainless and the drawer handles.

All-in-all, Its feeling a bit more like a garage. I took today off, for a reason that feel through and decided to utilize the afternoon to get some more garage work/moving/organization done.

Photos from the weekend....
Wall Art
Untitled by fouckhest, on Flickr

License plate wall
Untitled by fouckhest, on Flickr

Tool box all cleaned up
Untitled by fouckhest, on Flickr

 

[Klokwerk]

Coming along nicely! I struggle with wall art in the garage. I think it's because I've always had so little room and the walls get used for storage.
And oh the vdub memory bus....sold or traded up from all of mine. Honestly , the only one I really miss is this one:

 

[fouckhest]

Coming along nicely! I struggle with wall art in the garage. I think it's because I've always had so little room and the walls get used for storage.
And oh the vdub memory bus....sold or traded up from all of mine. Honestly , the only one I really miss is this one:

I've still got a couple, but the one that just went away is hopefully getting replaced with a Porsche, we shall see!

 

[jeepster1407]

Awesome garage @fouckhest Cant wait to see it when you fill it with tools.

 

[Jagmandave]

Do you have the lift up and operating? That would be my priority over wall art....

 

[fouckhest]

Do you have the lift up and operating? That would be my priority over wall art....

Not yet - the wall art was a small project I could take on solo with a limited free time window. Getting the lift stood up is a two man job at a minimum

Not to worry, it’s getting pretty hit on the priority list at this point

 

[fouckhest]

Been chipping away at moving things into the new space while cleaning, organizing and rationalizing/trashing things as needed. A Big part of this has been working towards getting the existing house basement converted into a semi-livable space for the dogs to be able to stay during the day and when I'm in the shop the misses can come hang/relax.

Spent some time Saturday building a TV stand out of black iron pipe, then Sunday spent some time moving welders and my welding table. Its amazing how much "stuff" gathers, but I love a good shop cleanup! lol

TV Stand
Untitled by fouckhest, on Flickr
Untitled by fouckhest, on Flickr
Untitled by fouckhest, on Flickr


New space slowing shaping up, hoping to get the lift post stood up this coming weekend so I can finally get them painted.

Metal working/corner, plan will be to build dollies for the belt sander and band saw so they can be rolled in/out for easy use

Untitled by fouckhest, on Flickr

Workbench corner, thinking I will eventually move the press over to the right side of the toolbox or over on the other side of my welding table, TBD...I really need to upgrade my drill press to a stand alone unit, but I want a nice variable speed, they seem to be hard to come by second hand

Untitled by fouckhest, on Flickr

 

[Trapps]

The used drill press market is bizarre. I've been looking for probably 3 years now. I found a used Rikon 30-120 in pretty good condition and bought it just to have while I continue the search. I was skeptical and really didn't want a made in China DP. However, as a heavier benchtop model, it's performed well enough for my needs - 85% wood / 15% metal. Still, the search for a unicorn continues...

Your shop is looking great - so bright!!!

 

[fouckhest]

The used drill press market is bizarre.

Your shop is looking great - so bright!!!

It really is, I helped a buddy pickup an old delta from a guy that was selling off his fathers old wood shop, no clue why he had that nice of a drill press for wood working, but he certainly made out on the deal.

Thanks, its awesome out there when its all lit up lol

 

[jeepster1407]

Your new shop has turned out fantastic. I really like the tin you added to the lower portion of the walls.