Need light fixture recommendations please

[rocketjudge]

Building a new 36' X 40' X 12'6" H 3 bay garage for car collection. I'm thinking about having 4 - 4 light florescent T-8 fixtures along each side of the middle bay to light both sides of the car in the middle and 4 - 2 light fixtures on the wall sides to light the walls and the sides of the vehicles. On the back wall, I planned to have 3 or 4 2 light fixtures as that will be the general woodworking and work bench area. Do you think I'm on the right track with this setup?
What T-8 lighting fixtures do you recommend?
Should the fixtures be ceiling mounted or suspended down and if suspended, how much do you think?
Any thoughts on the type of light bulbs I should use?

Thanks for everyone's input which I appreciate.

 

[Steroblan]

I have a very similar install as a comparisson, I just installed lighting in my 30' x 48' x 14' H. I put 3-6 light flourescent T8 fixtures with 32W 6500K bulbsalong each side of the middle of three bays on the right side. They were marginal as far as enough detail light but I have not yet installed my side lighting over the work benches. So I bought 2-6 bulb T5 fixtures with 54 watt 6500K bulbs for the remaining bay and wow what a difference. I wish I would have gone with the T5 to begin with. The lumen output from the T5 is about 80% higher.
Here is a link to the T5 fixtures I got. They recommend mounting with 8" clearance.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...t-High-Bay-IBZ-654/203629843#customer_reviews

 

[Steroblan]

Here is the link to the T8 fixtures I got. They are USA made.

http://www.greenelectricalsupply.co...h-ballast-factor-fluorescent-t8-high-bay.aspx

 

[rocketjudge]

Thanks Sterobian. The T-5's are much brighter but also much costlier ( I know, you get what you pay for) but it's substantial. Most of the research I've done indicate most people get by with the T8's and it's a big improvement over the old T12's for sure. Nevertheless, I'll think about going with the T5's.
I'm not going to be doing much mechanical work on the cars, just really displaying them for the most part and any detail work will probably be along the back wall. I may spring for T5's there.
Did you suspend your lights any or mount on the wall? That should make a big difference I would think.

 

[Steroblan]

I suspended the T5 lights 8 inches as recommended. I hung the T8's directly from the rafters. The T5's were only $22 more ea. but alot more bang for the buck.

 

[ghiradelli777]

do you have reflectors?