Project Zero - South Africa

[flatfourfan]

Hi guys, Gary from south africa here, I thought that I'd stop lurking and post pictures on my current project, while I can't even hope to compete on the same level as many of the man caves here, my challenge is to get a usable space that's free of clutter and that's clean. To top it off, I have enough **** lying around to finish this without it costing me anything. Hence the name project zero.

This is where I was............

The garage itself is an ok size by local standards, but I've only just got it clean enough to start some work on my pet projects, One being my Speedster and the other being tinkering around with guitars and amps.

My explorer that I gutted down and built up and hot rodded to get it feeling better.

My current half stack project, also looking and building a 100 watt solid state amp head for it.

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I also skateboard, hence me having a tonne of wood that I am able to use on this project as I pulled my ramp down, because at my age, I can't risk breaking any more bones and being out of action. So she's came down.

Currently I've used some wood from the ramp to build a new 6meter long bench. Lick of paint to get her looking ok.

Will be updating in the next few weeks once I have some improvements done.

 

[JSBriggs]

I'm anxious to see this come together! While I'm sad to see the ramp come down, but I understand about the temptation, and the risk of injury. Pretty cool that its being repurposed as a bench though.

-Jeff

 

[canuckian]

Good luck on the reorganization. Please tell us more on the car!!!

 

[flatfourfan]

I'm anxious to see this come together! While I'm sad to see the ramp come down, but I understand about the temptation, and the risk of injury. Pretty cool that its being repurposed as a bench though.

-Jeff

Well the ramp is being used as a bench and about another 30 odd wood working projects. I really loved the ramp, but after a few serious bails, it was only a matter of time before I really got hurt. At 38 I can't handle the down time.

Good luck on the reorganization. Please tell us more on the car!!!

The car is a 1956 speedster (yeah it's a porsche replica). Built on a beetle pan and has had pretty much the works down at this stage. 2.0 loaner motor from my engine builder while he's working on mine. flat four type 4 motor with a lot of grunt, nice when the car weighs 750kgs.....dunno what that is in lbs.........times by 2.2 I think. built up running gear, brakes, transmission. About to actually get a respray after I've done some relocating as well as laying out of badges.

 

[WhatThaFrig]

Im also a flat4 fan. Of the Subaru variety.Dismantling of that ramp made me sad!

 

[turbo-systems]

Flat fours should rule the world!

 

[Bib Overalls]

Zero expense? No way I could pull that off. A challenge for sure. Keep the pictures coming.

 

[Grizz1963]

Cool proect, and even cooler car.

As a South African, living in the UK..... I just have to let you guys out there in the internet world know that in South Africa , stuff has a monetary value all the way down the re-purposing slope.

So building something for nothing is much more difficult than in other more wastefull and affluent areas of the world.

Here is a thread I run on Retrorides on "Skip finds"

http://www.retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=othrmod&action=display&thread=89875

And of course my second teardrop build, getting given a smart caravan to break up for spares, for FREE would be less common in Africa.

Thread here.

http://www.retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=othrmod&action=display&thread=112952

So what I am saying is that FFF is doing more than just working a miracle here.

I will be watching this one unfold.

 

[sarel.wagner]

Welcome brother Please post frequently..... and pictures too.

Rgrds

 

[flatfourfan]

Cool proect, and even cooler car.

As a South African, living in the UK..... I just have to let you guys out there in the internet world know that in South Africa , stuff has a monetary value all the way down the re-purposing slope.

So building something for nothing is much more difficult than in other more wastefull and affluent areas of the world.

Here is a thread I run on Retrorides on "Skip finds"

http://www.retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=othrmod&action=display&thread=89875

And of course my second teardrop build, getting given a smart caravan to break up for spares, for FREE would be less common in Africa.

Thread here.

http://www.retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=othrmod&action=display&thread=112952

So what I am saying is that FFF is doing more than just working a miracle here.

I will be watching this one unfold.

Ahhh, glad to see that you found my thread. Yup, locally it's a waste not society as you may know, pretty much anything can be used again in some shape or form. I got that vibe from the first time I read your thread about the skip travels and man I wish that locally, people would chuck that kinda **** out.

I've been hording for the better part of about 7 years for projects that I'll be doing down the line. Now the day has finally arrived to start building something.

Hopefully this weekend I can finish the "wall 'o tools" and start on my storage bins. I'm going to be tearing down my steel work bench and I've organised a possible trade with a buddy for 16 heavy duty castor wheels for my storage bins if he can hook me up with his mate, more details on the plans by the weekend.

Now, I'm gonna have a look at the threads that you posted Grizz..........ps, loving the braai btw....

 

[flatfourfan]

Welcome brother Please post frequently..... and pictures too.

Rgrds

aaaaaaaah cheers bud.will do.

 

[Grizz1963]

Ahhh, glad to see that you found my thread. Yup, locally it's a waste not society as you may know, pretty much anything can be used again in some shape or form. I got that vibe from the first time I read your thread about the skip travels and man I wish that locally, people would chuck that kinda **** out.

I've been hording for the better part of about 7 years for projects that I'll be doing down the line. Now the day has finally arrived to start building something.

Hopefully this weekend I can finish the "wall 'o tools" and start on my storage bins. I'm going to be tearing down my steel work bench and I've organised a trade with a buddy for 16 heavy duty castor wheels for my storage bins, more details on the plans by the weekend.

Now, I'm gonna have a look at the threads that you posted Grizz..........ps, loving the braai btw....

Boet, I must say, the guys on Retro Rides will love your car.

Please do post up a story there.

Your skate park will be appreciated, along with the garage modifications.

If you look further down the "Readers Other Modifications" I think page 2 the thread on the Grizz-Pod caravan I built should make you smile as well, as there is loads of recycling and cheap solutions in there.

Keep the reports coming, everyone learns a bit over here.

 

[morfmedia]

Looks interesting and sweet car. Keep up the modifications

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Actually the type of shop I prefer, as long as nothing can fall on the car...

 

[flatfourfan]

So we have an update, not a huge one as we had band practice yesterday, so garage time was cut short to few hours, but that allowed me to get the last of the bench top done as well as get a start on the splash back that I've decided will go on the back. Because my wall is exposed brick, it's very uneven, so sometimes, small screws and drills fall in the back, so a splash back should sort that problem out.

Also did a great trade this weekend, I decided to get rid of my old work bench and I was sitting with it for 2 weeks that no-one wanted a solid steel work bench for FREE. So I took a buddies advice and decided to sell it.........lol. That didn't happen, so I contacted my local pawn shop as he's always looking for tools and whatnot, so he says he wants my bench and will do me a trade, a lump of old steel angle iron and brand new 16 castor wheels. Worth about $150 for the lot. Funny how you can't give something away, but someone will either buy it or trade it.

In case you're wondering why I didn't keep the bench, it was too low, rusted as snot and heavy as hell. It's teh table behind the guitar and the a-frames.

I managed to pull apart the steel and drill it and prime and paint and now it's the edge on my bench top. I did it in a contrasting black to set off the grey a bit, it's also now that I decided my colour scheme for the garage, grey benches, tops and shelves, handles, edges done in black matt and gloss and the floor will be grey epoxy with black particles in it.

 

[flatfourfan]

The plan for the castors is to make 4 pull out benches that will slot under the main bench, 1 will just be a tub where I'll keep my cut off saw, my welder and other random big items in. The other will have drawers for power tools. The other smaller drawers for whatnots and the last will be a base with castors that will allow me to put 3 storage buckets on top. All will have table tops on, so that I'll be able to increase working space in the garage and yet have it able to fold away in a few minutes.

In case you're wondering all screws, nails etc were all reclaimed from my ramp that was pulled down.

I also have 45 of these formula tins, I'm sure that they can be used for storage of sorts, waste not want not. 13 of them are full with nails and screws. Some drywall, some galvanized and the rest just ****** expensive, I used 7500 all told on my ramp.

The bench vice being stripped down, I could of just used stripper, but I don't have any spare lying around, so I'll have to wire wheel it and maybe pull out the grinder.

My handles for the doors and drawers will all be black painted 10mm round bar............total spent so far.......still zero.

 

[Grizz1963]

Ek smaak die plan stukkend !!

N Boer maak beslis n plan.

For the non linguists.... I jsut mentioned that I love what he is doing.

Also that as his waste not want not ethos translates into pretty much making a plan and sorting stuff out as you go along.

I like the description of your contents in the tins.

People often ask me why I have a tin full of old pallet and used nails.... then I point them at the 450mm of railway line at the garage entrance.... best anvil if you do not have an anvil, and along with a gentle hand and hammer (weird words to have in one sentence) I show them how easy it is to straigten even a 6 inch nail and use it again.

 

[flatfourfan]

Oi Vey, had some drama this weekend. Took down 3 old sections of my ramp to now only have the platform frame remaining. I started with the cupboards for the top that will run the entire stretch of the garage, about 8 meters, only to find.........majority of the 18mm plywood is warped. I made one cabinet out of the stuff only to find out that the top and bottom strips are way bent and makes it look way hick. Simple solution, make a trim panel on the top and bottom from 6mm plywood that will run the whole length of the panel and make it appear to be straighter than it is already.

STay tuned for pics.

 

[flatfourfan]

SO I had an hour today, so I was able to do some work and snap some pics. I should have the worst of the worst done by the end of the weekend which will include finishing another 3 shelves as well as hanging the last of my certificates, photos from previous awards from cars that I've owned, as well as building another cabinet to hold the rest of my reclaimed baby formula cans that I finally found a use for.

Laid them on their side and wrote was on them in black pen, simple and at least this way I know what's inside. I went through 4 large bins today and sorted out screws, nails and whatnot, I also found a box of stuff that I thought that I had lost.

Ignore the warping bent shelves, that shelve has not yet been attached to the steel black angle iron that will straighten it out.......the lower one already has it done.

This part of the bench should be cleared tomorrow as well as the cupboards and shelves built and fitted.

Also have to make some sort of plan with the stereo and the wall mounts fr the speakers, man there is so much work still to do, but I'm getting there.

I got an order today for 3 banjo steering wheel frames so the garage needs to be sorted so that I can get to work. I have to at least get the work bench cleared by the end of tomorrow.

Total money spent so far,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,still zero.

 

[Krokodil]

Just saw this thread now. Good progress there, fellow Saffa!

 

[flatfourfan]

Whoa I aint updated this in a while.....well we had some issues/ problems or as our local government officals like to call challenges. aka, big problems.

Firstly work on the garage stopped as I had to get started on the speedster. We're going from aircooled to watercooled which is no easy task, but it's a fun project. The nose was trimmed and the floor cut away to make the radiator mount bracket and next is the scoop. After that is fibreglass time and boxing it all in, out back is a 2.0 upright 4 cylinder golf 8v motor, being chosen due to cheap parts, nice power and damn near bullet proof reliability, may offend the purists, but it's a replica, so I'm not too phased. Plus once the bumper is on, you won't be able to see anything.

Then once that ball got rolling, my builder informed me that I have to remove the last of the ramp behind my garage and make space for when they start digging for the foundation for my music room. So I had to move a crud load of lumber and steel and pronto. So my daughter has been whining for a garden play house, so work started with welding up the base and laid down a heap of wooden beams for the floor, yes it's a bit overkill, but it was either use it for this, or burn it. SO the base of the play cottage will be 2.5 inches thick....lol......at least I know that she won't be able to break it.

The floor needs to be planed as well as the wall beams put into place so that I can put on my roof trusses and covering. Total cost of this set up? ZERO, this is being used from my garage fund, even the glass for the windows is coming from my stash. I should be done with this by next weekend. Then I can start work on my work bench and get the welding out of the way so that I can clad it. and then also kill my router table and make the whole lot mobile.

Total cost........still zero.

 

[Red Leader]

Nice garage and car - looks really fun. You are also doing things I really enjoy too - woodworking and guitar playing/building.

Is that vise home made?

 

[Krokodil]

Nice progress!

 

[flatfourfan]

Nice garage and car - looks really fun. You are also doing things I really enjoy too - woodworking and guitar playing/building.

Is that vise home made?

It's hard not to let the two overlap......I've built 2 guitars already and I'm about to do another.

Yup, she's home made. Not by me though.

 

[flatfourfan]

Nice progress!

cheers, hopefully I can get the garage done in the next few weeks.

 

[automobiliben]

Sweet car!

 

[Red Leader]

Any pictures of the guitars you built? Would love to see them!

 

[Racer-X]

Any updates?

 

[flatfourfan]

oh wow, I've been so caught up in everything going on that I totally forgot about this.

My garage is 2ft under car parts at the moment and has been that way for the last few months while I've been sorting out my speedster. Good news though is that we're almost ready to have it back on the road. 2 days work and then the engine can go in. I still have zero invested in my garage.

I finished my kids dollhouse for the garden with the exception of glass for the windows and a stair. Total cost on that was 1 bucket of green roof paint, everything else was wood left over from my ramp as well as screws and varnish etc.

I have some speakers for my garage as well as a **** load of wood that needs to be used in one way or another. So I'm still pottering on. Hopefully get around to two new work benches for the garage in the next month or so once I get the car sorted out.

 

[flatfourfan]

Will be starting operation put parts on car this weekend and will be able to gauge just what a crappy state my garage has been left in over the last few months.

I did however come across my next project. I'm planning a mobile welding table as well as a place to store my off cuts and steel beams.

This is pretty much the last of my ramp that's left over steel wise, so it'll be clean up time and then fab time.

Only surface rust, nothing serious. Plans will call for a few drawers on the one side, castors as well as tonnes of packing place. Final size will be about 4m x 1.5m, also being able to move it outside on nice days. This will go in front of my speedster.

 

[flatfourfan]

Well project zero is moving on, albeit in a different location.

Yup, we moved.

I stripped and gutted what I could from the old place and moved most of it over to the new place.

It's narrower, but it's still a good usable space. Plus I have my music/ jam room behind it.

Time to clean up a bit and snap some pics of what I've made for the garage.

Price...........still zero. The previous owner left a lot of wood scraps lying around for me to use and abuse.