Above 1200 Sq/FT Rebuilt after a small gas leak

[Jo Diesel]

Barn started out as a 32x60 12' eves, the biggest I could go with the money I had. I had just painted and put a brand new Boss V plow on this truck I bought. Took it to town and plowed for a while, filled both tanks with fuel and parked it in barn. Two hours later this is what happened.

Kid I bought it from said he never had put fuel in right fuel tank. Had a small hole in it.

 

[jhn9840]

Holy Cow. I hope no one was injured or worse. The shop can always be replaced.

jhn9840
John

 

[Jo Diesel]

When I rebuilt it we added a 16' addition so I could bring my boat and car home in the winter. Rest of the shop was used to maintain 7 snow removal vehicles. Black TA belongs to my son. While all the walls were off we put 1/2" insulation sheet, OSB and vynal siding to match my house

Adition has 2x12's for ceiling joists with 8' rolled insulation and white steel. Side walls are 2x6 studs with rolled insulation and drywall. Floor is epoxy painted. I could see the light line on the ceiling when I was painting floor. Adition is so well insulated it takes no more heat than it did before. I did put up curtian to help main part heat faster though

 

[Jo Diesel]

No one was inside. All my other trucks were out plowing. Parked in barn at 9:30 PM. Went BOOM at 11:30 pm. Yes it woke us up.
All the steel cabinets are lateral files I bought at the MI State surplus auction. Paid $20 ea for them. They are like $100 now. They do make awsome cabinets. The blue ones that hang on the walls are just toppes for the lateral files and were $10ea. Barn is never big enough.
Black box is a tool box I bought to put on a truck I sold so it got hung on the wall and now I put antifreeze and oil in it

 

[CNGsaves]

Wow . . . guess you're "lucky" as no one was hurt, and bulk of your vehicles were out of barn when it blew up !!

Rebuilt shop looks great ! What are you doing for heat ?? Type of fuel ??

Did you ever figure out what sparked the explosion (guessing that fuel from leaking gas tank in Ford pickup created LOTS of fumes) ???

 

[Jo Diesel]

Truck is an 85 Cheby. Had 4 and 1 Bronco. If you look behind snow plow you see the wood stove. Under the truck there is a pit. Fuel leaked into pit and when the fumes got to the woodstove

 

[Jo Diesel]

One more pic of the addition

We saved the straight steel and put it on the ceiling and painted it white. Had to buy some new as there was not enough

Used the damaged steel in back half of main barn then blew 14" of insulation on it. It settled to about 10"

The back is where I am working on my 70 Dart.

Have a 16' bench with a couple of drawers, and 3 engines under it. An Enco Mill is at the end [think Bridgeport Chinese]

 

[Jo Diesel]

This is from the front of the barn looking back. The swing doors are insulated do it is easier to keep front work space warmer. The black car is my sons Cobalt SS. Stage 3 turbo puts down 300HP to the wheels on the dyno

On the other side is this work space that has cabinets that came out of MSU chemistry lab. Bought from surplus. My wife has taken this over

 

[Jo Diesel]

HERE IS MY BREW AREA. Top cabinets are 2x4's and OSB. I thought they turned out great and keeps everything looking clean. Bottom are kitchen cabinets and counter top I got from Habitat for Humanity.

To the right end is my fermenters and the window AC unit that will keep my barn at 75 when its 85 and humid as **** outside

 

[Jo Diesel]

Here is when the wife took it over to refinish the chairs for the dining room

The window AC was doing its job as it was 91 outside. The home built wood stove in the back ground [that did an awsome job] has been replaced by a furnace ad on that has UL tags to make my insurance co happy. *** holes.

 

[Jo Diesel]

Here is my brew sculptor. Not very fancy but works. No pumps all gravity.

Here is looking at the area the truck was sitting when it blew up. You can see the pit.

Hanging from the gantry crane is a batch of beer in fermenter

 

[rixtrix1]

Nice shop, version 2. Saw this on Morio's thread. Nice choice in cars, what drivetrain/suspension plans do you have for the Dart? Thanks for sharing!

 

[Jo Diesel]

I know this was a long time ago but the Dart is mini tubbed with a Torque link rear susp that I built and a 10 point cage and subframe connectors.

Single S475 turbo on a 400 Big Block. Tube front end with coil overs and disc brakes.

 

[xtremek]

It's been a hectic summer so I haven't had a chance to drop in, but I'm glad I did. That last pic is SAAWWWEETTTT.

 

[warnd]

Wow, all I can say is that you have an awesome shop and great taste. Love the work on the cars and love the brewing station. Always loved the Darts, and it looks like you have an awesome project there. Very jealous of the rotisserie and the amount of space that you have to work with.

Is that torque arm something that you fabricated? Looks like a real stout piece. I am doing the suspension work in my camaro right now and I wish I had the capability of fabricating something like that. Post more car pics!

Makes me feel pretty crappy about my tiny space now

 

[Jo Diesel]

Yes I fabricated it. As far as I know no one makes one for a Dart with an 8.8 Ford rear. Here is a pic at the back when I discovered my fuel tank no longer will work. No idea why its blurry.

 

[Jo Diesel]

Here is how the trans mount worked with the front mount for the torque link

Was working on my roll cage but my welder decided to not feed wire correct and it really pissed me off so I have taken a little break from it [6 months ] but plan on getting back at it as soon as my son and I finish an engine swap in his Mercedes 300D

 

[slimpickins]

Wow! Goes to show you can never be too careful ... and even if you are!

Glad no one was hurt! The rebuilt looks good!

Cheers!

 

[xtremek]

Haven't seen anything lately, how's it going?

 

[Jo Diesel]

Finally got my welder figured out and finished the roll cage with swing out door bars. Should meet 8.5 cert

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[Jo Diesel]

My son is building a rally car
Doner car. V8 and 5sp. Doesn't look bad but the electric system is FUBAR and front is hit harder than it looks.
Any one need 540I parts?

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[Jo Diesel]

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[Jo Diesel]

Checked the front end of my Dodge yesterday and I get to do ball joints tomorrow yippee! @$!#

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[Jo Diesel]

Built a HF style metal bender to make brackets for roll cage

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[xtremek]

Ain't much snow plowing lately, so it looks like you've been putting all that time to good use.

 

[Bigblock4406]

What's the plans for the Duster and your sons T/A? Is the Duster a 75 or 76?

 

[maddog1949]

love the brewing station.

 

[Jo Diesel]

I drive my 1976 Duster. 360 4sp. Headers and 3" Flowmasters. Makes lots of noise. My first car, had it since i was 17. Have a Paxton Supercharger for it but it needs a rebuild. Motor is already built for it.

New plans for the 540I. Carbon fiber hood cam in last week, 18" wheels, dot racing tires and lighten it up a little. Race car while working on the other one. Off to get frame straightened next week

 

[xtremek]

Who does your frame straightening?

 

[Jo Diesel]

Usually Bobs but car is not legal and we have to drive it so KP Auto Body is just down the road and they do a good job also.

 

[Jo Diesel]

Just so people don't think I don't use my shop here is the latest project. Freightliner toter home

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Sleeper is off

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[Jo Diesel]

Time to take 26" out of the frame to be the right length

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[Jo Diesel]

Welded back together and used 3x4 tubing to make a straight frame to put sleeper on

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[xtremek]

That'll be a heck of a sleeper.

 

[Jo Diesel]

Cut the hole in the back of the cab. Got the patch panels for the windows installed. Waiting for some sealant to install the frame work on the hole. Need a large inner tube to make a boot

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[xtremek]

Ok, now I'm really curious. Keep us in the loop on this.

 

[Jo Diesel]

The sleeper is on but this project is on hold

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[Jo Diesel]

Wife got me a JEEP for Christmas

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[xtremek]

The sleeper is HUGE! It looks really nice ....so far.

 

[xtremek]

Any plans for the Jeep?