Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[BB767]

Thanks for the help with my 784 Thomas, I managed to get it all apart without any damage and ready for sandblasting, much appreciated, Rhys.

Rhys is restoring an Walker 784 Roll-A-Car...



...floor jack just just like my restored one. He was having difficulty removing a couple of handle parts but managed to prevail. I'm curious how many reading here have Walkers or similar vintage floor jacks they are either restoring or have restored? That would be kind of interesting to know.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

OK, I can't stand it any longer so I have to post. I belong to another forum and one of the members there decided to post a link to this thread as he had recently paid you visit on his cross country trip. OH MY GOSH!!! I'm only at page #80 and I'm starting to look like this guy . I cannot put this down! Thomas, what you have done (at least as far as I've read) is most impressive. I thank you for sharing your trip through this transformation. I recently told my wife about this thread and remarked about the one post where you found Mr. Johnson's name tag on the lawn. She immediately choked up, as did I. This thread is one of the best reads I have ever had the pleasure of.......well, reading.......and continue to do so.

Ms. Chris, I have one more country to add to your list. Since I am "working" here right now, you can place Taiwan on your country list. I'm in Taipei but can't wait to get back to the states in a few days. As one person remarked about earlier, the camaraderie and helpfulness in this thread is second to none.

I truly look forward to reading more. Although it may be time to get a stonger pair of readers.

Take care

EDIT: I have read over twenty more pages.......words fail me. The Al Jerauld manifold.......

Hello Dan, the gentleman you speak of is Rick Soloway. He was quite taken with the shop while reading about it here so he decided to visit while on his "jaunt" about the country. I really do appreciate you taking a few minutes to share your thoughts about the shop thread. As you have read this has turned into an on-going concern which, as long as there is interest, I'll keep adding more additional material as it evolves. The final post has yet to be written.

BTW, just remember- resistance is futile.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

I think this thread in the internet world is what they call an "Epic Thread".

Chris......You and Thomas may just have to start thinking about writing a book about the life and times of the Johnson Family business and the rebirth of what was left, along with Thomas's travels in the automotive world. I think it would go over well with a lot of auto enthusiast

Chris....BTW....How many Countries and States are you guys now up to on your list? Or better yet, how many left to go? I imagine it would be way shorter to list who HASN'T checked in verses who HAS checked in. The thread read around the World !!!!!!! And almost 2 1/2 million views. Very impressive numbers.

Kevin, an "Epic Thread", now that's a new term to me but maybe it's accurate. Boy, I just never knew what I was in for when I started this. You know when I first started bringing the shop back to life, I had always thought is would make a great story and now with this thread being an integral part of that history, even more so. I need to get retired and build our new house first though.

BTW, rest assured Chris will be back with that information for you. She's been without computer access for a few days, hard as that is to believe.



Thomas

 

[BB767]

This post is for all of you who have been with me here since at least May last year, 2012...



...when I posted about purchasing and developing the farm next to the shop. You got to see in relative real time as I posted about all the cleanup...





...of the various hedge rows. The the tilling...





..and new grass seed planting...



...and finally seeing it mowed.



Areas were cleared and...





...new trees were planted.

The field was cleaned up, low spots filled in, disced and...



...planted with Alfalfa...



...which sprouted and grew.

Here then, 13 months after purchasing the farm and the beginning of all this...



..my first crop is cut...









...and then allowed to dry for a couple of days. After that it was raked into rows...



...before it was bailed.











Mission accomplished!

Thanks everyone for sticking with this expansion of the Restored 1930's Auto Shop. It didn't involve powder coating but it was still a fun project.

Thomas

 

[hobbitss]

This post is for all of you who have been with me here since at least May last year, 2012...


The field was cleaned up, low spots filled in, disced and...

...planted with Alfalfa...


...which sprouted and grew.





Mission accomplished!

Thanks everyone for sticking with this expansion of the Restored 1930's Auto Shop. It didn't involve powder coating but it was still a fun project.

Thomas

The Heliport is open for arrivals...

 

[Ferrari-lover]

How many bales did you get from the field?

 

[BB767]

How many bales did you get from the field?

1st year planted, first cutting we got 8 bales. The second cutting should be slightly more and with all the rain we're having here we should easily get a 3rd and maybe even a 4th cutting. Next year with the Alfalfa established should really be a good one for us. You wouldn't believe all the rabbits we have in that field. They were flying out of there when we were cutting! The hawks and owls are not keeping up with the food chain very well.

Nothing like the smell of fresh cut Alfalfa in the morning.

Thomas

 

[Vernmotor]

So how much is a bail like that worth ?

 

[oberst]

I grew up in Idaho, and the smell of alfalfa is one I'll never forget. It's wonderful!
(I'll never forget the smell of the sugar beet factory, either, but that's another story!)

(Hey, where's the livestock?)

(And Oy! Vey! 3500 plus miles in a Cobra. Ironman!)

 

[Kingswood]

Hello Thomas I thought i'd missed something the pond I presume is at your current residence and not at your little slice of heaven?

 

[Ferrari-lover]

Pretty good amount for a small field. Did you enjoy growing your first crop?

 

[BB767]

So how much is a bail like that worth ?

Vernmotor, price is dependent on grading standards, which can vary from state to state and which cutting the hay is from. Some Grades are Prime to Grades 1-3 with Grade 1 being higher than 2 or 3.

Prices ranged today for the upper Mid-West for 1st cutting with Prime large bales of Alfalfa Prime closing at $207.42 down to a price of Grade 3 large bails at $110.00.

So the answer to your question is...........it depends.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

I grew up in Idaho, and the smell of alfalfa is one I'll never forget. It's wonderful!
(I'll never forget the smell of the sugar beet factory, either, but that's another story!)

(Hey, where's the livestock?)

(And Oy! Vey! 3500 plus miles in a Cobra. Ironman!)

oberst, Rick's whole trip will be approximately 8,000 (12,874 km) miles when he returns home. Ironman indeed and a deaf one at that! Those pipes are loud. Ask me how I know.

Thomas

 

[patrick66]

Thomas - It has been about eight months since I last visited your amazing thread! All I can say is - you are living the dream! I have a few relatives not far from you that I intend to visit next Summer, and would really love to see your shop, if I'm not being too forward in asking! You have a great spread there. Flying airplanes, mowing hay, and restoring a very cool shop.

Good on ya!!!

 

[BB767]

Hello Thomas I thought i'd missed something the pond I presume is at your current residence and not at your little slice of heaven?

Yes it is. That will be one of the hardest things to leave behind.



It's next to our home and we wish we could just pick it up and bring it with. Here's a wider view of it earlier this spring as plants were just starting to leaf out. There are more than 15,000 lbs (6,803 kg) of boulders used on that project. In the background, one of the out-buildings, is the brick 4 car garage I built before buying the shop and home to Chris's beloved Mark VIII Lincoln.



I learned many things with it's construction which in turn were incorporated into the restoration of the old shop. One of the more important lessons learned being.........I like carports!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Pretty good amount for a small field. Did you enjoy growing your first crop?

I am soooooo proud!!!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Thomas - It has been about eight months since I last visited your amazing thread! All I can say is - you are living the dream! I have a few relatives not far from you that I intend to visit next Summer, and would really love to see your shop, if I'm not being too forward in asking! You have a great spread there. Flying airplanes, mowing hay, and restoring a very cool shop.

Good on ya!!!

8 months! Yikes, you had some catching up to do! You know you're only granted one time around so why not make the most of it? Chris and I worked awfully hard early on in our lives to be in this position and I'm doing my best to live that dream.

You are not being forward at all. By next summer with luck, I'll be knee deep in the construction of our new home so I'll be around, except for drag racing and road racing and Bonneville Speed Week of course. The welcome mat is out, just PM me with as much notice ahead of time as you can to try and coordinate it all.

Thomas

 

[charlief1]

If you time the fall cutting I'd get a bunch of guys together and have an old fashion rabbit shoot Thomas. You could have a rabbit fry afterwards along with the car club.

 

[rick8928]

oberst, Rick's whole trip will be approximately 8,000 (12,874 km) miles when he returns home. Ironman indeed and a deaf one at that! Those pipes are loud. Ask me how I know.

Thomas,

Since I'm already at 4,800 miles and still in Madison, WI, I suspect the total trip mileage will greatly exceed my initial estimate of 8,000 miles (11,000+ ??). Didn't take into account all of my meandering. "That which does not kill makes me stronger"-Nietzsche and Arnold Schwarzenegger as 'Conan the Barbarian' in the eponymous movie.

Note: I was semi-deaf before the Cobra (motorcycle racing in my younger days). Now I never drive without earplugs or molded earbuds - the exhaust is the issue at low speed, but it's the wind noise at highway (and higher ) speed.

Rick

PS. You and Peter Egan (who I met earlier this week) are kindred spirits. You two ought to meet up. He and I will both be at Elkhart Lake for the vintage races during the weekend of 20 July.

 

[markviii]

We'll be at Elkhart Lake, as well, with our San Diego racing team. I suspect I'll help out by holding an umbrella in the hot pits - last year it seemed to be close to 100 degrees, so the drivers really need the shade while they're waiting.

It's CAN-AM's 47th Anniversary, so our friend, Norm Cowdrey, will be there with his McKee "Wedge" this year.

The Corvette will be the feature car this year, so we were planning to take the '66 - don't now if that's going to happen. We'll see.

See you very soon.

Chris

P.S. As long as you're relatively close, will you be going up to Door County? It's lovely at this time of year.

 

[charlief1]

Please take plenty of pics of the wedge Chris. You don't have to post them but I'd love to have a really good 1 for my screen saver.

 

[klaus]

Rhys is restoring an Walker 784 Roll-A-Car floor jack just just like my restored one. He was having difficulty removing a couple of handle parts but managed to prevail. I'm curious how many reading here have Walkers or similar vintage floor jacks they are either restoring or have restored? That would be kind of interesting to know.

Thomas

I have a Nike 301HC I am working on.

 

[Sweet Old Bill]

I am in with two walkers & a great Blackhawk, from late 30'2 to 40's. One of these days, I will manage to get some pictures posted.

 

[Buss]

First off I would like to say that this has been one of the most interesting journeys I have ever read on the internet. I would agree with you about it being no where near it's end. You have done a wonderful job restoring everything from the jack to the tractor equipment and your attention to detail shows the craftsmanship that you put into it. It is great to see the shop being used as it was intended as well as the new additions that have made it your own. Thank you for allowing us a peek into your world.

P.S. I noticed that where the down spout would be on the carport at your current house you have a lengh of chain hanging down to what appears to be a pile of rocks. I have never seen this done and was quite curious about it. I imagine the rain flows down the chain but what then? Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks
-Craig

 

[markviii]

Thanks for joining us, Craig (Buss).
Glad you noticed our gutter chains. Some call them rain chains. Just google gutter chain and you'll find more than you might ever have wanted to know about them. We saw them in Europe.

There was no convenient or visually pleasing place to put the gutters on the brick 4-car garage, especially once we put on the "carport". The gutter chains fit the situation. The pile of stone at the bottom serves to break the fall of the water so as not to have an unsightly mud hole.

So, rick8928, looks like you'll be in Sturgis, SD, before all the motorcycle events happen August 5-11. We have a friend who has the contract to photograph the event(s) (Scott with Memory Lane Photography). Here's the link for the 73rd annual event: http://www.sturgis.com/

charlief1 - I'll veto that rabbit shoot/fry - but getting friends/cars together is still a good idea. Those bunnies are soooo cute - and it would eliminate my chance to cuss them out (in private, of course) for chewing up my tomatoes or flowers (which I kill if I do plant them because I don't pay enough attention to them, but I'd rather kill the plants myself and cuss at the rabbits).

hobbitss - no heliport (at least not until after the last harvest)! The airport is only a hop-skip-jump (5 miles) away. Tours of the toolshed are available ...by appointment...

I just heard today that the designer of the Shelby Cobra, John Chun, passed away (in Minnesota). He was 84. Here is a link to a 2011 article: http://www.herald-journal.com/archives/2011/stories/chun-designer.html

Chris

 

[rustyfords]

I learned many things with it's construction which in turn were incorporated into the restoration of the old shop. One of the more important lessons learned being.........I like carports!

Thomas

Yeah....I've gotta say that your carports have influenced the design of my upcoming shop. It'll now have two carports.

 

[charlief1]

charlief1 - I'll veto that rabbit shoot/fry - but getting friends/cars together is still a good idea. Those bunnies are soooo cute - and it would eliminate my chance to cuss them out (in private, of course) for chewing up my tomatoes or flowers (which I kill if I do plant them because I don't pay enough attention to them, but I'd rather kill the plants myself and cuss at the rabbits).

Chris

Think rabbit stew or roasted rabbit Chris. It's very tasty as well as pickled rabbit. You also get the benefit of a better harvest as well as a balanced diet.

 

[markviii]

no..no..no.....a definite NO! to roasted, stewed or anything rabbit-related.

 

[mackwrench]

Side note....I had new gutters installed on my home, and went with the "rain chains"....had a few neighbors ask whats up with the chains, I told them all they were chaining my house down for the next hurricane!

I love this tread, check it almost daily!

 

[Buss]

Thanks for the info on the rain chains. I really like the way they look and am thinking of using them to replace my failing downspouts.

Keep up the good work.

 

[Mark in Memphis]

I heard you weren't allowed to make the big round bales like that anymore! Something about a concern that cows would never get a square meal or something.

OK back to lurking...

 

[BigAl62]

I heard you weren't allowed to make the big round bales like that anymore! Something about a concern that cows would never get a square meal or something.

OK back to lurking...

That's a groaner! It sounds like something I would say and I'm upset that I didn't!!!!

 

[Vernmotor]

Vernmotor, price is dependent on grading standards, which can vary from state to state and which cutting the hay is from. Some Grades are Prime to Grades 1-3 with Grade 1 being higher than 2 or 3.

Prices ranged today for the upper Mid-West for 1st cutting with Prime large bales of Alfalfa Prime closing at $207.42 down to a price of Grade 3 large bails at $110.00.

So the answer to your question is...........it depends.

Thomas

Well that give me a close idea..Thanks

 

[Sweet Old Bill]

Miss Chris,

I was looking at the link to the outfit that makes the Ford V8 conversion kits for old MGB's. (discussed on page 342 of this thread):

http://mantellmotorsport.com/

and on mantell's home page, there is a video for a turboencapsulator. My thought process went: what would be better than a V8 in an MGB? Of course, a turbo charged V8!

I clicked on the video; and found Tom's older brother discussing a turboencapsulator that transcended the well known muffler bearings.

Let me know what you think.

 

[charlief1]

You do realize there are actually mufflers out there with bearings in them, don't you Bill?

 

[frikkie]

Swanny66 - GREAT CAR! I always liked those (but never owned one). I remember reading back when Ford (Mercury) started selling those in the US they were also selling a version in the South African market that had a 5.0 liter High Output Mustang engine in it (for spec racing), that's the one I'd REALLY love to have!!!!!!

Yep - called the Sierra XR8 here:

 

[BB767]

.....

PS. You and Peter Egan (who I met earlier this week) are kindred spirits. You two ought to meet up. He and I will both be at Elkhart Lake for the vintage races during the weekend of 20 July.

We'll be at Elkhart Lake, as well, with our San Diego racing team. I suspect I'll help out by holding an umbrella in the hot pits - last year it seemed to be close to 100 degrees, so the drivers really need the shade while they're waiting.

It's CAN-AM's 47th Anniversary, so our friend, Norm Cowdrey, will be there with his McKee "Wedge" this year.

The Corvette will be the feature car this year, so we were planning to take the '66 - don't now if that's going to happen. We'll see.

See you very soon.

For those who have never attended some great all around vintage racing and Can Am racing in particular at Road America located near, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin take a look at this clip (turn your speakers on) from the drivers point of view around the course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=V0ykxpHsgLo#at=129

The car is a McLaren M6B. Road America is consider one of the most beautiful tracks in the States. The Can Am folks like it because it's a large track with lots of room and some long sections where they can wring the cars out. 200 mph+ (322 km/h) is not uncommon.

July 18-21, 2013. Be there or be square!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

I have a Nike 301HC I am working on.

I am in with two walkers & a great Blackhawk, from late 30'2 to 40's. One of these days, I will manage to get some pictures posted.

klaus, any chance you can post a picture or two of your Nike?

Bill, I didn't know you had those. What model are your Walkers and Blackhawk? Get a neighborhood kid to help you post pictures. They can be pretty young and I bet they'll know how. Yeah I know, it stinks they know all they computer stuff and us old geezers are pretty clueless.

Thomas

 

[skyfright]

I watched perhaps 1/2 of it. Truly insane is not descriptive enough, however, this is a family channel. Whew!

Ron

 

[BigAl62]

Thank you frikkie, for a moment I thought my old brain was remembering wrong. I only sort of remembered about that car. None were ever sold in the USA, so we missed out. All we got was the Mercury Merkur XR4TI - a 2 door Ford Sierra with the turbocharged 4 cylinder out of the Mustang (NOT the intercooled engine out of the Mustang SVO). They only sold here from 1985 to 1989. A lot of them succumbed to the tin worm (rust). Hard to find one now and finding parts even harder (a guy I used to work with had one).