Temporary work space idea

[hades02]

I need to work on the engine bay of my 97 Expedition. I have to replace a broken heater tube that goes to the back of the intake manifold on a ford 4.6 engine. The intake manifold has to be completely removed to perform this job.

My problems are that 1) the temp here in CT is 21 degrees F,
2) the garage is full of **** (my fault), 3) the garage is only 11 x 21 (not enough space to get the Expedition in and work on it even if the garage was not full of ****). I am looking for suggestions on a temporary garage/work area solution that will not cost a lot. I was thinking of attaching a tarp or thick mil plastic to the garage opening (sealing it along the entire opening of the garage door) and draping it over the Expy. I can heat the garage with a torpedo heater with the garage door open and hence work under the plastic/tarp while being warmer than just working out in the open.

Anyone do anything similar or have suggestions? I have attached a picture of the front of my garage.

 

[timewarp]

Your tarp idea is probably the best if you have to do it at home, maybe clean out some area so you could pull it partway into the garage and then have the tarp seal the opening of the garage door. But I would try to find a buddy that has a garage that would let me do it at his place if it's that cold out. Or maybe one of your neighbors has a garage and would be willing to rent you a bay for the weekend?? It'd be worth $50-100 to be able to do it inside someplace heated versus monkeying around with a tarp on the front of your garage and still not being completely warm.

Or I hate to say it, but it might be worth seeing what someone else would charge to do the repair for you?

Or post your location and maybe someone on here could offer to help you out??

 

[nehog]

The nose into the garage and try to seal it may work, but why not see if you can rent a place for a week or so? Might be cheaper in the long run.

 

[dladcock]

I know some guys that rent hangar space at the local municipal airport in a pinch. Just an off-the-hip thought.

dla

 

[ADSR]

20 or 40 foot shipping container.

Craigs list for 1500 to 3K

 

[hades02]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I'm in Manchester CT. Local mechanics are charging $800 to $1000 to perform this job. The part that needs replacing is a $30 part. While I am not a mechanic I am very good with my hands and tools. Have swapped out engines, replaced CV joints, replaced hubs on the Expedition, brakes, etc. LordDiesel, while I have always like the idea of shipping containers, I don't have the land to keep such a thing. I will keep everyone informed as to my progress.

 

[maddawg1952]

you can't walk by that suv when its in a cornex container thy're less than 8' inside,you'd have to back it in and climb out the window, MAYBE! My brother has a 34 ford truck in one there's no way I can work on it in the can.

 

[daveroy]

Watch your torpedo heater if its that cold... You are gonna get a TON of condensation on everything in the garage!

 

[GarageWarrior]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I'm in Manchester CT. Local mechanics are charging $800 to $1000 to perform this job. The part that needs replacing is a $30 part. While I am not a mechanic I am very good with my hands and tools. Have swapped out engines, replaced CV joints, replaced hubs on the Expedition, brakes, etc. LordDiesel, while I have always like the idea of shipping containers, I don't have the land to keep such a thing. I will keep everyone informed as to my progress.

As you said - you don't have proper space to do the job.

I'm just being Mr Obvious here, but you can either pay for shop space and do the work yourself or find a decent mechanic. Experience tells me that if you find a good mechanic - it will work out cheaper in the end - take it as coming from a guy who went the renting the shop space route.

If you really want to do the work yourself, there are industrial units available for a few hundred a month.

 

[MPOWERD]

You might check into rented storage units... With drive in garage doors. Some are very large and you have an open ended storage contract with no minimum number of months to rent... And some have the first month for only $1.00 like public storage...

Pack up your tools and tow the Ford in and get to work...

 

[machine_punk]

If you are determined to do it yourself, what about those pop-up shelters you see everywhere now (like at Farmer's markets and flea markets and such). They are 10x10 foot. You can get some with walls. Use three of those walls and stick the nose of the truck in the 4th wall...which you will seal with plastic. Use an electric heater (that is a very small space...) (or two of them, if you can get two separate circuits. You can get the mini milkhouse heaters from Ace for $20 each). You will need a couple of cinder blocks on each corner, if it gets windy near you. Put a tarp on the ground, followed by a couple of cheap HF moving blankets, followed by a layer of cardboard...to insulate you from the ground.

All of this is reusable...we frequently use our pop-up canopy for family events.

Kev