The 64yr Wait is Over

[hitnmiss]

When I was 14 years old, I was working on my first mechanic project replacing the clutch in a 49 ford. I was using bumper jacks if any of y'all are old enough to remember those, and my car was resting on logs while I crawled into a pit in the dirt to work underneath. Laying under there, I said one day I'm going to have me a nice shop. 64 years later, the day has arrived! If you do that math, that makes me 78 years old.

But I'm really happy to finally share my experience and exchange ideas on this forum, and I hope that someone could even see this and be encouraged to start a project of their own like I have been encouraged by seeing other's.

My shop is a 40 x 60 x 14 steel building with a 12 x 60 lean to. Here are some photos to start, but more info and photos to follow.

View media item 71223
View media item 71225
View media item 71228
View media item 71355

 

[nine4gmc]

Looks more like 78 yrs young


Welcome to GJ, nice first post!

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Congratulations.

 

[Farmall450]

Awesome. Congrats and welcome to GJ. Better late than never.

 

[OzarkMan]

God Bless, that is absolutely awesome!

 

[Jon In Tucson]

Hey, better late than never! Glad that you decided to chronicle the build here on GJ. God bless.
Jon in Tucson

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[LXCam]

Damn good thing you're not one to rush into something.





Congrats Nd keep the pics a coming young man, ya know we luv lots of pictures around these parts. BTW, what's it going to be for when it's all finished up?

 

[sawduststeve]

Crikey it's gonna be a big 'un.
Nice start, you don't want to just rush into this willy nilly, now do you.

Good luck
Steve.

 

[danbuff]

Fantastic!
You are an inspiration to all of us.
Thanks for sharing

 

[MacTexas]

Four years ago a couple moved into our neighborhood. Word quickly spread they were 87 years old. When I met the gentleman we discussed my garage. I had just build it and he said at his last house he left a 20 X 25 shop and wanted to build one here. He build a 16 x 28 shop here. The interesting part is except for the concrete. stone work, and framing he built the rest himself. He even made the door to the shop instead of buying one.
Now, four years later he is turning out beautiful wood pieces built in his shop.

You are never too young to live your dream.

 

[bczygan]

Welcome to GJ!

Great first post.

Good thing you decided to start out small!!!

Bill

 

[marty_p]

Fantastic!
You are an inspiration to all of us.
Thanks for sharing

I couldn't have said it any better, neighbor!

Congrats, and please keep us posted!

 

[SARG]

Remarkably ambitious.
I have no heirs so such an endeavor is now off the list ..... and I'm in my sixties. Ones' position on the rainbow makes a difference.

 

[LutzTD]

excellent, you are not old until you give up being young. will be following, looks like a good start.

 

[Johnny_V]

God bless you. You deserve it. Should have ​done it many moons ago. I built my 2+ car extra garage 25 years ago and have never looked back. I'm 63 3/4 and have enjoyed it very much over the years. Again, God. bless and have fun.

 

[slik560]

Your story gives me hope....I'm 66 and had pretty much given up on a dream garage building. Well done.

 

[fowldarr]

I've got to follow this one. I can only manage what your years of experience will contribute to this thread and your garage build. Congrats on making your dream come true 'young man'

 

[Bogdan M.]

Congratulations!
You are very cool person and you have a awesome mentality.
I believe in following your dreams.

 

[TalonFE]

You're The Man!

 

[JCQuick]

wow what a great first post

 

[Bigbandguy]

You are slightly older than "us" baby boomers but of the same general time frame, outlook and accomplishments. This generation has re defined every decade it has met. In the 60's we even redefined ****** mores of an entire country. About the only thing we have left to re define is "getting older". I like the way this guy thinks. Go for it !

 

[hitnmiss]

Thank you for everyone's kind words on my first post. I've always wanted to start this project, but I never had the property to build. There was this property across the street from where I lived though, and I decided to contact the owner to see if they were interested in selling. I learned that it was owned by a lady in Houston,TX who recently inherited the property after her father was killed in a motorcycle accident, and she herself had never even seen the property. After a few months she agreed to sell the property to me, and I decided that'd be the place for my shop. Here are a few more pictures.


View media item 71354
View media item 71514
View media item 71515

 

[coljar]

At least you didn't rush into things and took the time to plan exactly how you wanted everything. Welcome to the Garage Journal. That looks like it's going to be a really nice place.

 

[Johnny_V]

If you really want to do something, you will find a way. If you really don't want to do it, you'll find an excuse [/IMG]

Great signature. Old isn't old anymore, and age is just a number.... Keep up the good work.....

 

[sawduststeve]

Ha Ha, you call that your shop, here I'd call that a shopping mall.
So far so good, keep it up fella.

Steve

 

[slik560]

A shop...but a TEXAS shop The state where size still matters.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

CONGRATS!! That is going to be a great build. Keep the pics coming. It's never too late and you have given me renewed hope in finishing my woodworking shop in my 2 car garage. I'm 70.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

OOPS! Forgot to subscribe to this thread.

 

[Bronson]

Welcome to the GJ with such a great post!

 

[Nighttrain]

Very neat that you are building your dream garage! Maybe find that 49 Ford for your first project in there, I am sure the clutch is ready to be replaced again by now

 

[Bob Heine]

Hitnmiss, as a fellow bumper jack/hole in the ground wannabe mechanic, welcome to the party. Great to see another member of the "never too late" club making a dream come true. When you were 14, I was only 8 years old, a huge difference. Now that you're 78 and I'm 72, you are only a blink of an eye older. I'm subscribed and looking forward to more progress on the shop.

 

[Bob Hall]

So good to see a man fullfilling a dream! I'll enjoy watching the progress and I too am encouraged by you.

 

[Red Voodoo]

OUTSTANDING! May you spend many years enjoying your new workspace!

 

[hitnmiss]

Thanks for the reply. Go for it.

 

[hitnmiss]

Thanks Bob.

 

[hitnmiss]

Thanks

 

[hitnmiss]

Hello
My one and only post was three years ago but the build has been going on slowly because of life issues( health, funds and I am doing almost the work myself). Please excuse my mistakes as my computer knowledge is very small.
The build was to be a shop only but turned into a barndominium.