The SVT Garage

[mysteed]

My name is mysteed and I'm a first time poster to GJ but a long time lurker. When my wife & I finally moved into our first home March 1st she told me that instead of just drooling over the garages posted on here I should instead sign up & get input from all of you throughout my garage build. My inspiration for this build comes from a love of all things SVT from the slow Ford SVT Contour's & SVT Focus' to the SVT Cobra's, Lightning's, & GT500's. I have owned more than my fair share of Mustangs but it's something about the SVT products that keeps me loyal to them.

With that intro out of the way my I present my current (and first!) garage. It's a 25'Lx20'W garage that originally was part of the driveway but the owner added it on after he converted the old garage to a family room & office. With that in mind it is needed a LOT of renovation but the biggest thing that is irking me is that the floor has a lot of slope to it (and conversely when I drop nuts & bolts I'm sure I'll be able to find them out in the street).

To start off I simply cleared all of the stuff off of the shelves, disposed of all the old product, cleaned all of the shelving, and reorganized the shelving itself.

(Pics taken with my phone till I find my camera.)

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

I know it's not a LOT of improvement like some of you folks have but it's my little slice of happiness. This garage will be more of a "show" garage than a functioning mechanical garage (other than maybe a few small mods here and there) as I work at a garage just ten minutes from my house.

Plans:
1: Reorganize the layout of the garage for a "cleaner" more functional look.
2: Add tools and storage.
3: Fix issues with OSB and paint OSB (colors undecided).
4: Go WAY overboard on lighting. 200lm/sqft minimum
5: Add auxillary lighting (aka LED strips with color changing options)
5: Epoxy flooring - blue with grey/black/white flecks
6: Hide garage doors in the ceiling (not sure how I'm going to do this).

 

[55cadillacking]

That's a comprehensive list of projects you have created for yourself. I'm particularly interested in seeing if #6 comes to fruition. Seems like an ambitious one. Good luck!

 

[HSpencer]

It is a nice sized space and your plans sound quite good. I am unsure of what you mean on hiding the garage doors in the ceiling. I do think you should concentrate on fixing the gaps that are showing at the bottom of the doors. Not sure what the problem is, be it adjustments or gaps on the floor. I would try taking any out with adjustments, or possibly use some of the seals that glue down under the doors. I would tackle that first to keep out rain water and critters.
After the lighting work is done you will probably want sheetrock or something on the ceilings. That is not too expensive to do, but it is a pain trying to do it by yourself unless you have the proper jacks to hold it up there.
Keep us posted as we do like to see how the progress goes!!!! Thanks for posting.

 

[Jack 07]

Good luck, we'll be watching to see how it comes along.

 

[dubber]

Good start and it sounds like you have a solid plan to get you there. Getting that unplugged extra fridge out of there will help you for sure. As for the slope, look at the positive for water flow out of the garage, and no pooling within.

Side note, domestic's aren't my car focus but i do share your admiration for the SVT division for sure, but i didn't see the Raptor on your list

 

[LShee778]

This looks like it has some potential. Interested to see what you have in store for it.

Maybe take a look at those garage door openers. They seem to be hanging really low and the 2x4 hangers aren't the best choice. Some pre-drilled/slotted 2" angle will be much better and less of an eyesore.

 

[SVTchris]

Congrats on the new house! Looking forward to seeing your progress.

 

[mysteed]

That's a comprehensive list of projects you have created for yourself. I'm particularly interested in seeing if #6 comes to fruition. Seems like an ambitious one. Good luck!

Thanks! I've seen the doors hidden on a few occasions but have never fully wanted to explore that option till now.

It is a nice sized space and your plans sound quite good. I am unsure of what you mean on hiding the garage doors in the ceiling. I do think you should concentrate on fixing the gaps that are showing at the bottom of the doors. Not sure what the problem is, be it adjustments or gaps on the floor. I would try taking any out with adjustments, or possibly use some of the seals that glue down under the doors. I would tackle that first to keep out rain water and critters.
After the lighting work is done you will probably want sheetrock or something on the ceilings. That is not too expensive to do, but it is a pain trying to do it by yourself unless you have the proper jacks to hold it up there.
Keep us posted as we do like to see how the progress goes!!!! Thanks for posting.

The gaps are a problem with the concrete, so short of redoing it or adding a seal those won't be easily fixed. I had completely forgotten about sheetrock on the ceiling, that was on my original list.

Good luck, we'll be watching to see how it comes along.

Thanks!

Good start and it sounds like you have a solid plan to get you there. Getting that unplugged extra fridge out of there will help you for sure. As for the slope, look at the positive for water flow out of the garage, and no pooling within.

Side note, domestic's aren't my car focus but i do share your admiration for the SVT division for sure, but i didn't see the Raptor on your list

The extra freezer does work but it needs a new door seal so I may end up keeping that. As far as Raptors go....yup, I completely forgot that one on my list. They may not be FAST, but they do the job they were intended for.

 

[MartyO]

Hooray for teh MudStains!!!!

Welcome aboard buddy!

 

[dubber]

The extra freezer does work but it needs a new door seal so I may end up keeping that. As far as Raptors go....yup, I completely forgot that one on my list. They may not be FAST, but they do the job they were intended for.

Since you may keep it, could you swing it over to sit beside the fridge and then have the ladder either between them or on the left? Looks like that might give you some solid space saving as its a very deep item. Then you could have a couple more shallow items in its present spot or nothing at all.

 

[mysteed]

This looks like it has some potential. Interested to see what you have in store for it.

Maybe take a look at those garage door openers. They seem to be hanging really low and the 2x4 hangers aren't the best choice. Some pre-drilled/slotted 2" angle will be much better and less of an eyesore.

Yeah, the owner was actually quite proud of how he didn't have to pay someone to mount the doors. Oh and don't even get me started on the wiring stung all over the place...

Congrats on the new house! Looking forward to seeing your progress.

Thanks!

Hooray for teh MudStains!!!!

Welcome aboard buddy!

LOL. You're on here too Marty? Geez, I think you're on every board that exists.

Since you may keep it, could you swing it over to sit beside the fridge and then have the ladder either between them or on the left? Looks like that might give you some solid space saving as its a very deep item. Then you could have a couple more shallow items in its present spot or nothing at all.

I am actually thinking of moving the freezer & ladder into the unfinished laundry room that we have since the room is quite oversized. My main mission right now is to empty the garage of anything that isn't uselful.

 

[Taurus]

Looks promising. Love that blue Cobra! Have fun with the mod!

 

[dubber]

I am actually thinking of moving the freezer & ladder into the unfinished laundry room that we have since the room is quite oversized. My main mission right now is to empty the garage of anything that isn't uselful.

I like where your heads at. Good plan.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Welcome to GJ, another Ford guy here.

Sounds like you have a solid plan for the future of your garage. I'm not sure but could you use something self leveling to fix the gaps under your doors.

 

[Kevin54]

Welcome to GJ.

With the garage doors, get in touch with a local garage door company and look into a balloon seal. It's basically a larger tube seal that has quite a bit of flex to seal the holes up. If you don't want to go that way, a diamond grinder to knock down the high spots.

Looking forward to seeing the upgrades.

 

[MartyO]

LOL. You're on here too Marty? Geez, I think you're on every board that exists. y

I am like that girl in high school that always got around!

 

[mysteed]

Looks promising. Love that blue Cobra! Have fun with the mod!

Thanks!

I like where your heads at. Good plan.

Thanks sir.

Welcome to GJ, another Ford guy here.

Sounds like you have a solid plan for the future of your garage. I'm not sure but could you use something self leveling to fix the gaps under your doors.

I'm honestly not too sure how to fix the door except for using a seal or perhaps leveling it with a diamond grinder.

Welcome to GJ.

With the garage doors, get in touch with a local garage door company and look into a balloon seal. It's basically a larger tube seal that has quite a bit of flex to seal the holes up. If you don't want to go that way, a diamond grinder to knock down the high spots.

Looking forward to seeing the upgrades.

Interesting. I'll have to look into trying to knock down the high spots.

I am like that girl in high school that always got around!

Indeed sir. Do you have a thread with your garage in it? Any new projects?

 

[MartyO]

\Indeed sir. Do you have a thread with your garage in it? Any new projects?

My home shop is hiding somewhere in the garages at night thread and other odds and ends are posted here.

The Yellow Mod Fox is just about done (needs AC work).

The fuel injected Falcon Wagon is about done too. There is a pretty detailed thread on here for that.

Trying to figure out a summertime project (which means I am looking for parts and drivetrains!!!!).