Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Nice! 
Anxious to hear how it heats the space.
Anxious to hear how it heats the space.
Third time's the charm - 40*50*12 build
- Thread starter wisconsin hillrod
- Start date
OOBER
Well-known member
Awesome progress. Looks good!
C_F
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It looks like it should make the place nice & toasty!
jbmatth
Well-known member
Heat would be a welcome addition this time of year, looking forward to hearing how it works out.
JB
JB
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
Nice!
It looks like it should make the place nice & toasty!
I got the power run over the weekend. This involved bending conduit for the first time. Not that a 90 degree bend is hard to do, but I was pleased with how it turned out on my first try. I decided to just hard wire it 12-2 on its own circuit. Probably not necessary as it is only about 6.5 amp but there wasn’t any 120v power on the back wall (only 240 for the hoists) and I can easily turn it off this way.
The HVAC contractors showed up today to attach the gas and install the vent. They told me it is the most securely mounted shop heater they have ever seen haha. They were surprised I already had the power and thermostat run. It took them about two hours to get the gas line drop down from the attic and the vent out the back wall.
It has been running about 4 hours now. It is up from 18 degrees this morning. The ceiling is still open in 1/3 of the building and the slab was about 12 degrees so I think this is about as well as I am going to do for now.
I will be turning it off shortly just wanted to let it run a few hours to make sure there aren’t any issues.
-Hillrod
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
Happy New Year’s Eve! My only goal this year was to get the shop done. That did not happen, but a ton of work did and I am very close. I had thought I would have the ceiling done by Christmas but I can’t seem to get my helpers back to finish the job. I got tired of waiting and decided I would do what I could without their help so hung up the vapor barrier so I at least have an air barrier and the heater should be able to heat the space (just not terribly efficiently).
Beginning:
We used a 20*100 sheet for most of the shop and it was incredibly difficult to get the 20’ sections up. The other problem was the joint ended up in a bad spot and was really difficult to tape. I decided to finish it with 8’ wide rolls so I could land the joints on trusses so it would be easy to tape even though that meant I’d have about 4’ of overlap.
With the first strip up, I needed to move cars out and take down garage door tracks and lights. You may also note that I use romex as giant twist ties. Works great. (Was to keep the top garage door panel from falling down with the track removed).
My wife graciously gave up a good portion of her weekend assisting me. She’s either taping up a hole here or preaching about the car gods. You decide!
It is 32 degrees outside today and with it set at 40 I haven’t caught it running yet. Amazing how well it seals even with no insulation in the attic. I’m not sure what I am going to work on next, but since the building can now hold heat, I think I may work on window trim and/or the rest of the paint.
-Hillrod
Beginning:
We used a 20*100 sheet for most of the shop and it was incredibly difficult to get the 20’ sections up. The other problem was the joint ended up in a bad spot and was really difficult to tape. I decided to finish it with 8’ wide rolls so I could land the joints on trusses so it would be easy to tape even though that meant I’d have about 4’ of overlap.
With the first strip up, I needed to move cars out and take down garage door tracks and lights. You may also note that I use romex as giant twist ties. Works great. (Was to keep the top garage door panel from falling down with the track removed).
My wife graciously gave up a good portion of her weekend assisting me. She’s either taping up a hole here or preaching about the car gods. You decide!
It is 32 degrees outside today and with it set at 40 I haven’t caught it running yet. Amazing how well it seals even with no insulation in the attic. I’m not sure what I am going to work on next, but since the building can now hold heat, I think I may work on window trim and/or the rest of the paint.
-Hillrod
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
You're almost there!
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
I'm happy to report that with nothing more than a vapor barrier up (plus steel in 2/3s) the 125k BTU heater has been able to keep the shop at 40 in this terrible cold stretch we are having right now. The heat isn't even running all the time!
It cost an extra $50 compared to the gas bill last year for January so with insulation this should be cheap to run!
-Hillrod
It cost an extra $50 compared to the gas bill last year for January so with insulation this should be cheap to run!
-Hillrod
red94chev
Well-known member
Looks nice! I just bought the 80k unit for my garage and I can't wait to get it running.
Did you have them run the vent for legal reasons or just because? I have the gas company coming Friday to give me a quote on running the gas line but I'm unsure about the venting with all the codes.
Did you have them run the vent for legal reasons or just because? I have the gas company coming Friday to give me a quote on running the gas line but I'm unsure about the venting with all the codes.
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
Thanks! I bet the 80k unit would have been fine for me too heh.
I just didn't feel confident in doing it between not wanting any exhaust leaks, water leaking in, and the heat of the exhaust going through the wall.
I would feel comfortable replacing the unit if it failed since everything is in place now.
-Hillrod
CaptainCaveman
Well-known member
I just read all 3 of your threads start to finish,
what an evolution.
Definitely shaping up to be dream garage material,
Top work!
(another '86er here too *waves* )
what an evolution.
Definitely shaping up to be dream garage material,
Top work!
(another '86er here too *waves* )
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OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
I just read all 3 of your threads start to finish,
what an evolution.
Definitely shaping up to be dream garage material,
Top work!
(another '86er here too *waves* )
Thanks! It’ll be great when it is finished whatever year that is haha. Speaking of evolutions and being an ’86er, I bought myself a 33rd bday present:
It is a 2014 C7 Z51 3LT 7-speed manual. It is pretty well decked out and has intake and exhaust (long tube headers and mid pipes) with factory NPP exhaust it is LOUD. There was no mention of those modifications but they are a bonus for me as I’d have done exhaust anyway.
I’m want to keep this one fairly stock but still want the kinda power my C5 makes so I’m leaning towards an A&A supercharger kit but am also looking into a LT4 PD supercharger, but that is slightly more money for used parts compared to the A&A kit.
With that said, I plan to sell my C5, unsure if that will be as it sits, or if I will part it out and sell it near stock. Guess we’ll see what kinda interest there is come spring.
Still no progress on shop!
-Hillrod
Deezler
Well-known member
SICK Vette, man. How you do dat (afford it by your 33rd bday?). I must be in the wrong industry... or family. 
I'm pretending to save for a C6 LS3, but it might be more of a pipe dream.
Not sure I've ever posted in your thread, but have always enjoyed watching your shop come along. Nice work.
I'm pretending to save for a C6 LS3, but it might be more of a pipe dream.Not sure I've ever posted in your thread, but have always enjoyed watching your shop come along. Nice work.
Motoman1100
Well-known member
Wow, that's beautiful! That'll warm you up on such a cold Wisco winter day!
Motoman1100
Well-known member
I love the lifts, but do you ever worry that the top vehicle might start dripping something on the beauty below?
Congrats on the new ride! Love the colour and spec!
If you ever decide on selling the other Vette, check out Bring A Trailer. I'm not from the States, so maybe you know it better than I do; but I've seen prices escalate quickly on there!
If you ever decide on selling the other Vette, check out Bring A Trailer. I'm not from the States, so maybe you know it better than I do; but I've seen prices escalate quickly on there!
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
SICK Vette, man. How you do dat (afford it by your 33rd bday?). I must be in the wrong industry... or family.
Not sure I've ever posted in your thread, but have always enjoyed watching your shop come along. Nice work.
Thanks! Associate’s degree (no student debt), no kids, and my wife and I are both senior network engineers. A trust fund would have been a lot easier but wasn’t in the cards for us haha.
I believe a few pages back I talk about putting a C5 together for my Dad a few years ago. He likes it but keeps talking about a C6. I keep telling him 08+ for the LS3/TR6060. They are always getting cheaper so that dream is closer to reality every day
Thanks! I’m hoping to dive right in come spring and get this dang thing done!
Thanks! I want to play around with more of the settings but as far as I can tell the car has to be running which isn’t ideal in the shop with the doors closed on account of the heater being on.
In a word…yes. However, the cars that are in the air are the ones that have yet to drip anything. The 4 post lifts have drip trays too. Funny enough the only time I’ve had something drip onto a car from above was from the hoist itself. I had to replace the hydraulic cylinder (under warranty).
Yeah, that is a thought. I’d prefer to sell it in person if I can but then I gotta worry about tire kickers just wanting to go for a joyride in a 750hp car…
-Hillrod
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
Currently, it is still running off the 8 gauge 40 amp feed that went to the 2 car garage I took down. The pool pump runs on it too and I have yet to blow the circuit. I did play around with some stuff and noted my air compressor alone pulls 25amps @ 240VAC alone so I'm not sure how I haven't blown it yet.
I plan to run 4 gauge wire with a 90 amp breaker this year.
Pronk
Member
Absolutely amazing build thread! Everything looks top notch, great job getting it done over the course of a couple years. You have some amazing toys, congrats on the latest vette purchase.
I am also surprised you haven't blown the circuit running only a 40 amp but glad to see you still have the plan of upgrading that. Good luck on the future shop projects!
I am also surprised you haven't blown the circuit running only a 40 amp but glad to see you still have the plan of upgrading that. Good luck on the future shop projects!
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
Thank you!
Finally some more progress!!!
Starting:
9 panels up this Saturday.
After Easter brunch my wife and I got the lights hung up.
Now only 5 panels to go!
Hoping we will finish that up this week.
-Hillrod
Farmall450
Well-known member
Not much of a neighbor -- that would have been turnkey!
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
Haha I suspect he knew how much of a hack the previous owner was who built that garage and wanted nothing to do with it!
Farmall450
Well-known member
Fair enough.
lowerthanu
Member
Interested in the C5, if you decide to sell. Pm me some details. I am in WI as well.
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
The ceiling is officially done!!! Very pleased with how it turned out.
All lights up. It is very bright. Making my floors look pretty filthy haha.
Still to do:
-Make Attic Scuttle Door
-Put the big garage door opener back up
-Paint the so called inception shed
-Put 2nd 2 post hoist up
-Window/Door trim
-90 amp electric feed
-Attic insulation
-Gutters
-Gravel for trailer parking
-Hillrod
All lights up. It is very bright. Making my floors look pretty filthy haha.
Still to do:
-Make Attic Scuttle Door
-Put the big garage door opener back up
-Paint the so called inception shed
-Put 2nd 2 post hoist up
-Window/Door trim
-90 amp electric feed
-Attic insulation
-Gutters
-Gravel for trailer parking
-Hillrod
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Nice work. That should go a long way, along with the insulation, to keep the temps in there quite comfortable.
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
Nice work. That should go a long way, along with the insulation, to keep the temps in there quite comfortable.
Thanks! Even just the steel seems to help. We had some **** weather (20s & snow) this weekend and the shop stayed at 50 degrees without the heater ever kicking on.
Motoman1100
Well-known member
HIllrod, I seem to remember somewhere in your thread that you have an elderly neighbor that wasn't pleased with your new building. Ha! Did you ever win her over to your side?
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
Thanks!
There have been two complaints: One was the guy behind me who I met by him walking over yelling at me on day 4 tearing the old garage down. I did win him over...Now he will drive around the block looking to see if I am outside because he likes talking to me! The other I've never met in person...she just complained about my building to the town board who ignored her. She doesn't even live in my neighborhood.
-Hillrod
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
Some more progress:
Garage door opener is back up.
Moved the 4 post hoist for (hopefully) the last time.
Gutters got installed today. I should have done this when the building was put up.
I am very pleased with how they turned out. At a glance I can’t even tell they are there.
-Hillrod
Garage door opener is back up.
Moved the 4 post hoist for (hopefully) the last time.
Gutters got installed today. I should have done this when the building was put up.
I am very pleased with how they turned out. At a glance I can’t even tell they are there.
-Hillrod
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wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
I regret not doing it sooner. My concrete pads are etched from water and it was cheaper than I expected. You gotta update your thread!
The last bit of paint:
And done!
Things moved back. I love how good BCX plywood looks with two coats of paint.
In the last pic did you spot both air hose reels? I’ve been waiting years to add the second one again but was waiting until the wall was painted and I built a new workbench. I ended up deciding against building a new one and instead I will just extend this one 2’ to the wall.
Last update for now, I cleaned up the “mezzanine” and I have a ton of room to hoard more **** now! (Actually plan to keep scaffold and a few sheets of plywood up there).
Attic insulation and gravel for trailer parking should be done in the next couple weeks.
-Hillrod
TurboMustang370
Well-known member
Hillrod,
I looked back and didn't see the specifics; what size is your interior “shed”? What did you use for ceiling joists, 2x12s? 12” or 16” on center?
Thank you!
I looked back and didn't see the specifics; what size is your interior “shed”? What did you use for ceiling joists, 2x12s? 12” or 16” on center?
Thank you!
OP
wisconsin hillrod
Well-known member
It is about 17'*17'. I wanted to keep it behind the window so I'd have room for window trim and I didn't want it going all the way to the middle of the shop as you look from the front. Because I wanted to have enough room to move around up top and the ceiling is less than 12' high at the walls, the joists are 2*6s 16" OC supported by sistered 2*8s so the 2*6s don't span more than about 7.5'. If I had used anything bigger 2*6s it would have raised the overall height due to the garage door being in the way to drop them lower. You'll also note the 7*7 garage door is a low headroom. I'm sure they were baffled why I did that when they installed it haha.
If you look, you can see the overall height is barely higher than the 8' plywood. The 2*6s are hung on joist hangers that are nailed to 2*6 ledger boards that are nailed and screwed to the wall top plate and studs. The floor doesn't bounce at all even with two people jumping on it. The inspector was fine with it too because they consider it an attic not a living space.
Most of the lumber is reclaimed from the old garage. (Most of) the 2*4s were from the old walls, the 2*6s were ceiling joists, the 2*8s were rafters, the OSB and plywood floor were wall and roof sheathing.
-Hillrod
TurboMustang370
Well-known member
Thank you for the reply. I'm looking to do something similar. I need a space to put 2 cars so the kids don't hit them with their toys/bike handlebars, that kinda thing. I'm thinking 16'x16', using 2"x12" as the joists, setting them on top of a double plate.
Thank you for the information.