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Howdy old guys! I wanted to show off my improved shop that a few of y'all saw earlier this year. The dirt/gravel floor is no more, we poured over 1700 sq feet of concrete. I was so happy to roll my floor jack around without rocks getting caught in the wheels...
In the right bay, we dug down 2 extra-thick 2' x 2' pads where the 2 post lift feet will go. I have to wait a few months for the concrete to fully cure before I can install the lift. In front of the left bay I put 6 anchor pots in the floor, reinforced like the lift concrete too. They're meant for body straightening work but I thought they'd be useful for tweaking axles, suspension bits, and other things that might need a little tugging to get lined up.
We redid the electrical too, had to replace 200' of buried cable (original owners had spliced it together and it shorted out). Now I have a reliable 150 amps to work with. I put LED bulbs in place of the 8' fluorescent ones on the ceiling, and I have a dozen 4' LED fixtures to install yet. Still no 220v outlets but I'll get there eventually.
I'm stoked to say the least!
We're building a 26x40 garage next to our house now, if I ever get it finished, it'll be real nice! Hoping to stand a wall or two this weekend.
Last edited by BrettLinton7; Jul 9, 2020 at 11:47 AM.
Thanks Tommy and Ray! It took nearly a year but I'm happy with the end product. And a dang good place for that OGTA sign to rest :-)
The shop ceiling is 10' on the sides and 14'+ in the center. Just enough clearance for the lift if I position it a little off-center in the right bay. I'm leaning towards an Atlas 9K lift from Greg Smith Equipment, I've heard nothing but good things about them, plus they're local in Buford https://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-Pro-9D
Your my hero Brett. That looks amazing. How many cars will fit in side? If you get 3 lifts on one side you could easily get 8 cars in there I bet. I've been eyeing a lift like this when i finally get another sporty car, its made by BendPak.
Hey Tim! I think I could fit 3-4 cars comfortably in there and still be able to work. The lean-to on the side could fit 2 more also. I want to close that eventually. That's a nice lift! What sporty car are you thinking of getting?
That sure is a pretty roof Ray, you did a damn nice job. I bet that paver patio will look nice too when you're finished.
I'm in the middle of doing a driveway myself, but using crushed up asphalt millings. I've cut a new driveway through the woods to lead to our rental house, rather than them driving up past our house and in front of the shop. I think 2-3 more loads will finish it up, it's about 600' long. Here it is drawn in red.
We got a slew of chickens and built them a little coop, it's still a work in progress but they are only in it at night so they don't mind. The bigger kids learned a little bit of measuring and framing. I got lazy and put on a tin roof rather than shingles. I still need to add trim boards over the siding seams and fence in the run. The 18 chicks I was telling you about should start laying soon. An older hen had a few chicks, Tractor Supply had some neat variety chicks, and well... we're up to 32 now!
Got this little project long before the turmoil, but because of the current issues I do have more money than ever before. My company laid off a bunch of bad employees and gave us better hours (looks like they are making the hour changes permanent); so good times for me.
I'm coming down home stretch with the "performance Volkswagen"
Just gotta buy a bumper and a hood. Then wait for the machine shop to finish their work. She is like done except for paint (I will be keeping it silver just a respray).
SO no DGRR next year for me. The RX is going under the knife after I finish this project. But it should egress out of the garage cocoon a new with two turbos.
Dang, if that Baby Blue FB shows up at an OGTA meeting I'll be there.
James, is your Volkswagen Wanklized?
If not it's a shame, such a pretty body to waste on a boinger.
Na, its got a chevy truck engine in the back. Supercharged and propane fueled.
Just waiting for the machine shop to finish their work (nothing special making the holes round and new cam bearings yada yada).
As for the wankels…Mine is getting a total redux. The VW backs out of the garage (5 months god willing), and the RX goes in. Gonna use my new paint/body skills and get it up to par. Gonna use my perfected fab skills to pipe two small turbos under the hood and out the back true duel. And I'm gonna hunt down some quality OEM interior bits. Should be a nice 7 when I'm done.
So she's off to get rebuilt. Doing a large 12a streeport. Rotary Auto Repair in Jonesboro is doing the work.
Corolla, my 12A has some miles and I would like a rebuild. Is Rotary Auto Repair doing all of the engine work? What about the used rotor housings? (I understand that is one of the biggest challenges to 12A rebuilds). Would you give me contact information for them? Thanks
12A housings are the limiting factor for sure on any rebuild.
Chance of what you got being reusable is about 5%, drops to 1% if the engine has 150,000+ miles.
So yeah, any news about 12A rebuild options would be welcome, please post it here!
James, am I looking at a Wankel or a Boinger?:
To be technical... both. A roots type blower (like the M90 sitting on the SBC) is a rotary design. So, yes and no the blower is rotary the piston engine its feeding is not.
Corolla, my 12A has some miles and I would like a rebuild. Is Rotary Auto Repair doing all of the engine work? What about the used rotor housings? (I understand that is one of the biggest challenges to 12A rebuilds). Would you give me contact information for them? Thanks
Yes, Rotary Auto Repair is doing all of the engine work. My car has 197,000 miles and we are hoping that the rear housing is still good; I lost compression in the rear rotor, 40psi. He does have a pretty good network in getting parts. He definitely is knowledgeable and is the person I purchased my fb from originally.
Looks like I have a solid buyer for my Rx7. It might be gone by end of this week. Didn’t advertise it or anything. Got an offer that I just couldn’t pass on. It’s a solid individual and I have no doubt it’s leaving. I didn’t expect it but it is time to let her go. I’ll share more later. Bittersweet news on this end.But it’s going to a great home.
Looks like I have a solid buyer for my Rx7. It might be gone by end of this week. Didn’t advertise it or anything. Got an offer that I just couldn’t pass on. It’s a solid individual and I have no doubt it’s leaving. I didn’t expect it but it is time to let her go. I’ll share more later. Bittersweet news on this end.But it’s going to a great home.
Wanna be my piston buddy at DGRR next year??
My 7 is up for a hiatus soon, and it probably wont be ready for some years.