Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Tue Mar 05, 2002 10:14 pm**

Gentlemen: To make a long story short.... As the events of the past 3 years have come to a close (1 divorce, 2 deaths) I have decided to move out of the Chicago area and into a more rural setting. Since the actual prospect of getting remarried remains remote at best (mostly due to my pleasing personality I suspect) I have decided to build a "car house" without the constraints of any dependents and their (unreasonable...) wishes. It is to hold 10 cars and have a loft type living area upstairs. The living area will consist of 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, library, model building workshop, and a living room. The living area will be around 2000 sq. ft as will the car living area. My question is this... What would you do to make the garage "special"? I really don't like doing most restoration work because bluntly speaking I am totally incompetent. The list of examples are endless so just save me the embarrassment of having to mention anything. I want to get to the point of only doing routine mechanical work and washing the cars. I do like building engines though. No welders for example. So.... the place should be a showroom for my cars with some equipment. I feel an air compressor, parts washer, drill press, blasting cabinet, and buffer/grinder is a good start. I also have a bunch of old Sun testing equipment that I have restored to both functional and cosmetic standards that I would display and use. A radiant heated floor and a nice stereo (and old McIntosh) system is a must. I have a set of Monaco posters that would be in the garage area and some original artwork that would be upstairs along with the 1000 or volumes in the library and the 1000 or so model cars. This is to be a "showy" garage rather than a "working" garage. A place where like minded people can gather and talk about cars. Also known as "the first liar doesn't stand a chance get together." I like the Arts & Crafts style buildings. Any suggestion at this preliminary stage? Any books that you would recommend for ideas? Off list so as not to bore the other people. Thanks for any input Ron TC 120 ots Bentley Continental dhc 356src MGA MGA Twin Cam MGA Deluxe Radio Flyer "monoposto"

Posted: **Tue Mar 05, 2002 11:37 pm**

Ron, This subject would be of interest to many here, I would imagine. A few off the cuff immediate thoughts, as we are about to begin construction of a new home with a 1600' attached garage; Ceiling height at least ten feet. A lift is a must for any respectable shop... Air: a large verticle compressor, mounted outside the structure, and enclosed with a "water heater" style enclosure. Air lines run overhead to several locations throughout the shop. Plenty of lighting, both flourescent and incandescent. Then add 50% more lights. Audio setup: I use a decent amp setup; Dynaco w/Macintosh C20 preamp, a generic Sony CD changer, and Bose 901 speakers mounted high on the walls. Remarkably good garage sound, and we do spend a lot of time there. Telephone, of course. Small refrigerator. Large laundry type sink and wall mounted hand cleaner dispenser. Parts Cleaner; an old dishwasher with the pump plumbed to recirculate the fluid. Doors. We have and will continue to go with 8 foot high doors, versus the conventional 7 footers. Much more convenient. In my friend's garage, he has a '58 Corvette, an MGBV8, and an NHRA rail dragster. The rest of the 1800' is used as a "rec room", with a fridge, a good big screen TV, sound system, and four huge leather recliners lined up generally towards the TV. What a cool place to go hang out, watch a game, have a cold one. With the dragster sitting right there. Really neat. They also use a whole series of Snap-On tool cabinets in their kitchen, instead of regular old wood cabinets. His wife is pretty good about it all... Finally, since it's a MAN'S realm, put a urinal in the corner... Ed

> This is to be a "showy" garage rather than a "working" garage. A place

where

> like minded people can gather and talk about cars. Also known as "the

first

> liar doesn't stand a chance get together." > I like the Arts & Crafts style buildings. > Any suggestion at this preliminary stage? Any books that you would

recommend

> for ideas? > Off list so as not to bore the other people. >

Posted: **Wed Mar 06, 2002 12:44 am**

Hi Ron , Welcome to Michigan! Garages are a passion. What convinced me to buy my house was the fact that the garage that came with it was condemned by the city and I would have to build another one. Being single at the time, it could be anything I could design and get by city code. First, I cut out scale outlines of the cars that had to fit. (ten cars MGs) This allows walking space to be planned and a starting point. A 10' ceiling for a lift, large 14' sectional doors (at least three) front and back to allow easy in and out, gas heaters that drop between the studs, (I have two 40,000 btu) , many lights, mine has 22 shop lites, fluro, and 8 spots. Suggest two stories, sealed floors, wide open space (no support beams). I used 40' trusses which incorporated the second story inside the trusses, leaving the eaves for storage. I built a 1/24 scale model with every 2 x 4 in it, removable roof, stories, and, of course, scale MGs and Jags. The model was handy in trying to find a builder. Style should be quaint english tudor or colonial, shutters, wood panels etc. Cost for a combo house/garage I would guess around $50,000 if you do the contracting out. My garage ended costing around $6000 by hiring a carpenter, buying the materials he needed, and pouring a slab on my own. The city inspectors will be very attentive, believe me. The trusses were prefabricated. My lowest quote was $15,000 (in 1980) from garage builders so savings are possible. After the slab, it took 3 days to go up, tinkering on the inside is neverending. I wish it were twice as big. Happy planning. Cheers, Lee Jacobsen, Dearborn, MI

Posted: **Wed Mar 06, 2002 5:03 am**

Ron, Recently on the HGTV cable channel, (Home and Garden TV), there was a documentary on people who had interesting garages; similar to the one that you describe. A very interesting program.... Some people had built these fantastic spaces with beautiful floors, etc. I recommend that you find this program and watch it. You will not be disappointed. I am sorry that I don't remember the title of the program, but it aired on the HGTV channel during the last six months. Randy Kegg TC9690 In a message dated 3/6/02 1:17:37 AM Eastern Standard Time, RonMGTC@aol.com writes:

> Subj: [mg-tabc] Garage Help Needed > Date: 3/6/02 1:17:37 AM Eastern Standard Time > From: RonMGTC@aol.com > To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com > > Gentlemen: > > To make a long story short.... > As the events of the past 3 years have come to a close (1 divorce, 2

deaths)

> > I have decided to move out of the Chicago area and into a more rural

setting.

> > > Since the actual prospect of getting remarried remains remote at best ( > mostly > due to my pleasing personality I suspect) I have decided to build a "car > house" without the constraints of any dependents and their

(unreasonable...)

> > wishes. > It is to hold 10 cars and have a loft type living area upstairs. The

living

> area will consist of 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, library, model building > workshop, and a living room. The living area will be around 2000 sq. ft as > will the car living area. > My question is this... > What would you do to make the garage "special"? I really don't like doing > most restoration work because bluntly speaking I am totally incompetent.

The

> > list of examples are endless so just save me the embarrassment of having

to

> mention anything. I want to get to the point of only doing routine > mechanical > work and washing the cars. I do like building engines though. No welders

for

> > example. > So.... the place should be a showroom for my cars with some equipment. I > feel > an air compressor, parts washer, drill press, blasting cabinet, and > buffer/grinder is a good start. I also have a bunch of old Sun testing > equipment that I have restored to both functional and cosmetic standards > that > I would display and use. A radiant heated floor and a nice stereo (and old > McIntosh) system is a must. > I have a set of Monaco posters that would be in the garage area and some > original artwork that would be upstairs along with the 1000 or volumes in > the > library and the 1000 or so model cars. > This is to be a "showy" garage rather than a "working" garage. A place

where

> > like minded people can gather and talk about cars. Also known as "the

first

> liar doesn't stand a chance get together." > I like the Arts & Crafts style buildings. > Any suggestion at this preliminary stage? Any books that you would

recommend

> > for ideas? > Off list so as not to bore the other people. > > Thanks for any input > > Ron > TC > 120 ots > Bentley Continental dhc > 356src > MGA > MGA Twin Cam > MGA Deluxe > Radio Flyer "monoposto" > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > ----------------------- Headers -------------------------------- > Return-Path:

cs.com@returns.groups.

> yahoo.com> > Received: from rly-yh03.mx.aol.com (rly-yh03.mail.aol.com

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Posted: **Wed Mar 06, 2002 12:06 pm**

The mind runs riot, but a few random thoughts: 1 Lots of strategically placed electrical plug/socket points and perhaps a charger wired up to handle more than one vehicle battery in situ 2 Plenty shelving (not too deep - just enough for the Gerbers/Purity food bottles etc. to store the small things) 3 Pit so you access under the car if ceiling height precludes a 2/4 poster hoist 4 Sprung floor that allows either conversion to a dance studio when you sell (not so unlikely as a mate has done the conversion in reverse to store/show his cars) or your hosting the MG supporters' club annual spring ball 5 Use mirrors as drip pans so you can see the undercarriage of cars on display 6 Parkings meters so you can afford the mortgage 7 Fireman's pole for quick descent when you "get the urge" to pop downstairs 8 Mini trampoline for return trip when you realise you left the beers upstairs 9 Etc., etc. Good luck! Joe Gates TC 8675

Posted: **Wed Mar 06, 2002 4:44 pm**

Ron, The show about fantastic garages was great. A favorite was the one designed to be underground with gardens and forest on top, seems that it had a turntable so the car for the day (out of 20 or 30)could be instantly summoned for a drive. Cheers, Lee Jacobsen

Posted: **Wed Mar 06, 2002 6:29 pm**

Don't keep on !!! your garage ideas make me drool with envy! Paul

----- Original Message ----- From: RonMGTC@aol.com> To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2002 1:49 AM Subject: [mg-tabc] Garage Help Needed > Gentlemen: > > To make a long story short.... > As the events of the past 3 years have come to a close (1 divorce, 2 deaths) > I have decided to move out of the Chicago area and into a more rural setting. > > Since the actual prospect of getting remarried remains remote at best (mostly > due to my pleasing personality I suspect) I have decided to build a "car > house" without the constraints of any dependents and their (unreasonable...) > wishes. > It is to hold 10 cars and have a loft type living area upstairs. The living > area will consist of 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, library, model building > workshop, and a living room. The living area will be around 2000 sq. ft as > will the car living area. > My question is this... > What would you do to make the garage "special"? I really don't like doing > most restoration work because bluntly speaking I am totally incompetent. The > list of examples are endless so just save me the embarrassment of having to > mention anything. I want to get to the point of only doing routine mechanical > work and washing the cars. I do like building engines though. No welders for > example. > So.... the place should be a showroom for my cars with some equipment. I feel > an air compressor, parts washer, drill press, blasting cabinet, and > buffer/grinder is a good start. I also have a bunch of old Sun testing > equipment that I have restored to both functional and cosmetic standards that > I would display and use. A radiant heated floor and a nice stereo (and old > McIntosh) system is a must. > I have a set of Monaco posters that would be in the garage area and some > original artwork that would be upstairs along with the 1000 or volumes in the > library and the 1000 or so model cars. > This is to be a "showy" garage rather than a "working" garage. A place where > like minded people can gather and talk about cars. Also known as "the first > liar doesn't stand a chance get together." > I like the Arts & Crafts style buildings. > Any suggestion at this preliminary stage? Any books that you would recommend > for ideas? > Off list so as not to bore the other people. > > Thanks for any input > > Ron > TC > 120 ots > Bentley Continental dhc > 356src > MGA > MGA Twin Cam > MGA Deluxe > Radio Flyer "monoposto" > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

Posted: **Wed Mar 06, 2002 7:06 pm**

In a message dated 3/6/02 18:39:08 Pacific Standard Time, PCamp@pearsons-enfield.co.uk writes: > area will consist of 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, library, model building > workshop, and a living room. The living area will be around 2000 sq. ft as > will the car living area. >>

Posted: **Wed Mar 06, 2002 8:01 pm**

In a message dated 3/5/02 11:40:03 PM Pacific Standard Time, eedunn@adelphia.net writes:

Finally, since it's a MAN'S realm, put a urinal in the corner...

I am reminded of a story that the list my find of interest: I was working in just such a garage as folks are drooling over. Restoring two MGDs for a friend. I was having a wonderful time in this garage, where, next to the two Ds, sat a marvelous Vignale Ferrari coupe, painted but not completed yet. The garage could have been larger, therefore the workbench was in close proximity to the Ferrari and the requisite toilet attached to the wall. One day I found I had to wail on some reluctant piece (forget what it was now), so I chucked it up in the vice, got a small but heavy sledge and started thumping. My last whack at it didn't dislodge the bit I had hoped for but the head of the sledge, which went sailing across the garage, hit the floor and, thank goodness, took a hop away from the Ferrari, but unfortunately directly into the donnicker, which was one of those self contained units without a tank. The offending sledge head came up directly under the toilet and blew out the bottom! This was particularly bad because that's where the flushing water is kept and the toilet tried to refill itself but instead was filling the garage! Naturally I didn't know where the water cutoff was, but I sure found it fast. My friend was not amused. Some of you will know who that is. He also has an N type disguised as a K3. The moral of the story (besides practicing intelligent sledge whacking) is to put a covering over the toilet. I did, and it's still there, ten years later.

Posted: **Thu Mar 07, 2002 12:40 am**

"Dream Garages". HGTV will sell you a copy of it, like all their other programs. Very nice high end places. EED

> Ron, > Recently on the HGTV cable channel, (Home and Garden TV), there was a > documentary on people who had interesting garages; similar to the one that > you describe. A very interesting program.... Some people had built these > fantastic spaces with beautiful floors, etc. I recommend that you find

this

> program and watch it. You will not be disappointed. I am sorry that I

don't

> remember the title of the program, but it aired on the HGTV channel during > the last six months. > > Randy Kegg > TC9690 >

Wilsons Sandbox

Garage Help Needed

Garage Help Needed

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