At Long Last The Light At The End Tunnel Has Expanded Into A Glorious New Dawn.

"4x98" (4x98) 05/05/2019 at 16:32 • Filed to: None

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New. Man. Cave.

It’s massive. It has a roof. It has power. It has space for a dozen cars and all the tools I’ve had scattered across various locations to finally live together in harmony and easy access.

We even have a grubby old couch and some old car seats for furniture.

Mmm. Space.

Cleaning up and building benches continues tomorrow. Next weekend is running the air lines and setting up all the tools on pegboards.

Then dragging more cars up. First off the rank is my MR2 Roadster which is going to have a 2zz engine transplant.

For now though, I am happy just to stand there and be in awe of finally having some space to support my mental illness car habit.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > 4x98 05/05/2019 at 16:51

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Ugh. Drool.

WilliamsSW > 4x98 05/05/2019 at 16:53

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Oooh that is nice!

AestheticsInMotion > 4x98 05/05/2019 at 17:48

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Oh man. Dream garage.

Why the plywood flooring? 

shop-teacher > 4x98 05/05/2019 at 17:56

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Niiiiice!

I've never seen a plywood garage floor before.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > AestheticsInMotion 05/05/2019 at 17:58

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Yeah. Seriously.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen a plywood floor in an outbuilding before. And I’ve been through hundreds in the past 20 years.  Heated concrete floors would be the best though.  

My bird IS the word > 4x98 05/05/2019 at 17:59

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Im more interested in the cobra. Congrats on the garage. Some #lifegoals stuff.

The Snowman > 4x98 05/05/2019 at 18:14

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I am envious of your ceiling height, but also confused by the sub floors? Oppo needs to understand why....

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > 4x98 05/05/2019 at 18:19

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Damn, thats impressive! Congrats!

Are you planning to put in lift( s) ?

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > 4x98 05/05/2019 at 18:27

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Oh that’s a good one - a tad deeper than ours will be but perhaps not as long . It provides me with a handy guide for sure!

I’m assuming the plywood floor is to provide some necessary insulation and to cover some poor condition concrete?

Nauraushaun > 4x98 05/05/2019 at 20:39

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You’re not hacking up an s1 Elise are you?

Chinny Raccoon > 4x98 05/06/2019 at 03:35

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Don’t forget a kettle and a fridge!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 4x98 05/06/2019 at 11:13

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Hell yes! Congrats. Planning to get my shop built this year - 30' x 50'.

Any advice?

CaptDale - is secretly British > 4x98 05/06/2019 at 13:17

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Oh wow that is epic 

4x98 > AestheticsInMotion 05/06/2019 at 15:13

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The previous tenant was a carpenter and set maker. He had the whole floor covered in inch thick plywood. We’re pulling it up for most areas. For the areas around the workbenches, it’s staying in because a raised floor is much less freezing to stand on during winter.

4x98 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/06/2019 at 15:18

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In all honesty, no, I’m basically watching youtube ‘setting up a shop’ videos to get ideas and then adapting them.

I think my only real one is safety. First thing I bought was a bunch of fire extinguishers.

But more than happy to share any mistakes and learning experiences :)

The full photo dump is here: https://pripyat.smugmug.com/Car-Nerdery/The-Barn-1/ . I’m adding pics there as progress is made. Today I made a bench from some of the wood we pulled up from the floor :

4x98 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 05/06/2019 at 15:19

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Oh hell yes.  Researching those now.  With the ceiling height we have it’s impossible to resist.

4x98 > Nauraushaun 05/06/2019 at 15:20

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Ha!  No.  That’s my daily.

4x98 > Chinny Raccoon 05/06/2019 at 15:21

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There’s a kitchen-ish in behind these doors:

We decided today to designate that room “The Brewery” and start brewing beer.

4x98 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/06/2019 at 15:23

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The other weird thing is that it’s so big a space, we’re kind of not used to it.  So we’re designating bits of it at a time and building those out, benches and tools over one corner, a lounge area in another corner, car storage under the extended lower roof along the back wall.  Eventually it’ll sort of work its way together and meet in the middle somehow :)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 4x98 05/06/2019 at 15:24

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Haha - sounds like a good plan!

4x98 > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 05/06/2019 at 15:25

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I assume that’s why the previous tenant did it.  He worked there year round and I can imagine that floor is freezing in winter.  Our concrete floor is ok in the middle of the building, a little haphazard but then it was poured in the 50s for a barn floor not a workshop so to be expected.  Towards the edges of the building it kind of tapers off and goes a bit more lumpy.  So we’ll keep some board around the edges.

4x98 > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 05/06/2019 at 15:28

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God I wish.  It isn’t that posh.  The concrete below is reasonable but not glass smooth.  To be fair it was poured for a barn floor, not a workshop so I’m cool with it.  I can lay down on a mechanics creeper and slide about on the concrete floor so it meets our needs.  I thought about grinding it flat and sealing it but meh, it’d take a lot of work.  I’d rather build cars :)

4x98 > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 05/06/2019 at 15:29

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Full photo dump here if you want to poke around it virtually: https://pripyat.smugmug.com/Car-Nerdery/The-Barn-1/

Chinny Raccoon > 4x98 05/06/2019 at 15:32

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Now there’s a good idea. 

4x98 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/06/2019 at 15:34

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Also I’m treating the whole exercise as a skill expanding one. Setup a basic workshop to service and work on the cars is the first part.

Then start exploring TIG welding. Today building benches and yesterday putting the ply up on the walls was a fun exercise. I haven’t done any woodworking since high school (a quarter century ago).

I figure the space will fill with stuff and sort of grow organically with the collection and the desire/need to learn new skills or buy new tools. 

4x98 > shop-teacher 05/06/2019 at 15:38

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Me neither and we’re pulling it out for the car- working- on spaces . The idea of being under something on axle stands when it punches through the plywood is not a pleasant one.

4x98 > shop-teacher 05/06/2019 at 15:38

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Also I note your username.  Judge us gently on the woodwork!  :D

shop-teacher > 4x98 05/06/2019 at 15:40

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Yeah, that’s why I brought it up, but I was trying to be gentle about it :)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 4x98 05/06/2019 at 15:45

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My brother-in-law does think kind of construction, and I was really hoping that this would be a project where he, my father-in-law, my son, and I could all work on together, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to work out unfortunately (he lives 4 hours away, so it’d be a hassle).

I definitely want to get into welding and metal fabrication as well.

4x98 > shop-teacher 05/06/2019 at 15:45

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Haha. It’s coming up in working areas. We’re keeping it in the walking around areas because concrete floors are cold in winter.  Also the previous tenant installed it so criticism goes his way.  The benches and walls are all my handywork.  Primitive but effective and it was a great learning experience.  The next lot of benches will be much better.

4x98 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/06/2019 at 15:49

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So much this. I can do basic MIG and have a welder for that. But I really want to explore metalworking more. TIG and a proper fab bench is on the way. I expect that will drag me happily down the lathe/milling machine/tooling path and turn into something where I can make my own parts.  Being able to weld up my own exhaust or make tubular wishbones to let me have adjustability where factory components don’t is the draw here.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 4x98 05/06/2019 at 16:01

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Sweet - looking forward to following your progress. 

shop-teacher > 4x98 05/06/2019 at 17:24

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Gotcha, that makes a LOT more sense now :)

Nauraushaun > 4x98 05/06/2019 at 17:47

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Your DAILY! I “daily” an MR2 though I don’t drive most days, I’ve thought about the Elise as an upgrade but it seems harder to live with. How is the plucky little thing?

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > 4x98 05/06/2019 at 18:07

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You did well getting a Dunnydore ute into the UK(?)...

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > 4x98 05/06/2019 at 21:32

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Yeah, I’ve only seen heated floors in a couple of the outbuildings in properties I’ve appraised. One was in a decent sized (40' x 60'??) building that the guy used to build/repair hot rods and muscle cars. He even had a paint booth at the rear. He said even on the coldest days, he could keep the building a nice toasty 55 degrees, and with the radiant heat, it felt even warmer.

4x98 > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 05/07/2019 at 08:06

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Oddly, despite me growing up in Australia and now living in England the ute isn’t actually mine.  That’s a mates toy :)

4x98 > Nauraushaun 05/07/2019 at 08:29

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Ha! I still refer to the Elise ownership experience as a mutual hostage situation. It’s a car you have to *love* to own. It’s a sneaky, capricious little beast. Prone to hissy fits when left alone for any length of time . *Everything* is an utter ball ache to work on. And I mean everything. Every part you need is either peanuts because Lotus bought it in from some other car maker (Peugeot 106 switches!) or eye wateringly expensive to replace (Fuel pump I’m looking at you) because Lotus/Aftermarket . It leaks when it rains which is more or less all the time in England so you tend to arrive with a damp arse a lot . The headlights as standard are laughably, man-running-ahead-of-you-with-a-candle bad (I’ve upgraded to LED). The Rover K series reputation is....well deserved. It hates living outside. It’s noisy. All the time. At all revs at all speeds in any gear. Changing the oil is a hatefest of a million undertray bolts. Getting an alignment is a nightmarish experience comprising a days worth of shimming and undoing wishbone bolts. Every single woman will adore it right up until she has to get into it wearing a skirt or heels, from which point onwards it is called “That stupid toy car”. Forget listening to the radio. Everything vibrates at a different resonance so depending where you are in the rev range there is a different drone, rattle or hum. The standard steering racks are essentially race units and you get about 25k miles out of one before they develop play and need replacing. The side windows work for maybe 6 months before you have to take the door panels off to adjust them again. And it’ s awful to get in and out of with the roof on.

But I’d happily fight you to the death over possession of it. It feels special every single drive. The handling is hilarious. On twisty roads it provides a joy that very few other cars can match. *E veryone* who sees it loves it. I’ve had little kids point and shout “It’s a race car!” as I go by. I had an 82 year old woman at a petrol station look it over longingly before telling me about her past cars including various Elans and Austin Healeys. Without fail every time I drive it someone smiles, gives me the thumbs up or points excitedly. It makes people smile and that makes me love it even more.

In terms of it being a daily, I use it to run to the shops in all the time. I’m a consultant so when I’m not flying around I work from home which means I don’t spend a lot of time sitting in traffic. That said I’m across the country this week so I drove the 4 hours to the customer site in it this morning. In a previous job I about 10k miles in a year commuting in it. If you’re doing that the number one thing to do is i nstall an all alloy radiator with modern fans and silicon hoses. The temps then stay rock steady in traffic. In winter I run it on Toyo T1Rs which aren’t as good as the summer sticky Yokos but they’re much much better in the wet and cold. Remember 748kgs is easy to upset with standing water and high rain. It’s entirely doable but you do have to be committed and be prepared for the odd random thing go on it and for that to cost you £500-700. If you can live with that, I’d say go for it :)

Note: If you’re in the US you’ll have a Toyota engined one so much less griefy from the engine at least.

Re the MR2 Roadster or spider as it was badged over your way, my plan is to drop a 2zz in that, do rad, hoses, refurb calipers, new discs/pads/lines, polybush and new exhaust.  That’ll become the new daily simply for ease of access and cheapness of parts.  The Elise will retire to the barn in a Carcoon with a trickle charger to be taken out on fun days.  Mostly because I’m tired of a wet bum in winter and I’m a somewhat larger human than I was when I bought it 11 years ago.  Having proper doors is appealing.  :D

4x98 > The Snowman 05/07/2019 at 09:32

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Previous tenant built props for movies.  I think he put it all down because it was warmer to stand on in winter than concrete.  It’s coming up in the car work areas.  Don’t fancy being under something when it punches through and falls off the axle stands.

Nauraushaun > 4x98 05/07/2019 at 19:35

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Haha, man. All the stuff the MX-5/MR2 came along to do better is the stuff you’re struggling with! By comparison, the MR2 is less exciting but a dream to live with. It feels like a more exciting Celica or something - perfectly normal Toyota stuff, but midship.

4x98 > Nauraushaun 05/08/2019 at 07:00

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Oh definitely. I used to race AW11s, had a GT4 Celica for a while and have a soft spot for Toyotas generally (first car was a ‘79 LiftBack Corolla ). They Just Work for the most part and parts are cheap.

The 3rd gen MR2 was always an unscratched Toyota nerd itch. A tempting daily but seemed lacking that bit more oomph when you stand on it.

The one I bought is a 2002 so the slightly smaller interior cabin but a bit lighter weight than the facelifts. 130k miles on it and it’s in great condition considering I paid £300 for it. The soft top doesn’t have a single rip or tear and the seats are even in decent shape. Given the buy price, a 2zz/6 speed with LSD conversion and a suspension and brake refresh seemed a reasonable thing to do. Which is probably as much of an insight into my illogical thinking as much as is it anything to do with cars.

I’ll be into it for a few grand when I’m done but it’ll hopefully be a liveable, fun, daily.

Nauraushaun > 4x98 05/08/2019 at 18:18

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Ooooh have you got any pics? I’m curious about those 3rd gens. The SW20 is sort of a large practical car compared to those.

I had a job interview yesterday and walked past a half-open roller door in an industrial estate. Saw a black 3rd gen peeking out at me ;)

Nauraushaun > 4x98 05/08/2019 at 18:18

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Ooooh have you got any pics? I’m curious about those 3rd gens. The SW20 is sort of a large practical car compared to those.

I had a job interview yesterday and walked past a half-open roller door in an industrial estate. Saw a black 3rd gen peeking out at me ;)

4x98 > Nauraushaun 05/09/2019 at 09:48

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https://pripyat.smugmug.com/Car-Nerdery/MR2-Again-WCPGW/

That’s from when I picked it up. It has a rattly 1zz engine in it right now with the 5 speed. Which doesn’t trouble me because that was always going to get yanked out. For £300 it was too good to pass up.

Also t he curious spoiler around the middle of the car is coming off as well. That’s just weird.

In terms of size, they’re not small small.  Certainly not like the Elise.  I think the lack of a trunk and frunk is their only real downside.  Storage space is at a premium.  You can get a small backpack behind each seat.  The later facelift ones made those pockets a bit deeper.  But in terms of sitting in it, you don’t feel cramped.  Or I don’t anyway and I’m reasonably large person.

I’m dragging it up to the barn next weekend to start pulling it apart. Pics of the progress will be updated to that URL as it happens. :)

4x98 > 4x98 05/11/2019 at 16:45

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Some updates.

From this:

To this:

And the chill out area is coming along, got the place wired for sound, dragged the amp up and built a table for it:

Tired, sore and enjoying a beer now.

Nauraushaun > 4x98 05/14/2019 at 03:53

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Super cool. Should make another post here so I don’t forget ;)

A small backpack per seat sounds like a real pain.

4x98 > Nauraushaun 05/14/2019 at 09:47

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Another post is in the works when it starts coming apart.  I really need a build thread somewhere for it.

4x98 > 4x98 05/25/2019 at 14:42

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MR2 Update: https://pripyat.smugmug.com/Car-Nerdery/MR2-Again-WCPGW/i-F9Nksjh

Engine almost out :)

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > 4x98 08/30/2019 at 14:45

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This is sweet.  Late to the party, I am.

4x98 > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 08/30/2019 at 15:32

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Ah ha! You found me!

https://pripyat.smugmug.com/Car-Nerdery/The-Barn-1/   <-- pics of the barn as it evolves. 

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > 4x98 08/30/2019 at 16:15

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I also have an SW20 (with a 348 body kit) that needs a V8 too...  LS4 or Northstar, that is the question.

4x98 > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 08/30/2019 at 16:44

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Bang for buck, the LS is the way forward.  Not as quirky perhaps.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > 4x98 08/30/2019 at 16:54

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Yeah, it’s just more work since the LS4 had no provision for an engine mounted starter motor— so there’s considerable messing about with the bell housing of the F40 to get a starter on it. Then, it’s “leave the Dod and VVT or ditch it?”.

PCM definitely easier on LS, but the N* has been to spun to beyond 8K so we might go that way for the noise alone...

4x98 > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 08/30/2019 at 17:41

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That’s part of the reason the 2ZZ engine is going in the MR2.  I like a thing that revs to silly RPM.  :D

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > 4x98 08/30/2019 at 17:44

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have thought about it for the Beta Coupe in fact.  Odd it was offered in the US only in the boring Matrix/VibeGT combo.  But... manual!

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > 4x98 08/30/2019 at 17:45

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PM sent btw

4x98 > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 08/31/2019 at 19:08

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You didn’t get the Celica 190?

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > 4x98 09/02/2019 at 21:03

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I don’t think so... I believe it was only the NUMMI cars— which were primarily the Vibe/Matrix doppelgangers.

Thanks for the PM btw.  I’m traveling, getting ready for a Moab trip, so have been offline for a couple of days.

4x98 > 4x98 11/01/2019 at 06:12

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Argh.  7 weeks work keeps me from barn and tinkering.  The struggle is real.

Hudson Hawkish > 4x98 03/05/2020 at 12:35

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Any chance of an update on Project Mancave? This looked epic. 

4x98 > Hudson Hawkish 03/08/2020 at 09:23

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Oooh many updates! I’ve been slack in my updates. Things we’ve done:

- Total re-wire and now it won’t burn the ground

- LED lights install

- Config of bays along the back wall with smart chargers and lighting

- Workbench build done

- Mahoosive air compressor and airlines run to all the corners of the place

- I built a workbench on castors with an integrated table saw and haven’t lost a single finger yet

- Some extensions to the lounge area

Some visual updates might be more fun:

The back wall, with bays and lighting:

A video osame for ease of viewing:

https://pripyat.smugmug.com/Car-Nerdery/The-Barn-1/i-4xpDBNW/A

Wood stored neatly:

The Elise in its new space alongside my workbench:

New wiring *and* INTERNET!

No battery shall die alone:

Remvoable steering wheels are the best:

Hell yes air tools!

With lines to the bench

And wall mount:

Weird panramic of the tool wall and benches:

Cosy chill out area:

Where am I today ? Working from home?

View across the barn

From another angle:

Sorting tools:

I’ve even made some prgoress on the MR2

I’m uploading most of the pics I take each weekend to here: https://pripyat.smugmug.com/Car-Nerdery/The-Barn-1/

We’re almost a year in I think and it’s coming along nicely.  I can’t wait for summer so we can do the floors while it’s warm and hopefully get the 2 post list in.

4x98 > Hudson Hawkish 03/08/2020 at 09:25

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Also, Kinja, for fucks! Post photo once, get 3, 5, 10! Sorry about that. Not even going to attempt to correct that lest it get worse. Apologies for the scrolling.

Hudson Hawkish > 4x98 03/08/2020 at 10:50

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Looks like a great place to wait out the virus....

Which Kinja clearly has picked up 

Hudson Hawkish > 4x98 03/08/2020 at 10:51

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Ha.

Wow that place looks great. Wonderful work

4x98 > Hudson Hawkish 03/08/2020 at 12:49

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Thanks!  It’s coming along.  Slowly but surely we’re getting there.  I might even be able to start working on the MR2 again shortly if I can find a spare weekend :)