Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

[Rich C.]

I'm looking at building a new workshop garage. Any one feel like posting a photo of their shop/storage?


'73 LS-4 454, Owned 22 years!

Collecting N.O.S. parts for the eventual restoration for 21 of them!

[Terry M.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

Go to www.garagejournal.com and head to the forum. Eat your heart out, but don't blame me for your reactions to what you find there.

[Joe R.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

Rich,

Please tell us a little more about your plans. How big will it be? I assume it's for working on your 73. What else (if anything) do you plan to do with the space in your new Garage Mahal? Per Terry's recommendation I've been lurking over on the Garage Journal web site. A lot of good stuff there, but not specific to your needs unless you post your question on their board, too.

Joe

[Alan S.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

Hi Rich,
A general thought...
In restoring my car in my basement garage I realized that if space permitted it would be great to have a 'dirty' bay, a 'clean' bay, and a small but seperate area for painting small parts. I probably spent 20% of the total time cleaning up in order to change 'processes' in the same work space space.
I realize this is a lot of space for 1 car and 1 sorta restorer.... but....next time... .
Here's a picture. I'm obviously not a mechanic, but I managed to get it apart and back together in this space.
Regards,
Alan

[Gary C.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

Rich,

Do a search. Lots of good info on shops, lighting, photos etc. posted in the Tech forum.

Gary
....

[Patrick N.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

Rich, sounds like a fun project. I second Joe's questions, what do you plan to do in the shop? The one thing I would consider is how to take advantage of unused space such as overhead, corner areas and vertical storage. When I worked at both Black & Decker and Stanley, garage storage / organization periodically surfaced and we explored ways to add more function without taking away usable work space in the garage when looking at developing new products in this area.

Think about the time frame of each project and the accessibility to the items you need. Immediate projects should be handy, longer term projects / parts can be stored. I have two sheds that house my long term stuff so it does not clutter my garage. Small part storage vs. bulky items...

Have fun!
Pat

[Terry M.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

I'm looking at building a new workshop garage. Any one feel like posting a photo of their shop/storage?


'73 LS-4 454, Owned 22 years!

Collecting N.O.S. parts for the eventual restoration for 21 of them!

Rich,
I did a 24 x 40 (on a 50 foot lot) back in 1978/79. 9-foot wide doors and 8.5 foot ceiling. If lifts would have been popular back then I would have gone 2 feet higher. It would have been no more hoops with the city. I am glad I did it back then because I could never do it now days, but I am stuck with that relatively low ceiling. Garages are one place where size does matter.

[Paul O.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

Rich

My garage I had built is 28' X 28' 9' X 16' door with a steel entry door. On the right half the ceiling is vaulted 20' at the peak with a 2 post lift installed the left is at 10' ceiling with storage above access is a pull down stairs that is to the vaulted side of the storage area. Built a 4' X 8" power room with Electrical Panel 150 Amp service , Air Compressor and a water heater that supplies the radiant floor heating system. Here are some photos of the garage.



house 003.jpghouse 009.jpghouse 008.jpghouse 007.jpg


Paul 18046

[Tom L.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

Many have suggested that you consider ceiling height. Unfortunately I did not consider it, I had no idea how inexpensive a lift was. However here's something that few consider, a basement under the garage. That I did consider and the costs of something like that are not as expensive as you might think. Especially when you consider that you'll double the amont of space on the same footprint. Good luck!!!

[Anthony P.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

Here you go.... Ignore the Ford stuff.. LOL

I have 14' ceilings so the lift works great even for working on my SUV.

In the basement is the compressor with connections in the garage. Also out of sight is the refrigerator for the much needed beverage when things are not going right.. Also for the stall with the lift, there are extension tracks so the door goes up higher, so when the car is on the lift, I can still open the door and it goes over the car.

[Rich C.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

Go to www.garagejournal.com and head to the forum. Eat your heart out, but don't blame me for your reactions to what you find there.

The Michigan theater has plenty of ceiling height, but it'd be $$$ to heat where I live! Neat site though!

[Rich C.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

At first I was thinking 38' wide by 22' deep. There will definitely be a twin post lift, kinda hoped in middle, so I didn't have to have a crazy high roof line. Then have enough room for the "two cars" when body comes off. Also need to park the 'too tall for the current garage, dodge ram (sorry, got a great deal and it's set up for towing). There will be ABSOLUTELY NOTHING of wife & kids belongings in this space! That's why I posted this thread, so I could see REAL vette peoples arrangements. Size is flexible, it;'ll be detached, I have plenty of space for it. So far the photos have all been super! Thank You ALL! I'm in the process as we speak of constructing a attached garage that will be a climate controlled 'display case' for the car when it's done. I've got a bunch of period correct GM tools, GM chemicals and pictures of all the different style vettes to display in there as well. (this stuff has been in storage WAY too long.

'73 LS-4 454, owned 22 years

Collecting N.O.S. parts for the resto for 21 of them1

Sam Adams Cream Stout, on tap shortly!

[Paul J.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

Rich, there's a lot on this in the archives. You should check that out.

There are a few things that you need to consider before you start. What will you be doing in the shop? Frame off restorations, pulling engines, suspension disaasembly and other heavy duty repairs require a different space than just oil changes and tire rotations.

Consider what equipment you'll need. Will you need a blasting cabinet, or a parts washer. What will the configuration of the workbench be? My workbench is 12' long, with a sitting area at one end and a vice, drill press, and buffer at the other. It will hold a fully dressed engine (or two). Even then I should have made it larger.

Be sure to consider the two most important things carefully, those being light and power. Don't forget about little things, like breaking the lights into two circuits, which can give you a lot of light, or a whole lot more light when you need it.

Are you going to have a compressor? Be sure to leave room for it and plan your lines carefully. There's a great website for this on the internet (it escapes me right now). Remember the power required.

Place 20 amp outlets 6' apart, with a gang behind the workbench area. Break the circuits as required. Plan for at least one 220 volt outlet and if you need a heater be sure to plan for power for that.

Make sure the garage is big enough. You should be able to walk all the way around the car with both doors fully open. Mine is 32X30 with 13' 8" ceilings, and it's still not big enough. I've had to use another 30x30 garage that my son has for overflow and to store frames, bodies, etc.

Plan where your equipment will be. Go online and get the dimensions and make sure it will fit. Make sure there is power or air behind that spot. Plan your drops the same way.

If you can, attach the garage to the house. It will be worth more when you sell the property. There are a thousand more things but you just have to find them as you go. Take your time planning this. It will pay off in the future.

Paul

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[Mark D.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

Ralph Spears asked me to post this. He says clean and orderly is over rated

[Mark D.]

Re: Corvette Workshop- Looking for Ideas- Show yours Off?

Here's the Donnally dungeon...

The general population



Special cars (not mine)











My piece of junk