Projects Rickybop's 1931 Plymouth 3W Business Coupe build

Is it too early to roll the Plymouth in yet.....???

 

Unfortunately, 30 days too early.

 

You'll be rolling it in in your dreams tonight....... (That doesn't sound right but you know what I mean).

 

I sure do know what you mean, Steve old buddy.

It was a nice evening here, and I did go out there and spend some quality time with my brand new concrete floor.

 

I can't wait.... on your behalf.

 

I pushed myself hard to get everything ready for these guys. I can do that, but then I pay in aches and pains and then I need to rest and recuperate. Tomorrow, I ain't doin' nuttin'.
I'm whipped.
But of course, I'm happy.

 

Thanks a lot, @twenty8 Steve.
I can't wait either.
On my behalf. LOL

 

I'm happy for you my friend, you have waited years for this, congratulations HRP

 

The hot and humid weather should be over then...

 

Man I know thats a great feeling.

 

Yeah, this is gonna be great.

 

Thanks very much, Danny.
Boy, you ain't lyin'.
And I know that you and the rest of the fellas here know full well just how much it means.

 

Dan came by this morning with his son Travis and made the cuts in the concrete. Lotsa dust. After they left, I washed it down with the garden hose. I'll be keeping it wet for the next week.

 

You know it, brother.

It really is somethin'.
Kinda like a dream come true.
There's not a lot that's more important to me and I'm sure most of you, than to be able to work on our old junk and have the tools and equipment to do it with and a good place to do it.

And as I've expressed before, the whole "garage scene", the build itself and the ambience of the place I think is just about as important to me as finishing the car is. Of course I want to finish my projects, see my visions and efforts come to fruition. But if I die halfway through building this Plymouth, I'll have died happy with a great sense of fulfillment. I don't want to get too sappy, but all this definitely conjures up some emotions.

Danny reminded us that I've been waiting for this for years. That's the truth. But actually, I've been waiting my whole life for this. I've had some challenges along the way, but it looks like blue skies ahead.

I'm excited. LOL

 

Look at you! You got a shop with a floor and walls and a roof and everything. I'm glad for you; I've lived through West Michigan winters with nowhere to work. It ****s, bigtime.

 

Thanks @alanp561
"walls and everything" LOL
Yes... come this winter, I'll be snug as a bug in a rug.

 

The beauty and uniqueness of this particular little pole barn is that not only are we pretty far out in the country with a lot of space between neighbors and very little traffic, but also that it's behind the house and a couple of the other buildings. Can't really even see it from the road. Each end of the 10-ft fence that surrounds the house terminates at two corners of this building. The man door is accessed from the yard, but the big door is accessed from the field behind the house. You have to enter from the second gate that's 50 yards down the road from the main gate and drive all the way around the back of the place to get to it. So I'll be back there in a world of my own. I can grind metal and run the compressor and make noise all night long and not bother anybody. And nobody will bother me. Well, the horses and wild deer might come around to visit whenever I might have the big doors open. But they don't bother me. LOL

 

Rick, what is the thinking behind the 5 gallon bucket embedded in the concrete? HRP

 

Two reasons, Danny.
I'll be cutting the plastic bucket out at some point, leaving me with a circular patch of gravel around the hydrant, an inch or so lower than the surface of the floor to act as kind of a drip drain for small spills. Also, the hydrant can be dug up if it ever needs repair.

 

The shop I had put up at my previous place was about the same size as yours, 24x36.
Was great. I had it put up in front a small 1 car garage. Double great!

I could put 4 vehicles inside, plenty of room for welding, etc and all my tools.
Great!

Then over time, one vehicle, side stepping around collected ****.
Don’t be like me!!

 

I hear you, @Budget36 Mike.
This little pole barn is just big enough for me if I don't clutter it up too bad. So I'm probably going to build a lean-to type addition for storage.

 

Wow! I have no idea how I missed the pour day pictures!
So much has happened in just a couple of days!
I too am truly happy for you. Congrats!

That 24' x 36' is nearly a perfect size for a shop, if you can resist collecting a bunch of stuff that occupies floor space. My current garage was originally a 24' x 24' with a single 16' garage door, and a side walk in door. Then I added 8' onto the side side with the walk in door, and added a walk in door facing the same direction as the garage door faces. That extra space was built with the original outside wall still existing. Ive added storage shelves in the addition, when that area gets full, its time to sort the junk from the stuff to keep (there is some additional storage space on the prpoperty, that is very inconvenience to access from the garage.), being inconvenient reduces the desire to collect too much stuff. That leaves me with most of the original 24' x 24' as a work space (or a place to park 2 cars now that I have retired from actual work). When I need the space for working on something, the two parked cars have to sit outside.

With you having the garage door access in a remote location will become both a pita at times, and a blessing at other times. Being at either end of that will welcomed, or hated, but both balance out. Over all, its a good plan, even if it doesn't seem like it at times.

After the cement cures, the next challenge will be insulation, heat, lighting, and plug ins! LED lighting is cheap, and bright, gang boxes with 4 plug every 8' is a good plan, insulation make the winters better, and keep most of the summer cooler, and heat sure helps in the winter (I have not experienced AC in the summer, but some days it sounds pretty good).

Planning the next move makes the 30 days seem shorter....

 

Did you write your initials in the cement someplace...I wouldn't be able to resist LOL

 

Rick, when you start shopping for lighting get the LED lights,you will not regret it, they are much brighter than the old style florescent bulbs. HRP

 

Thanks guys.
Yeah, LED lighting is great.
All this did happen rather quickly, didn't it.
No I didn't put my name in it LOL. Judy asked me the same thing. Did you put our names in it? No, just the year.

 

Please pour a concrete ramp now. You'll be happy about it later. I'd make it ~5-6' longer than any of the cars you have now. If you don't, you'll wish you did... ;( .
Also looks like there's enough sidewall to put-up good-sized shelving that won't hit the shoulders or head. They're very useful. & space down the center of the rafters for large bulky - but sorta-light stuff. A pull-down ladder is nice for that. .
Glad you've got this done. .
Marcus...

 

Thanks @nrgwizard Marcus!
When you say ramp, do you mean an apron out front? Initially, Judy and I thought we might do that. But we're talking a whole lot more money for a concrete apron. So it's going to be gravel. Actually, probably asphalt millings. It's inexpensive and compacts real good. And it doesn't get all squishy and muddy like crushed concrete and limestone when it gets wet. You don't want smooth gravel or pea gravel cuz it moves around too much. Anybody have any other suggestions as far as materials for a nice apron out front?