Folks Of Interest How many of you are true garage builders ?

I built the shop, and I build cars in the shop.

I have a career in commercial construction so I am always torn between working on the building and working on the stuff in the building. Right now the building is winning. I love to work on old junk, and do pretty much everything except upholstery and engine machining... when I have the time

 

Hey I know that guy too. Almost exact same story. My friend has paid for a couple high end cars that he has purchased, "made better", then sold for profit. He started off with a muscle car, then realized the rods got more attention at car shows, so now he's had half a dozen or so. Can't blame him, cause he's done very well with his flipping of cars. He's a salesman, and does very well with his cars.

I always look at the background in your photos. You can pretty much tell who builds their own stuff and who doesn't just by looking at their shops and the tools in it. A lot of gold chainers only have a shelf with polish and cleaning chemicals on it. No tools.

 

I was born into the restoration hobby. Gramps and dad always worked full time jobs and restored cars in weekends and evenings. I was fortunate enough they set us up with a nice workshop. We moved into the building in 1983. My wife and I do am work except for machine work. I occasionally will reach out for help with sheet metal fab. I don’t have many of those tools. We moved into a new house separate from the big garage and we built an sewing upholstery shop for my wife. Kind of like a she shed but cooler.



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Here is a couple more of the Annex and our "Sew What?' workshop.

 

like I always say, If you can't do right, don't do it all...When funds permit I have someone do my work... Then I know its done right and not left scratching my head to what I did wrong.. The 36 has a major 1st and 2nd gear vibration as of now.. which I have no clue to whats up... so in the shop it goes.. Have a rebuilt box coming from Van Pelts in three weeks.. stay tuned.. nice builds guys

 

I work in the back yard in the dirt, can't afford to build a garage, Oh the other kind of Garage Builder, HAHAHahahah!!!!

 

I do as much as I can and that I have the tools for. I built and installed the engine in my 55, but I had a shop pull and rebuild the trans. I'll change out bolt on parts and the like, but I had a buddy install the 9". I installed (and proceeded to rip out) a Holley Sniper EFI, but I will not mess with coil springs. I have a brand new wiring harness for the car, and I'm on the fence about doing it myself in a single car garage.
I'm not in the best shape physically, so laying under a car for hours on end doesn't work for me anymore. Is what it is. I know what I can do and have done, and I take some pride in that.

 

Are you kidding, have always done it all in my 2 car garage and small 14' shop. Current project Rambler, past Ted Brown T rebuild....

 

Do as much as possible myself because it is fun. But also need to save as much as possible for retirement.


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Double Tee wall panels. That is a shop! Gramps and Dad set you up for life.

 

Built my roadster in this 20 x 24 garage...started 2003 , finished 2011..Now the site for my '30 A coupe build

 

Yes they did. When we moved it it already had a grease pit, a huge air compressor and a loft. It is divided into two sides. Heated workshop side and the cold side for storage.


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LOVE the 'small print' disclaimer!

 

Yes sir. No gold chainers on the hamb! LOL

Me too. So nothing real fancy, and progress is usually slow and wears my ass out LOL. But it's fun and gratifying.

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Although...
With all the help and good information and inspiration the HAMB provides, I doubt that I'll ever simply say,
Yup... did it all myself.

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So....how many of you know the difference between "building" a car and assembling a car? I "build" my stuff, make all the stuff necessary to assemble it, I build my frames, make my brackets and engine mounts, all my four bars, I buy the ends, but I pretty much make everything myself. Guys who buy frames, buy suspension and pre made parts are in my view, "assemblers", not that I wouldn't like to, cause I would, but I learned to make everything and buy the tools to do so, mostly cause I couldn't afford store bought. Now, been doing it so long, I still make my stuff.
My 36....was a bellingham washington airport fire truck, blew it apart, used a 51 ford pickup frame, kicked up the rear of the frame, pinto front, pinto rear springs, all home made hangers, found pickup stuff cause its different than big truck stuff, minivan seat, had a friend bend up the box sides and gate, welded it all together, saved like hell for body and paint, and some years later, done.

 

Built over a 50 year period in this small garage with the help of a lot of friends.

 

I built my shop and several cars, putting in thousands of my own hours, but I will never claim I did not have significant help. Nothing wrong with using expert help when the size and complexity of the job warrants it. I truly enjoy doing as much of a job as I can by myself.

Subsoil conditions required special piers under the foundation, a historic creek-bed in the mudflats at the edge of SF Bay.



...and a few years later it is filled to capacity.


Well over two thousand of my hours in the Model A, and six years elapsed time. Again, I had help from the painter and upholstery guy, but substantially, I built it. I am proud of my efforts, and grateful to those who helped me do the rest.

 

I've been guilty of being a lazy screw off at times. With the old cars, I'm just a hobbyist and enthusiast. I've done some stuff. And I'll do more. But I have to say that I am thoroughly humbled by some of you guys accomplishments. Man oh man...

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I would ad myself to the group. I'm a full-time personal injury attorney with a really bad car habit. You can see my firm's website at 201injurylaw.com

I enjoy my work in litigation, but I also find it therapeutic to come home and work with my hands, whether those projects are related to cars, real estate, or otherwise. A great personal injury file may require years and thousands of hours of time before it yields a result. But an automotive project or home project has a much different sense of satisfaction, and one that is tangible for myself and others to enjoy.

I'm lucky enough to have a wife who supports my addiction, especially since she's a lawyer as well, who comes from a background of cars in her family. I've converted my 40x60 pole building and 30x25 garages into my personal workplaces for my builds and projects. I've outfitted myself pretty well thus far and continue to accumulate equipment to aid in my endeavors. I try to do as much in-house as I possibly can in all areas of the build. If I can do it to a high level, I'll do it myself. If it can't, I'll enlist help.



I will also say this regarding the original post. It is obvious by reading the replies here, many if not most of you are highly skilled and very talented folks. That's awesome.

Here's the definition of "professional"
pro·fes·sion·al
/prəˈfeSH(ə)n(ə)l/

adjective

1. 1.
   relating to or connected with a profession.
   "young professional people"
   synonyms: white-collar, executive, nonmanual
   "people in professional occupations"
   • 
     
2. 2.
   engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime.
   "a professional boxer"
   synonyms: paid, salaried, nonamateur, full-time
   "a professional tennis player"

Notice it says nothing about being good at what it is that the profession is, just merely that the person makes their living in that activity? It has become synonymous that a "professional" is an "expert", which is simply not the case.

Expert is defined as
ex·pert
/ˈekˌspərt/
noun

1. 1.
   a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
   "a financial expert"
   synonyms: specialist, authority, pundit, oracle, resource person; More
   

adjective

1. 1.
   having or involving authoritative knowledge.
   "he had received expert academic advice"
   synonyms: skillful, skilled, adept, accomplished, talented, fine
   
   I feel that that encompasses more people on here. Persons that are highly skilled in this field, but choose not to pursue it as a career. We've all been in the boat where we've had to fix the mistakes and shoddy work of a so-called professional.

 

I’ve built every hot rod I’ve owned in a 1 car garage or on a carport. Mig welder and an angle grinder, and average tool set. I’m fortunate to have talented friends that help me when I run into something above my skill, but I’ll usually try it first because I hate asking them. I like to think I do it like the average guy used to in the 50s or 60s, but truth is I’m just cheap as hell!

 

Im a hack shade tree “mechanic” and mechanic is being generous ... i do what I can but if I cant, I have to pay for it to be done and 9/10 what I pay to have done is always never that good. 10/10 I think, i could have done this. Thankfully, with time my confidence is getting better.


Probably younger than a lot of you. My Old man was a mechanic and unfortunately the people here are a hell of a lot nicer and more helpful. Most of the time Id rather pay for help than get my a$$ chewed out. Hahahaha.

I attempt most stuff on my own, but electrical is not my forte. I still suck at carb adjustments but Im learning. One day when I own a home I can build from the ground up..... ah, to dream

 

Like that dodge! 54? 55?

 

Wow, those are some nice garages..... I would have been happy with a cement floor.

 

I build them all in my garage except paint and uph. Do them for friends as well.

 

Judging by photos, you are right behind El Rancho Suites kiddy-corner to O’Reillys! Live near you behind Capuchino High. Hope to run into you someday. Nice shop!

 

Add me to the basement builders category. I try do as much as I can but do leave the machining and upholstery to the pros... and as I fall further and further behind where I thought I'd be on this I buy more pre-made stuff for it.

 

The Amish build nice buildings.