Me too, brother. I live in a condo and although the truck is in our garage, we're not allowed to work on them in there. What makes it worse is that my condo is on the 4th floor so every time I have to piss or I forget some tool, I have to lock everything up and walk to the elevator. Round trip takes about 4 minutes if I'm lucky and no one is using the elevator. It sucks not having a garage where you can work on your car and hang out to get away from everything.
Now I don't feel so bad about my 1.5 car garage anymore.. Although I've got 4 and a half cars and more parts, tools, and equipment than I care to admit.
I feel your pain, I have my car parked in the back yard between a camper and my dads shop with barely enough room to open the doors on either side. But theres something to be said about a back yard build! Or at least thats what I tell myself so that I feel better. Hopin' for a shop in the future, sure would be nice.
One of the best I ever did.... the starter went in my '64 Ford and there was 3' of snow on the ground and it was about 20*, blowing like a bitch. Got a push start after work, ran for home. The driveway was a no-man's land. I ran the car up on a snow bank, set the e-brake, chocked a rear wheel and excavated a space under the car all by streetlight light. I did have a big piece of cardboard to lay on and swapped the starter out. Not the safest thing in the world and not recommended to anyone, but it worked. Bob
I bought a Costco canopy in 2010 and set it up in the backyard to build my project in. Laid down some gravel on the ground and then sheets of plywood over that. I did the whole project through wind, rain, winter, and was cozy, warm, and dry, with my propane space heater. The canopy was only $189, and money well spent! I still use it to store one of my other cars, and it will be used for the next project too! I even used it as a paint booth when I did the bodywork and epoxy primer!
id like to get a costco type tent and i even have a small 10x10 one i also use but were still in monsoon season here in southern AZ and we can get some hardcore winds. i have my tent straped down and even have large coffee cans with cement in them which the legs go into and bolt on to. winds would still whip and rip that thing around no one has a trampolean in their back yards, theyre just huge sails to blow away
My frient built the coolest shop one of those $895 car ports bolted 2x4's to the sides and t-111 sides 8 ft side walls put up full sheets even got the one with the peak roof next a mobil home heater. this place looks really good
I did tranny swaps with the car parked in the street.Worked outside in brutal cold weather with no shelter.Worked in snow and if you dropped a wrench it was gone until spring.Built a GMC 302 in the basement of my 1860's house.Lowered it onto a pallet with a Cum a Long on an oak beam.Hauled it up a steep cellar walk out on planks greased with soap using rope and chain tied to my Jeep.Then dragged it 300 feet to the barn -shop in a blizzard.the Jeep got stuck 50 feet from the barn. Cum a Long that fucker into the barn.Installed the engine in my 37 Chevy truck in that unheated barn with snow blowing through the wall planking.All by myself.... That was 8 years ago. I now have a heated 32 x 32 shop........In a weird way I miss the struggle of back then.
I haven't hada place to work on my T in a few years. It sucks working in the elements, but I've gotten great at watching the weather. Summer and rain are the worst.
SCH 40 PVC 8 90s- 4 45s -16tees -80' 3" pipe don't glue use bolts and a tarp.If the city gets on your butt unbolt Waite a few days put it back when your poor you learn to get by with what you have.Have two cars more PVC
me n my pop split rent on a 25x20 shop about 5 miles from our house. i can honestly say its the best thing ive ever done. to be able to work on a vehicle whenever the hell you want, in whatever weather, not have to roll around in mud and dirt. its friggin awesome. check locally man. you may be able to find units for rent. snowy and rainy days are the best days to work on shit. there aint jack else to do
I too wish for a garage. I've had to do all my work in the great outdoors. Through wind and rain, heat and cold. Not much fun. Could get more accomplished with a sheltered area. MAybe next year will be the year I win the lottery.
We get lots of rain, and the East wind kicks up pretty good in the area I live in! I had to get those 36" auger anchors and tie my 10'x20' canopy down at each post. They've held up to wind gusts over 50 mph for the last couple years.
I can remember when I needed a freakin' garage...Now I have one, and I need a BIGGER FREAKIN' GARAGE!
I know the feeling falcongeorge. I was happy when I got my 26x30 and should have been 100x100. never big enough but thank God I have something. I have gone to a car wash or bank drive through to do some must do work in the past. guess I would get locked up now a day's. my first was one of those 10x10 canopy's they do get airborne mine ended up in a pine tree once. gave it to a buddy and it's still being used.