Who has the best Garage on Pistonheads?

[Streetrod]

Sweet!!!!!!

[Streetrod]

I am in the middle of painting mine, the garage logo has got this far, I just need to add the name.







Once this is finished the chequered black and white floor and cabinets will go in

[Streetrod]

RichB said:

Very good, did you paint the car yourself?

I would love to say yes but that would be a lie. I actually cut it out of a metal sign someone gave me at work for my Secret Santa present. I then mounted in on a block of wood so that its stands off the wall. It gives it a great 3D effect

[Streetrod]

As the originator of this thread I am at first amazed that it is still going but even more delighted at the quality and passion I continue to see.

I get depressed when I watch YouTube sometimes as a lot of the kids you see posting "you will know the ones I mean" don’t own a single spanner and judging by their videos have absolutely no idea what lucks under the bonnet of their expensive toys. Some can’t even be bothered to wash their own cars.

Then I come back to this thread and my faith is restored. The petrol head does still exist and they know one end of a spanner from the other and are not afraid to use them, even on exotics.

Keep up the good work folks, one day maybe the YouTube generation will wake up and realise the pleasure and satisfaction of working on your own car does not necessarily involve getting someone else to cover your car is sticky back plastic and adding an obnoxious exhaust.

[Streetrod]

thecook101 said:

Funny, there are comments all through this thread as to working versus parking garages, and how that may or may not determine a true petrolhead. Yes I do work on my cars, but pretty much maintenance work as opposed to re-building engines. All my cars will still go every year to a respected indy for annuals only because regardless of my own desire to spanner on them I remain an amateur and will never have the knowledge, experience and tools of an well-respected independent specialist that does this day in and day out for a living. For me that not only preserves value (I worked hard to afford these cars), but it also protects the car for future owners - I would never spot all the signs of potential failure or wear that someone with 20 years of Ferrari experience would do.

So the job in the picture was to inspect the rotors, fit new pads, and fix skid plates to the front bumper in preparation for a trip to Wales. Right now I'm fitting an uprated F1 pump and replacing fluids before I track the car in a couple weeks. All "pretty basic stuff" that I can do in my time on my terms. It certainly does add to the enjoyment of owning the car but that's because I'm that way inclined - I can't see something without wanting to know how it works. I want to open it up and then put it back together.

But my garage is also my home office and when I am working from there it gives me huge pleasure to have the cars gleaming behind me. I love seeing them polished up and perfect - and that's how they are 75% of the time. The garage is attached to the house and I catch myself walking in there regularly just to look at them.

Both of these scenarios make me a petrolhead, and in equal measures. I don't believe one needs to work on cars to be a petrolhead, nor do I think that they need to be in perfect order to qualify you. You just need to want them, to admire them, to recognise the work they represent, the history they carry, and the dreams they inspire. Garages, whatever type they may be, make this real for people, and every petrolhead should aspire to have one. Great thread by the way, one to inspire like few other can do. Cheers.

Edited by thecook101 on Friday 10th June 18:35

I agree with every thing you say. Having the ability to spanner on your car is not a pre qualification for being a petrol head but I do think it adds to the experience and the connection. And if all you do is check the oil and make sure your fluids are at the right level at least you have opened your bonnet to check. My dig at the Youtubers was because most of them have never even done that.

My money no object garage would have a show and display area plus a fully equipped fabrication garage tacked on the back. And yes I am a bit a clean freak. All my tools are well used but they are also spotless including my welders, spray equipment and air tools etc, that’s how I roll..

[Streetrod]

thecook101 said:

Streetrod said:

My dig at the Youtubers was because most of them have never even done that.

Agree 100%. Being a car-spotter, even a successful one, does not make you a petrolhead. And I don't say this as if 'being a petrolhead' is some sort of exclusive club, it's merely that I'd be very unlikely to want to share a beer with someone who thinks that the 'programmed pop' an LT makes on upshift is the best feature of the car. FFS!

That’s not the same chap who bigged up the manual transmission on his GT4 as being the best thing since sliced bread then refused to master the art of the heal and toe downshift instead claimed the auto programmed blip was so much better than doing it yourself, I really do wonder about some people sometimes

Edited by Streetrod on Saturday 11th June 14:58

[Streetrod]

This is the most successful thread I have ever started. Can we please keep it about Pistonhead members garages only as that was the intention from the start

[Streetrod]

Having started this thread it has taken me ages to actual put my own garage up. Well here goes.

Its not finished yet as it needs a repaint to remove the red strip as it does not go with the new floor.

The garage is heated and insulated and will be a working garage as I am about to start the restoration of me Beetle which I have owned since the end of the 70's.

[Streetrod]

As part of my garage upgrade I have finally decided to sort out my tools. Being a bit OCD I wanted that pro look so decided to get my tools put into shadow foam. Having checked out the prices for professionals to do this and being shocked by the prices I decided to do it myself. Here are my first attempts. I actually think it looks great but it did take 6 hours to do this job, what do you think?

[Streetrod]

SHutchinson said:

Streetrod said:

As part of my garage upgrade I have finally decided to sort out my tools. Being a bit OCD I wanted that pro look so decided to get my tools put into shadow foam. Having checked out the prices for professionals to do this and being shocked by the prices I decided to do it myself. Here are my first attempts. I actually think it looks great but it did take 6 hours to do this job, what do you think?

Are you a jeweller?

Ummm! No. This is actually a working garage and not some show room. I just got feed up with never being able to find the tools I wanted, this sorts out that problem and means I get things done quicker on my restoration project.

Can someone tell me how too make my pictures full size?

[Streetrod]

Funny!!

Yes the body work hammers and dollies are in another draw, I dont have a lump hammer

[Streetrod]

ChevronB19 said:

RichB said:

Streetrod said:

As part of my garage upgrade I have finally decided to sort out my tools. Being a bit OCD I wanted that pro look so decided to get my tools put into shadow foam. Having checked out the prices for professionals to do this and being shocked by the prices I decided to do it myself. Here are my first attempts. I actually think it looks great but it did take 6 hours to do this job, what do you think?

So... how did you do it, what foam did you use?

He says - shadow foam, you can get it from screwfix - expensive though

I bought the foam from Shadowfoam.com, it cost just over £50 for 4 sheets cut to shape and 40mm thick. It also came with a knife to cut things out. It was actually fun cutting the shapes out

[Streetrod]

BigR said:

Streetrod said:

ChevronB19 said:

RichB said:

Streetrod said:

As part of my garage upgrade I have finally decided to sort out my tools. Being a bit OCD I wanted that pro look so decided to get my tools put into shadow foam. Having checked out the prices for professionals to do this and being shocked by the prices I decided to do it myself. Here are my first attempts. I actually think it looks great but it did take 6 hours to do this job, what do you think?

So... how did you do it, what foam did you use?

He says - shadow foam, you can get it from screwfix - expensive though

I bought the foam from Shadowfoam.com, it cost just over £50 for 4 sheets cut to shape and 40mm thick. It also came with a knife to cut things out. It was actually fun cutting the shapes out

How easy is it to measure & cut the foam to size? I've just got a load of New Age cabinets installed and my OCD has a similar desire to stop everything rattling around inside...

When you order the foam they will cut it to fit your draws, it comes in a number of colours by the way. Actually cutting out the shapes for your tools is not difficult, it just takes patience. As I said before it took me about 6 hours to do the two draws you can see. And if I say so myself it does look very professional

[Streetrod]

RichB said:

Streetrod said:

As part of my garage upgrade I have finally decided to sort out my tools. Being a bit OCD I wanted that pro look so decided to get my tools put into shadow foam.

Incidentally, did you put all the sockets and ratchet wrenches in the dishwasher first? Mine have a build up of 40 years of dirt on them! I'd balk at putting them in my nice clean £50 layer of shadow foam.

Nope, I just like to keep my kit clean

[Streetrod]

bad_panda said:

RichB said:

Incidentally, did you put all the sockets and ratchet wrenches in the dishwasher first? Mine have a build up of 40 years of dirt on them! I'd balk at putting them in my nice clean £50 layer of shadow foam.

Haha yeah at £50 a sheet it'd be something to consider

He probably just cleans them after each use. I've had most of my tools for almost 20 years now and they must have been used a thousand times or more, but they still look pretty much new apart from the odd bit of inevitable minor damage.

It was just £50 for 4 sheets by the way, and with any order over £50 they supply you with the very sharp knife you need to cut the foam cleanly

[Streetrod]

Another draw completed, I must admit I am enjoying this little project

[Streetrod]

drakart said:

We didn't go with underfloor, but did fit a similar tile. It's 1350 sqft.

Ah!! You are just pissing me off now.... not fair

[Streetrod]

So here is my large one car garage. Not massive but big enough fro me to restore my Hotrod Beetle. This is very much a working garage as I tend to spend most evenings in here. It is insulated, heated and has a tunes plus all my tools including welding equipment and compressors etc. I need to add a few more pics to the walls to give it a more hotrod feel, but for the moment i am happy.

Being a bit anal I clean up the garage every evening after i have finished work and put all my tools away

[Streetrod]

Redmax said:

Swampy1982 said:

What an earth do you lot do for a living! Is there a secret PH millionaires fund that you unlock after years of membership!

That sir, is a fantastic garage, really spot on. And lovely to hear it gets used in anger!

Do you have any pics of any of the cars mid build, with parts strewn everywhere and tools on the floor?

And can we see inside some of the cupboards?

I genuinely can't find any pics where the garage is a mess, but I'm genuinely the world's messiest worker! It gets to the point where I can't take it any more and can't find anything then have to have a tidy-up. And I'm clearly too embarrassed to take photos when it's a mess.

I did a Caterham build thread on here back around 2012, but I bet the photos always show a tidy garage!

I've uploaded a couple of cupboard interior pics which I'll take down before too long.

RedMax, what can I say, I think you have just won, that is stunning garage

When I started this thread it was with the hope that I would get to see more garages likes yours. Show garages are all well and good but people who actually wrench on their cars for me deserve a huge amount of respect. If that was my garage the only things I would add would be some metal shaping tools like an English wheel etc

You obviously have a bit of a tool fetish like myself plus you appear to have the whole of the DeWalt back catalogue, well done that man.

I know a set up like yours would be out of reach of most; just the cost of those cabinets would make most people wince. But the fact that you have built three cars in there is a credit to you. If we were doing an update of the competition I had when I started this thread I suspect would stand a great chance of winning

[Streetrod]

RichB said:

Redmax said:

Along with all the other positive remarks, I must say that this looks like my ideal garage. I can dismiss the porcelain tiled showrooms full of Lamborghini as they do not interest me but this looks like a place I could easily spend time! Almost perfect (just needs another 2 x bays)

The only thing I would change in the garage would be the green lift. Personally I would have installed a four arm lift. That way you could lift and car whilst taking the load off the wheels and suspension plus it would be easier to remove a body from its chassis with a four arm lift, but I am just being picky