Workshop Pics....

[Welfare Racing]

Hey all,

I've been working on the garage nights after work getting a workspace ready for doing the s52 swap. I was wondering what you all have for a set up, looking for general good ideas from what others already have set up. I just need some insperation. Ill post pics just as soon as I get organized...

[Jon325i]

Best approach is to keep it simple - no need to complicate things. You'll have plenty of those working on your car :-P

The very essential items....

1. Nice, flat, smooth floor
2. Tools - metric, metric, metric
3. Good floor jack
4. Good jack stands
5. Tool box or chest to keep said tools organized
6. Lighting (fixed and movable)
7. Creeper or some old carpet to lay on - sure beats concrete

Not-as-vital but still worthy items....

1. Radio/CD player
2. Snap-on Tools calendar with bikini girls
3. Some BMW crap hanging from the walls
4. Working fridge with your choice of swil
5. If your budget allows, compressor and airtools (drill, impact, grinder)
6. Gloves (I used the disposable kind)
7. Wash basin (much easier to do when existing plumming is already there)

Jon

[Mike325]

I do not have any pics right now of my garage/workshop, but I can give you some advice.

CLEAN
ORGINIZED

You should set up a place to work where you will have the most space available and keep it clean and orginized. This will keep you from loosing your mind. Makes it a lot eaiser to work and you will have more fun with it.

I believe there is a thread similar to this one. Try a search and it may come up.

Good luck.

Edit: Here is the thread for you. http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...orkshop+thread

[echothreezero]

All good advice. I work on a dirt floor as I do not have a concrete garage. I have done two manual swaps, replaced 3 auto gearboxes, lowered 4 e30's, panelled, prepped and painted a 1996 Mitsubishi, panelled and prepped an e30, fitted an mtech II kit to an e30, replaced the front diff on my 4x4, replaced the exhaust manifold and turbo on my 4x4, and swapped an sr20DET into a Nissan Bluebird on that dirt floor.

But concrete would be way better. The only advantage is that you don't care about oil spills.

[StereoInstaller1]

I recommend having a table saw (without dust collection) so you can have dust in EVERY nook and cranny. Build lots of speaker boxes! MDF dust has its own special penetrant.

You should also have extension cords and air hoses running everywhere you can. A loud stereo is also helpful, plus a phone that rings the exact second you get back to the project.

Belt sanders, routers, even jig saws can help with dust accumulation too, but for the full effect you really need the table saw.

A 1981 El Camino without a transmission is convenient for parts storage. Best on jack stands, so the bed is the right height.

All workbenches should be covered from end to end with old broken electronics and rare, expensive and easily scratched parts.

This is only my experience, YMMV.

Luke

[BeirBrennerE30]

Best approach is to keep it simple - no need to complicate things. You'll have plenty of those working on your car :-P

The very essential items....

1. Nice, flat, smooth floor
2. Tools - metric, metric, metric
3. Good floor jack
4. Good jack stands
5. Tool box or chest to keep said tools organized
6. Lighting (fixed and movable)
7. Creeper or some old carpet to lay on - sure beats concrete

Not-as-vital but still worthy items....

1. Radio/CD player
2. Snap-on Tools calendar with bikini girls
3. Some BMW crap hanging from the walls
4. Working fridge with your choice of swil
5. If your budget allows, compressor and airtools (drill, impact, grinder)
6. Gloves (I used the disposable kind)
7. Wash basin (much easier to do when existing plumming is already there)

Jon

that... and an engine stand would be nice to work on the new engine. Also a cherry picker to get the old engine out and the new in.

Also i think its a requiremnet that you have atleast one "friend" there that does nothing except misplace your tools and parts and break everything he touches while saying he is "helping"

[mudflaps]

most auto parts stores will rent you a cherrypicker. some will even give you the deposit back when you return it, so you dont necessarily need to go out and drop hundreds on buying one.

invest in orange hand cleaner and paper towels too.

[george graves]

adding to the list...

- 13mm flex head
- BFH
- crow bar and or an ugly stick
- dykes

Most important thing that I struggle with is knowing when to stop what you are doing and clean up. Oh and clean up compleatly at the end of each day...

[ldsbeaker]

Best approach is to keep it simple - no need to complicate things. You'll have plenty of those working on your car :-P

The very essential items....

1. Nice, flat, smooth floor
2. Tools - metric, metric, metric
3. Good floor jack
4. Good jack stands
5. Tool box or chest to keep said tools organized
6. Lighting (fixed and movable)
7. Creeper or some old carpet to lay on - sure beats concrete

Not-as-vital but still worthy items....

1. Radio/CD player
2. Snap-on Tools calendar with bikini girls
3. Some BMW crap hanging from the walls
4. Working fridge with your choice of swil
5. If your budget allows, compressor and airtools (drill, impact, grinder)
6. Gloves (I used the disposable kind)
7. Wash basin (much easier to do when existing plumming is already there)

Jon

I have all of this minus the calendar and the wash basin. Just picked up the cherry picker and engine stand.... I was thinking about putting a TV in there, but that would just distract me, I think. :D
All I need now is one more spot in my garage (I have a 2 car garage, I need a third "shop" spot.)

p.s. you forgot one of those hurricane fans... most garages don't have AC... >:C

[Raxe]

I recommend having a table saw (without dust collection) so you can have dust in EVERY nook and cranny. Build lots of speaker boxes! MDF dust has its own special penetrant.

You should also have extension cords and air hoses running everywhere you can. A loud stereo is also helpful, plus a phone that rings the exact second you get back to the project.

Belt sanders, routers, even jig saws can help with dust accumulation too, but for the full effect you really need the table saw.

A 1981 El Camino without a transmission is convenient for parts storage. Best on jack stands, so the bed is the right height.

All workbenches should be covered from end to end with old broken electronics and rare, expensive and easily scratched parts.

This is only my experience, YMMV.

Luke

Hahah, sounds like my garage. Workbench is so piled full of parts that I have no idea what's underneath of them, haven't seen it in years. Everything I haven't used in the last month, as well as every shelf/wall/poster is covered in a layer of lachs paint dust from sanding every bit of paint off of my car in the 2 car garage with the door closed. Tip: Don't do this, paint dust doesn't smell nice at all. Especially when wet.

Extension cables are strung left and right, air hose is tangled up and tool box is full of dust thanks to my never closing it. That's why I don't work in my own garage. :)

[Welfare Racing]

pictures as promised, still getting stuff put away, but in all, its comming together...

[Ablice]

You also need a webcam so we can watch you "work" and laugh at you. Put it on a big long extension cord and point to the work you're doing so we can watch and laugh at you fiddle and drop wrenches, spill liquids and knock the car off the jackstands doing a crappy job dropping the mill in the car.

We need our entertainment. When you're done with the motor swap send it to me for safekeeping.

[P12od]

keep it for the kids

[Ender.]

I can't wait to have my own garage someday...

I hate when my dad uses my tools and doesnt put them back, it used to be the opposite way when I was younger, now I know how it feels. Also moving back home with all my shit really clutters the garage, someday Ill clean it out, for now I just want my e30 running!

[kylebes1]

I recommend having a table saw (without dust collection) so you can have dust in EVERY nook and cranny. Build lots of speaker boxes! MDF dust has its own special penetrant.

You should also have extension cords and air hoses running everywhere you can. A loud stereo is also helpful, plus a phone that rings the exact second you get back to the project.

Belt sanders, routers, even jig saws can help with dust accumulation too, but for the full effect you really need the table saw.

A 1981 El Camino without a transmission is convenient for parts storage. Best on jack stands, so the bed is the right height.

All workbenches should be covered from end to end with old broken electronics and rare, expensive and easily scratched parts.

This is only my experience, YMMV.

Luke

your humor gets me every time, but it is a little alarming