The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Retired and ready to participate.

I'm a recently retired teacher and have a small farm.

I joined Stovebolt.com years ago and have lurked off and on since, but never had anything worthwhile to contribute. I am impressed by how respectful and helpful everybody here is.

I've always been interested in pre-1955 Chevy and GMC trucks. I Started with a 54 1/2 ton Chevy as my daily driver in college in the early 70s. It has been 16 years since I drove an old truck, a 1948 Chevy 1 ton shorty school bus which I still have. I also have a 1938 GMC long bed 1/2 ton panel truck in pieces (they're stashed in the back) and an original 1950 Chevy 3100 which I bought at an estate auction in 2008.

Now I'm finally retired and our youngest is scheduled to graduate from college in March. My priorities have drastically changed. I've started the process of having a multipurpose 24' X 36' shop built. I've met a great bunch of old car/street rod guys who get together at the coffee shop on weekday mornings. They have been giving me advice on how to set up the shop. I am looking forward to working on old rigs again and driving them too. I plan to make Stovebolt.com a part of my new life.

Frog, welcome to the 'bolt. 24'x36' might not be big enough after you store everything inside. You might want to consider doubling it... of course, you would fill that up too.

Please scroll through the various forums to see what they have to offer.

Make sure to check out the rules of the page as well.

Questions pertaining to your problem are welcome and will usually get answered quickly.

There are many "how I done it's" here as well that can be found using the search feature.

Welcome to the Stovebolt madness. As you have found out there is no cure!

Triple the size of the garage and be sure to put in a lift.

Even if you can only double the size of the garage, still get the lift.

welcome to the site! MY shop is 24x42 (outside) but is partitioned off on one end. My 58 Viking 60 fits inside but, I have so much junk in the shop, I can barely move around it. I also have to choose, do I want to be able to get past the front or back of it! I can't do both. You may think about building your shop in such a way that you can expand it later if needed, or at least add a loft for some storage!

frogfarmer,

Welcome to Stovebolt.com.

I have two 1954 Chevrolet 3100s, and I had a beautiful/restored 1954/55 GMC COE 2-ton flatbed.

My garage is 32' x 40', with a high roof for a big storage loft (over 2/3 of the floor, 10' above two bays).

The one "bay" with no floor above it (and a high door) used to have a lift, but that lift is now gone.

My COE is also now gone from the high bay/door - I needed space for work benches and equipment.

So, I strongly support the advice given in the posts above - make it bigger, or make it easily expandable (if you have the funds).

Welcome to the Stovebolt, frogfarmer. Consider your self at home. Looks like you have enough projects, like most of us, to last you awhile. Its a good idea to have breakfast with a bunch of like minded guys. Helps keep us motivated...as the guys know, my weakness is Chic fil A which I go to every morning before heading out on my missions, or heading in my shop.....its 30x40 and I get by but wish I had put in a lift. Storage above is a must to put stuff. Good luck, we're here to help.
There are other bolters in Idaho that hang around here so watch for them....and if your close to Ashton go the Precision Chiropractic Clinic and see Brad Rankin. He has a sweet AD pickup and a great car guy. Tell him Alvin sent you.

Yes the bigger the shop the better, mine is 26 x 30 with 2 12 foot wide lean to's on each side...everything is full too...so build the biggest one you can afford. Good luck and keep us posted...

MikeC

Your stuff will expand to fit the space you have available!!
Welcome to the Bolt!

Welcome aboard. I only had the land for a 24x36 but made it work. There's a large storage loft over the back third, and I use the tall walls to hang large parts. I have all my tools and workbenches and even my lift on wheels to arrange for the project at hand. In a pinch I can stuff 3 vehicles in there using wheel dollies to get them out of the snow.
Check my web site in my tag line for shop pictures in action!

" I have all my tools and workbenches and even my lift on wheels to arrange for the project at hand."

Good idea - I recently did this with four tools that are/were on stands. Very handy, and it does save/make space.

NIce blue panel truck, and, nice pickup(s).

https://stonefacegarage.wixsite.com/mysite/51-chevy-restoration

Welcome! My 22ftx36ft shop would be big enough IF I wasn't storing my youngest son's '85 Monte Carlo (going on 9yrs now). Bigger if you can afford it JP

Oh, thank you so much for the positive replies to my introductory post.
Any larger than 24' X 36' will block too much of our view of the sunsets from the deck. So I figure any size shop will be better than what I have now.
A movable lift makes a lot of sense in my situation.

Thanks, just one pickup, before and after 5 years of resto.
The blue panel belongs to a stovebolter here I was helping out.

"how respectful and helpful everybody here is" ..... Thanks! It takes a little work, as you well know.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome Frog, a 24x36 shop is plenty of room to build a truck. Just to utilize your space wisely. The good part is it will more economical to heat.

John

Nhluvstruck, I looked at the photos of your 3100. What a nice outfit and wonderful documentation of your work. Your beginning pic is what my truck looks like now without the corner windows. You have inspired me to get mine cleaned up and on the road. I like that you kept the 216, but a restoration like yours is beyond my capabilities at this point. Your shop looks great and I like the lift too.
Did you find your rust-free truck in NH? I like NH a lot, we have visited there several times in the last few years, that's where our daughter has been going to school.

Thanks "frog". If you make a plan and take it slow , you can do anything on these trucks. I learned to weld and paint and did it all over 5 years. The lift is absolutely the key to save your back and your knees.
My truck was hardly rust free, but a former owner did most of the major sheet metal surgery, corners and floors etc. He just never finished the final welding and assembly. It was sitting outside in primer and starting to re rust. The windshield surround was the trickiest part. I have lots more photos not yet on the website I am planning to organize someday. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Most of what I know I learned right here on these forums. PM to Stop by if your visiting again.