After 53 years I think I earned it!

Never ever bought a new car. Seems somewhat weird for me. I watched lots of folks around me and my brothers and sister get brand new vehicles but I always went for the used ones. Many were only a few years old but used just the same. They always went to my wife since she would tote the kids around and I wanted to make sure they were safe. I would always get what she was driving and that was the standard rotation. Once the car got to the point where it needed work, which was usually around the 150k mark, I would take my junker in and trade it on something nicer for her and I would start working on my "new" car.
I can't say those days are over but we finally did take the plunge and get a 2015 RAV4 for her and a brand spanking shiny new Tacoma for me. Like most folks I get to work on it now because I want to!

Oh and yes that is a 4 car garage behind the truck.

 

So, what's in the garage?

 

Garage size and pics pleas I'm actually looking into plans to build one

 

Right now it is getting prepped. Left end will be wood shop and the right end will be auto shop (in the picture above). I wish it were tall enough to put a lift in but it isn't. Once the shop is done my first car (1965 Mercury Comet) will be parked in it. Currently, it is being restored by my dad. Yes, my dad is in his 70's but he wanted something to do so I sent him some cash to do the restore. This is an older picture of the inside and this is the wood shop end. I'll see if I can get a better shot of the whole end and post it. I'll also see if I can get a couple pictures of what my dad is doing on the Comet.

 

By the way I will be undertaking a project of my own. I picked up up a 1988 Toyota pickup from a friend that was unemployed and didn't want to just let me pay his mortgage. It has the 22re engine and it still runs pretty good but the body is a mess so I'm looking for another with a decent body that I can put the engine into.

 

Good chance the 88 motor will outlive your new truck. Congrats on the truck get some pics of that comet and 88. What are the big plans for the truck?

 

Here is the 1988. Ugly but it does still run.

 

It's tall enough. Look up Max Jack.

I have a 2 post lift, had it for 3 years. I've only lifted truck high enough to walk under it 3 times. 90 percent of work I do on my trucks, I only lift the truck waist high. Your back will thank you.

 

Awesome third gen, pickup, and garage! Can't wait to see pics of the Comet! And welcome to Tacomaworld!

 

You made a solid choice.

Welcome! And nice garage... Slightly jealous.

 

I like how you put the pic of a brand new truck and casually mention the 4 car garage at the end. Then mention you've got an 88 toyota and a COMET. I want to know what other information are you withholding?

 

The comet was parked when I went in the military and it is in pretty rough shape but dad is willing to get it road worthy again. It won't be a show car by any means but I will be driving it. I dug up a couple pictures of before and after floor pans.
You can see how bad it was under the brake pedal although this is fairly "normal" rust areas for eastern seaboard cars (new England).

Once he got the new floor pans in and we got the trunk done I shot it with some primer. I find that is a good way to "see" what you are missing. This is from the trunk toward the front and you can sort of see the repairs done behind the box that is there. Ya there are still lots of little holes to braise and pock holes to smooth over but it's lots better than it was.



I guess I'm cutting my teeth on this and will be tackling the 1988 on my own. Last pictures are the inside of the shop. I'm getting the floor clean so everything is out of this one side.



Looks sort of blurry here but you get the idea. I think I might have had my gloves on. Anyway I have some oil spots to clean up before I get the epoxy put down. Last picture is all the "stuff" that I had to crowd over to prep this area.



Once I get the epoxy done on both ends then I have to rewire it for better lighting and still figure out if I can get a lift in there. Like koditten said I just want to save my back and not have to lay on the ground anymore.

 

Welcome.
Great first post.
Looking forward to many more.

 

Can't wait to see how the comet turns out, show cars suck make im glad to see your making it a driver like it was intended to do.

 

It was here when I bought the house so I didn't build it or have it built. It was built in 2 sections. The half toward the truck is roughly 20x24. The back half was increased slightly to 22x24. Given the fact that I will be putting a bench in for automotive work there really isn't too much room in the first bay. After measuring and drawing several ideas I have resigned myself to the fact that I will not be able to work in the garage with a car in that first bay. The 22x24 is more liberal in area but if I were to do it I would go 24x24 so you have plenty of room all the way around. The bad part of this is resisting the temptation to just store more "stuff" which could make you wish you didn't have so much space.

 

Thanks! Growing up in a ford family (my dad was a driver/owner back in the dirt track era) I had always leaned in that direction because dad knew everything about Fords (and still does). I did a lot of research (like probably too much) and I kept coming back to the Toyota. I am really liking it alot. I keep reading about all the mods that folks do and I have started my list. Now I just have to save the money!

 

I grew up in a Ford family too! After watching my old boss' F150 go up in flames after a day of not even being touched, and then my first car (90 Mustang 2.3L) bursting into flames, I was kinda done with Ford. I ended up buying my 96 5 lug Tacoma, and never looked back!
Good luck ever saving money again, being up on TacomaWorld means it's only a matter of time before you get bitten by the mod bug. You won't know you have it until you notice the main symptom, which is a shrinking wallet.

 

Very nice! Just bought my brand new 2016 TRD OR 2 weeks ago. I love it!

 

This looks pretty interesting. I'll keep it in mind when I get ready. Gotta get the floor done first!