garage must haves

[mkawrexi]

john muir's stage 1-3 toolkits aside,
what tools should i get to start body /interior
work on projects? please make cost a consideration
also i am noobie but learn quickly

[scallywagon]

harbour freight has it all,

[lonslo]

[my59]

Tunes,fridge w/ cold beverages.
A place for the tools where you can see em all.
Shelving and storage space. Lots of light.

Locks on the doors especially if you have kids around- drives me crazy when stuff you have taken apart and laid out in some order known only to you gets rearranged.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[lonotch]

A car.
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It's not about the window, it's about the people.

German Folks

[blankmange]

a big, solid work table to work on parts, rather than squatting on the cement

a stool to sit on at that table

lots of lights - it would almost be impossible to have too much

electrical power just about everywhere - you always need an outlet where there isn't one

organization - tools where they should be, parts where they should be, supplies... you get it...
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póg mo thóin

Certified DHS Technician

Samba Member # 24517

[CarreraRS2.7]

Hydraulic lift.
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If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

Gigi: Saturn Yellow 1974 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet

El Barto: Rosso 2017 Fiat 500 Abarth

[pyrOman]

As a lot of you already know the first thing to have is a garage itself!

You just have to have at least a roof over your VW but a garage is definitely a must! And then one with enough room. I absolutely require at least a 2 car garage in order to work comfortably AND keep my bus in also. For that simple reason I live in a 4 bedroom house eventhough it's just me and the wife. My "dream home" is a 5 car garage with a studio apartment on top of it, and the wife is in agreement too!

All other "essentials" will come in with time!
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Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise.

[pyrOman]

Oh, and it's always a big plus to have a good driveway in front of that garage!

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Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise.

[peterericb]

ok here is my "necessity" list since you asked for cost-factor

4 jackstands (Walmart has em for like 9.99 for 2)
Hydrolic or at least better than VW jack - 19.99+
Cheapie $20-$30 tool kit with metric sockets/wrenches, screw drivers, pliers, etc

Red shop cloths

Radio

Here is "Nice to have"

Mechanics Creeper (got mine at a garage sale for 5 bucks )
Drop light extension cord combo with 2+ outlets

Breaker bar

I generally buy craftsman tools (or anything with a lifetime warrenty) because I tend to break stuff.

I recently bought my first garage err house... It is awesome having a 3 car garage, but I don't have a work bench yet, and that is definatly my next purchase.
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I love it when a guy covered in tattoos tells me I should keep my Ghia "All Original"

[67_13Deluxe]

[pyrOman]

[blankmange]

[fifty-five]

You can make a killer work bench out of 2 sheets of 3/4" plywood and 10 - 2"x4"x8'. The design for mine has a shelf across the bottom which is where I keep my spare motor and then the working area is about 42" off the ground but that can be adjusted for your personal preference. I made the shelf and working area 3'x8' and with the extra foot that I had left from the 2 - 4'x8's I made a shelf across the back of the work space and cut one of the 1'x8' into 1'x1' squares to make cubby holes under the shelf.

[marklaken]

How much body work are you planning? will you do your own paint or simply primer, filler and sanding?

I jumped in and got a 60gal. compressor and a MIG welder. I find the welder to be about 100 times more valuable than the compressor. The only task my compressor is used for is spraying these days.

for basic body work, i'd get:
a small/portable compressor, a cheap gun to patch prime (you can let the compressor catchup with primer and do small sections at a time)

a 120V name brand MIG if you need to replace sheet metal with an autodarkening helmet take a quick read of the welding books at barnes and noble

an electrical orbital sander
a 4 1/2" electric angle grinder
some long flat sanding boards
some flexible sanding boards

a quality set of body hammers and dollies (if you take care of your tools, if not, buy cheap and buy often) and a book about bumping out body work
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Wish List:
1967 Wesfalia SO-42 Parts Needed: Kitchenette, Cot Poles

'65 rear left beetle fender

15" Bus Wheels in fair condition

Mark Laken
Fort Collins, CO

[ho-dad]

1. Something to punch and kick to vent your frustrations on.

2. A long stick to retrieve the socket that always rolls directly under the center of you vehicle.

3. A towel to cry on.

4. Ear plugs for the kiddies when you start cussing up a storm.

5. A cell phone so you can call the suicide hotline.

6. A bottle of valium for your nerves (bourbon will do).

7. A camera to take "before and after" shots to remind you that it was all worth it.
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'69 SingleCab
'67 Plymouth Satellite
'62 SuperStock Dodge (I wish...)

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."

[ubercrap]

[metaljim]

[MedicTed]

[vwracerdave]

Drill press - Something I bought that I didn't really think I needed, but once I bought it I really use it alot.

And for god sakes spend $30 for a fire extinguisher for inside your shop, and another $5 for some good saftey glasses and wear them.
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2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK