For those lucky enough to have gotten my snapchats as I was building the garage congratulations on your exclusive early access! Those who know me know I enjoy working on cars, and for the past seven years have been working outside, usually in a covered driveway but still exposed to the elements for the most part. I'm used to freezing in the winter and sweating bullets in the summer. Having a completely enclosed garage would make working on cars more comfortable. Wiring the garage with electricity would let me power my tools without extension cords, and the lights would let me work at any hour of the day. It's also secure storage for my motorcycle and tools and can protect one of my family's four cars (mine) from the elements.
So before I could get started on the garage I needed to clear it out. My dad's old Toyota Highlander Hybrid was sitting in there rotting away. Something was wrong with the hybrid system and the dealer wanted around 5 grand to TRY and fix it. No guarantees. So it sat in the driveway for a year until I tried to fix it. I spent a few weeks working on it: first by swapping out a giant wiring harness that ran the length of the car.
When that didn't work I tried dropping the rear suspension and sub-frame to change the hybrid electric motor. About $2000
later and no closer to fixing it I ended up selling the car as-is for $1500. I took a gamble not knowing exactly what the problem was. If I had fixed it I'd be able to sell the car for around $5000 and be able to fund the garage from that and make my money back. You win some you lose some.
With the car on it's way out I prepped the driveway by cleaning it out. I had about seven years worth of used motor oil and transmission fluid stored in various containers so I got those out first. I took them to the local recycling center where I found out they had a a five gallon limit. The guy was cool though and went "If you pour it out yourself I'll pretend all that's only five gallons." So I ended up getting my hands a little dirty but I got rid of all the oil free of charge. Hooray taxes!
Finally I removed what I could to the basement and under the deck that resides right behind the driveway. Then I put whatever was left to one half of the driveway, swept up and power washed half, and then did it again for the other side. All that prep cost about three days time. After this was done I could get started on the actual construction of the garage which will be in another post! Enjoy these pictures pre-construction:
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| Rear subframe with differential removed |
When that didn't work I tried dropping the rear suspension and sub-frame to change the hybrid electric motor. About $2000
later and no closer to fixing it I ended up selling the car as-is for $1500. I took a gamble not knowing exactly what the problem was. If I had fixed it I'd be able to sell the car for around $5000 and be able to fund the garage from that and make my money back. You win some you lose some.
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| All the various automotive fluids |
Finally I removed what I could to the basement and under the deck that resides right behind the driveway. Then I put whatever was left to one half of the driveway, swept up and power washed half, and then did it again for the other side. All that prep cost about three days time. After this was done I could get started on the actual construction of the garage which will be in another post! Enjoy these pictures pre-construction:
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