WOW !

I hadn't realised your collection of posts was a) all collated like that, b) so full of old names & faces, c) so long ago !!

Bookmarked for more reading at leisure.

And if one has a LOT of time to spare, here's a story about that Wolseley 1000 before Whee bought it from me.

https://www.minimania.com/Wolseley_Across_America_703

 

I spot with my little eye a SA Wolseley 1000! 

Congratulations!

Beautiful garage and beautiful collection!

Miguel

That's a good idea. Think about what work you'd be doing and how best to orient the workspace for convenience and efficiency. A bit like planning a kitchen, you won't want to be walking the length of the garage from workbench to a sink or to get a tool.

Decide where you want your bench and work organically out from there as you actually use the space.  If you sit down and rigidly plan the layout you'll make mistakes and wish you'd not done it that way and end up moving everything two or three times...

Great looking space !

Not an organizing specialist but can offer a couple of suggestions.
One of my best tools is a pallet jack. I can move stuff around anywhere in my shop if it's mounted/stored on pallet. Things not in use are put on a pallet and moved out of the way. I have 6'x6' wood top bench with vise on three corners (high school shop class bench) that I move around at will. Also a bandsaw that's kept out of the way. I usually try to think of how the pallet jack can help when storing things.

Looks like a two post lift will work but to add some clearance you may want to search "high ceiling garage door conversion" where it frees up space over the garage door for clearance so you can put the lift closer to the door. Unless you want to save that space for over the door storage.

I forgot to mention that I would finish the space off with an industrial ceiling fan from Big Ass Fans. Their lights are OK too.

Thanks for the information all.

 

I should have been a little clearer – this is an existing garage already built. Doesn’t mean I can’t add things like loft storage, but it is drywalled in and painted, so adding power/lighting a little harder.

 

@ Mini14. I have an epoxy floor covering. It’s really nice. I would have done it in a different color though. The lizards blend in too much! (as would a snake which I have not yet seen in the garage thank goodness)

 

@ JohninCM. Wow, yes, I’m going to be spending a lot of time at this site.

@pbraun  - any more details on what you liked/disliked about your cabinets/shelves? Certainly going to do a lift, just need to decide what sort

@mur In floor lifts – hmm. I’ve seen those shelf units @ Costco, they looked good. Thanks for the recommendation there and for the cabinets/benches. I think there is enough power – lots of windows for lights as well as overhead. The height is 13 foot, so I could certainly have some raised storage. Hadn’t thought about air. Hmm

@ Dan Moffet. Thanks.  I’m thinking I may hold off on the loft storage until I actually need it. I may be building a barn elsewhere on my property that could take non-car storage stuff too – not sure yet

@Swindrum – thanks for the insight re 2post/4 post

@ Scargo. I have hot/cold near the stairs to the house/back yard (not shown in photos). I will be putting a slop sink there. I have heating that works really well – cooling not really needed here

@onetim. My wife found the house with this garage! RE another climate controlled building – I do have about 5 flat acres for future expansion…

@ Ve9aa: Hmm, really hadn’t thought about air. Thanks.

You have to have air.  Air tools are a must.  If I had to do it again, I'd plumb my (very small) garage for air, but as it is, I have a hose reel in the center of the ceiling with enough hose to cover all corners of the garage and outside to around 20' outside the bldg.

Wow, it was hard enough to convince my wife I needed a mini in addition to a Mustang, but a 2200 sq ' garage?! Vidmar! I am impressed! Ok then, add a real vice, like a Wilton tradesman or a solid antique, an arch press, 30 ton H beam press, beverly shear, shear brake and roll,  2 stage piston compressor with dryer, small and large spray booths. Millermatic 350 MIG, and Miller Syncrowave 250 TIG welders, spot welder,  Oak top and stainless top benches, a Track 3 axes mill, and a lathe is handy In the end the cars will probably need another climate controlled building.

I don't see any provisions for plumbing or HVAC in the photo's. If you can add a slop sink with hot and cold running water, I'd highly recommend it. I could not live without mine. Also, I regret not having some sort of heating and cooling in my garage.

If your lift is to me used mainly for working on cars, then I would recommend a 2-post, that way you can do wheels-off work easily.

For car storage, a 4 post is nice. I once saw a 4 post turned sideways with 2 minis parked across the span and 2 underneath. You do need to bridge the gap to drive them on tho.

+1 to the loft storage idea. My garage is only 1.5 car size with O/H doors front and back for access to the back yard. The "half" side is for the Mini, two small workbenches etc. But over that side is a full depth (front to back of the house) is a free-span loft to store the "other" stuff garages tend to absorb - lumber, patio furniture winter storage etc. The loft has 7 foot headroom, same height as the O/H doors and the deck is above the height of the door tracks, so longer pieces of lumber can cantilever over the door headroom.  2200 sq. ft eh? My house is only around 1100 sq. ft. but that's all we need.

Rotary still make in floor lifts. A mini guy on the west coast who no longer posts here has two in his garage. While you do have a lot of room, storage and alignment 4 post lifts will certainly make it feel like you have less room.

I would go to Costco and get a few of the industrial style shelf units-Whalen 5 shelf industrial rack. You need only one upright to turn one set into two sections, so all of a sudden you can get everything off of the floor. 

As for work benches and tool storage, since you are in the US, take advantage of the guys in Texas who resell Lista, Stanley Vidmar and Rousseau cabinets and benches. You are not in any hurry so you can take your time, get stuff in the same colour, and end up with a beautiful workspace. You can use Pex plumbing to hard mount air lines to a few work areas. I really like the quiet of California Air Tools compressors.

As mentioned, light is important, but so is power. If you don’t already have handy outlets everywhere, and need to add more, consider 20 amp receptacles and wiring/breakers just in case you need to power heavier tools or the caterers at your pre mini meet party have a lot of chaffing dishes.

Getting back to storage, a mezzanine in one corner might be a good solution for car specific parts storage. You have some height that could be put to use.

I did an epoxy coating on the floor, cabinets and some shelves, and a 4 post Bend Pak lift, anchored, which is very useful for many things - suspension repair, oil changes, motor and other installations. 
I agree the garagejournal website is worth the visit.

Some amazing garage builds can be found over at Garage Journal. Maybe you can pick up some ideas there.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=7

Plenty of great information to be found on shop equipment and tools as well. Be forewarned this site can become addictive. 

John

Do the floor first. Either with an applied covering or with squares. Paint the walls ect. Wire for extra lights. You can never have enough lights. Good luck. 

It’s time for me to start thinking about garage organization. Still unpacking the house, but garage is important!

For those who have setup new garages, I’d appreciate knowing what you learned. What are you glad you did, what do you wish you didn’t do, what do you regret not doing?

I know I want some built-in cabinets and a workbench. I know I want a parts washer. I know I want a lift (more for or working on cars versus additional car storage space).

The best view is out the left back windows (in front of the Subaru), so that’s where the work bench will go.

I currently have 3 classic minis, 1 new mini, 1 SUV, 1 jeep and a regular size car in the garage. Will add one more regular size car and at least one more classic mini in the next couple of years, which will fit comfortably. It's around 2,200 sq ft.

I’ll post a couple of photos so you can visualize. Since the “empty garage” photo I have had epoxy put on the floor.h