Is Blue Bird getting a new home?

CtownRunner · Post by **CtownRunner** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:42 pm

Drove by yesterday. No garage. Car under cover.
Are you building a new garage for Blue Bird Dave?

Post by **Dave** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:31 pm

Heheheh... I wondered how long it would be until one of the local members would mention the construction here.

Yes, Operation New Nest is under way. Here are some pic's of our progress to date:

Flickr Album

The old 20x22 garage, built in 1940 was no longer structurally safe, and was finally making me quite nervous keeping the 71s in there. So, in it's place will be a shiny new 24x24, gable entry. Our plan is to only be in this house for another 2 -3 years tops, so I don't want to spend a ton of cash on a shop I'll only get to enjoy for a couple years.

Demolition is done (obviously), the concrete work is done - new foundation, pad and curbs, along with a ~12'x20' extension to the driveway turn around. Lumber should be delivered tomorrow, and I believe framing will start tomorrow as soon as it's here. Having friends, and friends of friends doing the work to keep costs down. My next door neighbor did the concrete work, Rick (SunroofGTX) will be doing my garage door, and a fellow firefighter of Rick's did the demo and will be doing the construction. I'll take care of the electrical and some interior finish work.

Yea, Blue Bird is unfortunately outside, but under a very high quality cover (during the recent rains, the paint never even got moist). The Sebring Plus is safely tucked away in the underground garage at my office (parked right next to a 70 Cutlass drop top).

rr6pak · Post by **rr6pak** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:14 pm

No wonder Dave hasn't been around much....DAVE'S BEEN BUSY!!!
Looks good Dave

mopar71 · Post by **mopar71** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:43 pm

Very Nice

DeLorean00 · Post by **DeLorean00** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:42 pm

Cool! Was it hard to see the old place go? You must have had a lot of memories in there.

Post by **Dave** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:33 am

DeLorean00 wrote:Cool! Was it hard to see the old place go? You must have had a lot of memories in there.

A few memories, yea - but really it wasn't tough at all. Knowing it was a threat to the well-being of Project Blue Bird and the Sebring Plus, not to mention that it was just barely big enough to store them (had to move one or both out to work on anything). It had foundation damage since before we bought the house (somebody had hit the back wall, knocking it off the foundation, and pushing the blocks out quite a bit), so I always knew that we were going to have to replace it.

Post by **Dave** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:37 am

Just as an update - lumber was delivered today, and we should have walls up by end of the day. Hopefully we'll have the trusses delivered tomorrow or Thursday at the latest. Progress is a wonderful thing!

rr6pak · Post by **rr6pak** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:44 am

Dave. Gonna have a house warming party?

or garage warming party ?:D

fourforty6pac · Post by **fourforty6pac** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:21 pm

Looks good. There is nothing like a new garage. congrats!

Post by **Dave** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:46 pm

Yea, a garage warming party may be in the works.

I'll know better once it's up and I'm moved back in from the PODS unit. It would be cool to have a bunch of 71-74s here for a party!

Post by **Dave** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:34 pm

Well, the walls are up. Waiting on the trusses to arrive before we can go further!

I've uploaded new pics to Flickr for those that are interested.

DeLorean00 · Post by **DeLorean00** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:39 pm

Man you guys are fast!! Please keep the photos coming!!

Post by **Dave** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:21 pm

We are trying to keep things moving, need to get it done before the new family addition arrives next month.

Officially I started moving out of the old garage on 16 August, demo was done on the 20th, foundations dug on the 23rd, poured on the 26th, and obviously construction started today. I need to have it to the point I can get the PODS unit empty before the 15th of this month, or it will cost me another month's rental. So that's our goal.

ROGERLEE · Post by **ROGERLEE** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:09 pm

great job dave!!, i always thought your cars were completed, they look sharp. i see where you have some goodies hanging on the wall, good for you, you always have to be ready for the unexpected, congrats on the new baby too....you the man...new garage..new baby,,next time i come back i want to be dave!!!

DeLorean00 · Post by **DeLorean00** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:01 am

Any updates??

Road Runner Nest

Is Blue Bird getting a new home?

Is Blue Bird getting a new home?

Dave's garage

dave