New World Datsuns...

These are a few weeks old now...

Tore out the workbench and moved the cabinets from the east wall to the south.


Dropped some sheet rock and used a chain hoist to lift the furnace up on the ledge.

Slid the freshly repainted oil tank into the SE corner and plumbed in the pump. I got really lucky and was able to reuse all of the pipe that came with it and only had to cut and rethread one piece.

At this point, all the wiring and oil supply plumbing is done. Since the fireplace shop quoted me over $100/ft for chimney pipe, I'll be watching CL for more reasonably priced options. I've also been collecting fuel for it. Next winter should be pretty comfy.

Your "compound" is awesome. East wall to south wall. Haha. Mine consists of a tarp, magnolia tree, gravel, and a floor jack.

Finally snagged some chimney pipe. Got 18' of triple wall for $100. Sure beats $100/foot. No, it's not installed yet.




Also threw this hutch together for my toolbox at work. A couple sheets of melamine, and some black spray paint -- nothin fancy. Built a little cubby in the upper corner with slider doors but not sure I'm going to leave them. Once I get it to the shop and move in, I'll post some pics.

nice job man. I read that too fast. Thought you said "Built a little chubby"

Buddy Jerod came to town for the weekend. Played at the swap meet all day. Ran in to Todd (RATDAT3). Sold 3 transmissions and bought some stuff. Came home and fixed the sand blaster. Pics to follow after my frame is stripped.

Finally got some help moving the hutch to the shop. Spent a couple hours after work last night hanging the bright-ass light and cleaning out the black box and consolidating some of my duplicate tools. Took a couple boxes of random stuff home. Not done yet but I'll chip away at it over the next week and finish moving in. Maybe I'll take some drawer pics later so you guys can see just how few tools I actually get by with . Check out my sweet new cushy mat.

I realized I never posted my sweet swap meet finds for 2014. There really weren't that many. A couple anti-fatigue mats. One for work and one for home. So comfy...

Some flapper discs and a $5 Qjet. All I knew when I bought it is that it was a '68. Turns out it's from a 275hp/327 with manual transmission which is exactly what I'll need for the original engine in the El Camino when I rebuild it.

Jerod also brought down this bin full of random spacers, fittings, hardware, etc. he's collected over the years. Just in case I need something. Jerod is pretty cool like that

Nice score dude. Wish I could have made the meet. Not like I could have spent a lot of money, but always fun window shopping.

Sweet score Jess!

I'm just glad you guys are still checking in.

haha of course. I see most threads these days, just don't respond to all of them. 2xx users, 10 active

Yea, I read it. Im not good with words, so I usually dont say anything...

I read, been somewhat pre disposed for a while now,have not been here to much,but when I do I read as much as I can

As promise, the toolbox tour. I know I've said it before but I'm really not a tool snob so there's a bit of everything in the mix. Feel free to ask questions if you see something you don't recognize.

I primarily work out of my cart so it's set up with the tools that get used 98% of the time, hence the second story. The bigger box houses mainly duplicates, specialty items, etc.

The box on top of the cart...

Top 2 drawers are misc crap, pics, scrapers, fluid testers.

Flare wrences, Gear Wrenches.

Stubbies, Crescents, Allens.

Long wrenches.

Misc pliers, etc.

Middle tray...

Ratchets, extensions, sockets, wobblies, screwdrivers, a couple prybars. On a magnet on the back is some long gear wrenches, serp belt tools, seal puller.

The lower cart...

Hammers, punches, chisels, drifts, DVOM, ear protection.

CO2 tester, impact driver, misc fuel/AC fitting tools, noid light, spark tester, temp gun, mini torch, relay testers, cam gear holder, etc.

The most commonly used air tools, lug lock removal tools.

The cases on the bottom are compression tester, leak-down tested, fuel pressure gauge, steering wheel puller set.

The big(ish) box...

The seldom used 3/4" sockets and gun, some 1/2" sockets, 4 various torque wrenches, a pretty comprehensive bit set, sensor socket set, canister filter socket set, more pry bars, CV axle poppers.

On the left is office supplies, on the right more misc wrenches. Many are ground down to fit tight spaces.

Spare screwdrivers, torx drivers, mini screwdrivers. Bolt cutters, chain wrench. I've since filled the empty pace with test leads and circuit breakers.

More plier, Vice Grips, more air tools and bits.

Hammers, punches, bushing drivers, files, tread chasers. Timing light, old school "engine analyzer", stethoscope, misc vacuum fittings.

Junk drawers.

Caliper tool, PowerProbe, PS puller/installer, OBD1 scanner, misc pullers, balljoint press, camber/caster set, slide hammer, axle bearing pullers. The red thing on the right can be used with a pipe or prybar to leverage control arms.

The hutch...

Gloves, books, etc in the cubbies behind the slider doors. In the shadow on the right is a power strip that everything is plugged in to.

On top of the hutch is where I keep the tap and die set, cooling system pressure tester, fan hub wrenches, and a hood prop.

Under the work bench is bottled water, a caddy for brake tools, vacuum bleeder, box-o-funnels.

Impressive collection!

Dammit man. That's a good collection. I like the way it's organized and you can find the stuff you need fairly quickly.

Damn impressive collection!

Thanks guys. The majority I've had for many, many years but just started seriously buying again over the last year or so. At this point it's pretty rare that I need to get into a coworkers toolbox but it still happens. When it does, I make a mental note and add it to my to-buy list. Compared to the guys I work with it's still pretty incomplete. It's all relative I guess. The lead tech has been at it for over 30 years and easily has 100k in tools and boxes. The owner has 25+ years under his belt and probably has the same, plus he technically owns all the shop equipment. 7 hoists, 1 huge compressor, all the hose reels, 2 large waste oil furnaces, 2 tranny jacks, a scissor lift, MotorVac, trans flush machine, AC machine, tire machine and balancer, press, band saw, welder, plasma cutter, broach, parts washer, blast cabinet, valve grinder, lathe, strut press, 4 oil drains, 4 large floor jacks, Modis and Genisys scanners, 4 computer terminals with Mitchel subscriptions, plus all the misc small stuff.

I have some catching up to do.

Curious Jess,


Did you just happen to find a cabinet the right size? or did you make it yourself?