[Steve91T]

Hey guys. We're planning on moving to Charlotte, NC soon. The houses in our price range have small garages (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

The one we are really interested in is a 2 car, 18ft wide, by about 21ft long. The gas water heater is the corner, and a built in gas heater is nearby, which is nice. The garage is finished, and has pretty high ceilings, looks like 10ft or so. There's two built in over head storage shelves that are made out of wood, and hanging from the ceilings.

So, if we get this house or not, it doesn't matter. All the garages are about the same size. So, how do you guys make the most out of a small space? If there is enough ceiling height, I'd love to build a loft, to give me room for some of my larger, bulkier things, like the compressor and tires and stuff like that.

This house is going to be a stepping stone for us. We'll be in it for roughly 2 years, then we'll move to a larger house, where hopefully I can build myself a huge detached garage.


Anyway, I just wanted to get some opinions/pictures.

Thanks guys!
Steve

[Casey_SS]

Off topic but if you've already got a 396 in there, why not just leave it and run AI for a while? Might get you on track a lot sooner and start getting w2w seat time while you develop the rest of the car... Once you have everything else sorted out (brakes, cooling, suspension, safety, etc.) you could do a quick motor swap and come out of the gate strong in CMC. Seat time is the ultimate mod...everything else (except safety) should be much further down the list.

BTW - it's absolutely possible to do a motor swap in a 2 car garage. I've done a few - there are several good write-ups out there that really helped me the first time. Best method I found was dropping the whole K-member, motor, tranny, & front suspension all at once out the bottom onto a big furniture dolly, lifting the body up like a funny car with the engine hoist, and rolling everything out, headers, accessories, wiring harness, and all still attached. It was surprisingly painless and went much quicker than I expected. When you get to that point, lemme know and I'll dig up some of the write-ups and checklists I used.

[Steve91T]

Off topic but if you've already got a 396 in there, why not just leave it and run AI for a while? Might get you on track a lot sooner and start getting w2w seat time while you develop the rest of the car... Once you have everything else sorted out (brakes, cooling, suspension, safety, etc.) you could do a quick motor swap and come out of the gate strong in CMC. Seat time is the ultimate mod...everything else (except safety) should be much further down the list.

BTW - it's absolutely possible to do a motor swap in a 2 car garage. I've done a few - there are several good write-ups out there that really helped me the first time. Best method I found was dropping the whole K-member, motor, tranny, & front suspension all at once out the bottom onto a big furniture dolly, lifting the body up like a funny car with the engine hoist, and rolling everything out, headers, accessories, wiring harness, and all still attached. It was surprisingly painless and went much quicker than I expected. When you get to that point, lemme know and I'll dig up some of the write-ups and checklists I used.

I really want to start with the lower hp of CMC2. I timed some of my latest HPDE's and compared them to the CMC2 track record. The CMC2 car was nearly 10 seconds faster than me! Of course they are lighter, and have better tires, but they also have over 100 less hp. My goal next year is to get my comp license and get the car ready. I really need more track time before I'm ready. I'm also on a tight budget, and I'm hoping to make enough cash on my engine to buy a cheap trailer and a junk yard LT1.

When the time comes, I'll definitely be asking for help on engine swaps.

Thanks,
Steve

[Casey_SS]

I timed some of my latest HPDE's and compared them to the CMC2 track record. The CMC2 car was nearly 10 seconds faster than me! Of course they are lighter, and have better tires, but they also have over 100 less hp.

Don't worry, that's perfectly normal (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Same exact thing happened to me when I was starting out in HPDE, also with a 97SS, 396, C6 brakes, etc. Seat time, seat time, seat time. The funny thing is I picked up more pace in 3 weekends of w2w racing than I did in 3 years of HPDE. I was classed by myself in AIX but battling with the CMC backmarkers. Humbling experience but it taught me a LOT. Which is why I suggested making as few changes as possible (aside from the safety stuff) in order to avoid down time that keeps you off the track. Pit with the CMC guys but run in AI if you have to, run in AIX if you have to, hell run in time trials if you have to...just don't tear the car apart and let it sit for a year waiting on money and parts to all line up. Find a way to stay on track and keep improving as a driver. The other stuff will work itself out along the way and you'll be much better prepared and have a lot more fun when you finally do make your CMC debut. Don't be the guy that spends 2 years building the perfect car only to finally get out there and realize you need 2 more years of seat time to win a battle for 15th place. That's how good race cars wind up on Ebay (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Doesn't sound like where you're heading, just throwing it out there for perspective....

This post has been edited by Casey_SS: Nov 23 2011, 12:38 AM

[Steve91T]

I timed some of my latest HPDE's and compared them to the CMC2 track record. The CMC2 car was nearly 10 seconds faster than me! Of course they are lighter, and have better tires, but they also have over 100 less hp.

Don't worry, that's perfectly normal (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Same exact thing happened to me when I was starting out in HPDE, also with a 97SS, 396, C6 brakes, etc. Seat time, seat time, seat time. The funny thing is I picked up more pace in 3 weekends of w2w racing than I did in 3 years of HPDE. I was classed by myself in AIX but battling with the CMC backmarkers. Humbling experience but it taught me a LOT. Which is why I suggested making as few changes as possible (aside from the safety stuff) in order to avoid down time that keeps you off the track. Pit with the CMC guys but run in AI if you have to, run in AIX if you have to, hell run in time trials if you have to...just don't tear the car apart and let it sit for a year waiting on money and parts to all line up. Find a way to stay on track and keep improving as a driver. The other stuff will work itself out along the way and you'll be much better prepared and have a lot more fun when you finally do make your CMC debut. Don't be the guy that spends 2 years building the perfect car only to finally get out there and realize you need 2 more years of seat time to win a battle for 15th place. That's how good race cars wind up on Ebay (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Doesn't sound like where you're heading, just throwing it out there for perspective....

That makes a lot of sense. I really think the only thing keeping me out of CMC is my engine, so I'll change that out as soon as I find a decent LT1. I figure that and then the cage, and I'm g2g....as far as the expensive things go. I'm planning on doing track days while I'm getting the car ready.

I'm really afraid of being the guy who holds everybody up in the race, so I want to be prepared. The whole move may happen sooner rather than later, so I may be able to start racing sooner than I was initially thinking.

Anyone have an LT1 that they want to sell me?

[Blainefab]

Anyone have an LT1 that they want to sell me?

See if Mitch wants to split up his car: http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/index.php?showtopic=15344

If that doesn't pan out, check with an old buddy of mine in Durham, NC: http://carolinaautomasters.com/