Topic: Chicagoland shop space

As I walked out of my house this morning, in to a bracing 7 degrees Fahrenheit , it occurred to me that I only have 2 1/2 months to fix all the broken crap on my Escort in time to race at Barber.  In my Lemons experience to date, 2 1/2 months is just about adequate to get the car, mostly almost race ready.

The primary issue I face this time around is that my garage is original to my house, built in 1934, unheated, very poorly insulated and generally crappy.  On these 7 degree days, it will be hard to find the motivation to work on the car and even harder to actually complete any work without freezing to death.

I need some shop space, but I don't want to pay large sums of money to rent a heated place to store and work on my car. 

Is anyone out there looking to share a space in Chicagoland?  Or, do you know of a space to rent?

Fireball Racing - ‘67 Ford Fairlane and ‘73 Saab Sonett

I've lost a lot, but the Fairlane finally won an IoE.

2 (edited by Alferrari Fistillini 2014-11-21 11:43 AM)

Re: Chicagoland shop space

Chad -

Simple and cheap solution to your problem.... Insulate the walls and ceiling with staple-in batting (its a weekend job).  Then buy one of those little wood-burning pot belly stoves made for hunting cabins and stick that in the corner.  I see them on CraigsList all the time for $100ish.  You'll need to cut a hole in roof (or wall) for flue vent, and make sure you have a fireproof barrier between stove and wall. 

Its amazing how much heat those little stoves generate. You'll be working in shorts and T-shirt in no time.

Darren

P.S. I'd offer my shop but we are already neck-deep in our next Lemons project.  No room to move!

Bad Mojo Racing
1971 Opel GT "Breadvan"
2012 - April Gingerman (Ercole Spada Award) and October AutoBahn (19th in Class B, 52nd OA )
2013 - April Gingerman (8th in Class B, 25th OA) and June AutoBahn (WINNER Class B, 9th OA)

Re: Chicagoland shop space

I have an attached garage which helps a lot but I still have one wall uninsulated and one only part way plus the overhead door. What I do have is are finished walls and ceiling. This keeps the warm air in and cold air out. I can get my garage up to 70 in less then an hour with my kerosene torpedo heater. After the room is warm I use a propane infrared heater to keep it warm. It burns cleaner and is quiet compared to the torpedo heater.

As Darren says insulation is your friend.

4 (edited by coolhand454 2014-11-27 06:26 PM)

Re: Chicagoland shop space

We have a propane space heater that helps a lot.  Our garage is not insolated and it takes the chill out.  http://m.homedepot.com/p/Dyna-Glo-15k-2 … oCPFPw_wcB

Byte Marks Racing - "You knew the job was dangerous when you took it Fred."
1992 Nissan 240SX DM Edition (Drift Master)

Re: Chicagoland shop space

dude, lets thrown down and rent some space somewhere in town

"THE WONDERMENT CONSORTIUM"
Everything dies baby that's a fact,
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back?

Re: Chicagoland shop space

Where were you last year when I was freezing my balls off in our crappy unheated garage in the city! I wish I could help, but I'm off to sunny Phoenix next week smile

#33 Ford Festiva - We Are Not Really From Iran (Retired)
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Re: Chicagoland shop space

possible solution. Email sent..