Modern Garage in Far East

abstamaria · Nov 17, 2012

Thanks, Ironhorse. I'm glad you enjoyed the thread. The Dino is real. I bought it in the U.S. with just some 10,000 miles on it. It's a very sweet car and fun to drive.

Best,

Andy

mpire · Nov 17, 2012

jimmie jam said:
Andy, your pads look great and work very well. I have the same issue with my C6. Many guys end up with cracked rockers due to same. I actually solved my problem with BMW jacking pucks (for a 325) that snap perfectly into the "slot". I just leave them in, you can't see them and they only stick down .25". Who would have thought...BMW parts that fit perfectly on a Chevy.

abstamaria said:
Hello, Jimmie. I didn't know C6s and BMWs needed Jack "pucks" as well. I Googled the subject and now know a bit more. Do you mean you drive with the pucks on? On a Porsche, they would fall off very quickly.

Andy

There are a couple options. There is the center jacking pad for the E46 M3 that I added to my cars. Its $9 with BMW part number 51717894027.

Here is one shown with the nutserts that I installed to hold the jack pad on the front cross member of my Z3

https://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/417741_10150502958605755_462767084_n.jpg

There is also the side jack pads from the E36 M3 that are about $13 with part number 51711960752 and snap in to the rocker panels, and I would assume that is what is pictured above.

Both are meant to be permanently installed on the car.

Later BMWs went to rectangular jack pads on the later cars, but the rounded ones were pretty cool. I even made custom jack stands to hold the pucks.

https://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/407146_10150544550405755_1154394990_n.jpg

Considering the price and application, I bet they would be a pretty cool addition to any car. :thumbup:

Bob Heine · Nov 17, 2012

abstamaria said:
I'm very much like your granddaughter, Bob. I'm glad she is doing well. You must be proud of her.

They say traveling light is the key to a good vacation, particularly when you're exploring a new, strange place, as you did. I hope you found India fascinating. Did you see the Taj Mahal? Although it has intricate details, it is an austere structure, a beautiful and calming one, especially from a distance.

Andres

Andres,
Very proud of her - and the other 8 grandchildren. Even though it is a poor financial choice, this one wants to be a teacher so I'm doing what I can to get her started down that path without crushing debt. She did her part with a full scholarship.

I really enjoyed my time in India. Didn't get to the real Taj Mahal but I stayed in the Mumbai hotel of the same name. Also stayed a couple of nights in the Oberoi so the Pakistani attacks on those two sites really hit home. Took the train (first class) to Pune where I had my first tik-tik ride. Flew to Bangalore for more meetings. Spent the weekend traveling though the countryside with stops at the Mysore Palace and afternoon tea at the Summer Palace (now a hotel). A brief visit to the KRS dam and it was on to the nature reserve. Didn't see any tigers but enjoyed a short visit with a working elephant. Overnight stay in Ooty to see the tea plantations and botanical garden. Our driver was once the chauffeur for the prime minister of India. First time I'd ever seen a road sign warning "Professional Drivers Only" at a fork in the road. We took that route and I quickly saw the reason. It made the Pikes Peak road look like an interstate.

Against my boss's (and wife's) wishes, I ate almost all my meals in local restaurants. Rarely ate "non-vegetarian" (meat) and at the end of two weeks I had eaten some of the best vegetarian fare of my life. I don't understand the idea of traveling halfway round the world to eat McDonalds or Pizza Hut. I also don't understand how Tiffany's Roadside Cafe can serve a 3-course meal to two people for 26 Rupees (about 80 cents). My tip may have been excessive -- the chef brought his whole family out to thank me.

abstamaria · Nov 17, 2012

Many thanks for the tip, mpire. No BMW at the moment, and all the old cars don't have dedicated lift points. But I'll keep that in mind just in case.

Cheers,

Andres

Ironhorse · Nov 17, 2012

abstamaria said:
Thanks, Ironhorse. I'm glad you enjoyed the thread. The Dino is real. I bought it in the U.S. with just some 10,000 miles on it. It's a very sweet car and fun to drive.

Best,

Andy

Nice...so nice I would lick the oil drips off the floor from her...lol..Very nice.

abstamaria · Nov 18, 2012

Yes, Ironhorse, I have to say the Dino, especially in GT form, is a really lovely car.

abstamaria · Nov 18, 2012

Teachers; India

A teacher has the most important job in the world, Bob. It is a true profession. Everything I am today I owe in large measure to my teachers.

On November 15, 2008, I arrived in India and like you stayed at The Oberoi in Mumbai. It was a splendid hotel, and we had a lovely view of the Arabian Sea. You will recall the hotel had very interesting shops in its basement, including several that sold antiques. The only souvenir I bought in India was an old brass horn, which I intended for the local sports car club. They start their breakfast meetings with a horn instead of a gavel, so were quite please with this gift. It has since been the official horn. Here it is, with the club seal on it.

On November 26, three or so days after I checked out of the Oberoi, the terrorist attack you mentioned took place. The terrorists, for those who may not remember, killed indiscriminately and went from room to room. The hotel burned, and I worry about the nice storekeeper who sold me that horn.
I was very lucky, of course, escaping so narrowly, and, if I were a cat, would have less than nine lives remaining. But as it was the horn and I arrive safely in Manila.

Best,

Andres

Ironhorse · Nov 18, 2012

abstamaria said:
Yes, Ironhorse, I have to say the Dino, especially in GT form, is a really lovely car.

Yes it is...I can only imagine what it is like to turn on the garage light and take a moment just to look at it. Then to sit in it, feeling the seat on your back and closing your eyes just taking in the smells of old leather, metal, and carpeting, before you even turn the key. We are only the keepers of them for the next owner..and how we do this, is how they will live on past us, after being part of us. Glad to see this one so well cared for in your garage...and I hope the next owner will have the same respect.

abstamaria · Nov 21, 2012

Cars

Thanks, Ironhorse. I bought the Dino just before the market began to climb; I woudn't be able to afford it today. I am lucky in that way.

Any old car has its own charm and appeal. My favorite for an easy drive is the oldest one I have, the MG TC. I have always asked posters here for a photo of their neighborhood, to place the garage in context, but haven't done so myself.

Here is a street in my mine, an old village in the city, trying to hang on to its empty roads and trees, from the perspective of the MG.

Best,

Andy

jimmie jam · Nov 21, 2012

Andy, is that your compound on the left? Old growth areas are nice!

JJ

abstamaria · Nov 22, 2012

Hello, Jimmie. No, that's around the corner from me, but the growth and trees are typical of this old village. It used to be in the outskirts of Metro Manila, but that boundary has long since expanded. I try to enjoy it while we can.

Best,

Andy

ODIS · Nov 22, 2012

Re: Cars

abstamaria said:
Thanks, Ironhorse. I bought the Dino just before the market began to climb; I woudn't be able to afford it today. I am lucky in that way.

Any old car has its own charm and appeal. My favorite for an easy drive is the oldest one I have, the MG TC. I have always asked posters here for a photo of their neighborhood, to place the garage in context, but haven't done so myself.

Here is a street in my mine, an old village in the city, trying to hang on to its empty roads and trees, from the perspective of the MG.

Best,

Andy

Andy,

What is the black box on the wind screen frame?

Thank you and beautiful area.

Ody.

Fatandre · Nov 22, 2012

Wow. you were extremely lucky.
Its nice being able just to relax and enjoy your cars. Thats what life should be about

Jvvmusme · Nov 22, 2012

Re: Cars

ODIS said:
Andy,

What is the black box on the wind screen frame?

Thank you and beautiful area.

Ody.

It is the wiper motor. In case of a hard braking and if you carry a passenger its head will hit the wiper motor and ruin it !!!!!! English enineering.

abstamaria · Nov 22, 2012

Thanks, Fatandre, Ody. Old cars are really a joy.

Jose (Jvvmusme) is right; he's a TC owner, too. Those were pre-Nader days, so the motor is precariously positioned. In the subsequent model, they moved the motor to the center of the windscreen. The wiper system isn't very effective, by the way. But it's an endearing car to play with and drive. It's had its fair share of hillclimbs, rallies, and the occasional (very friendly) circuit race.

Best to all,

Andy

abstamaria · Nov 26, 2012

Little jobs

The advantage, or disadvantage, of a modern, minimalist design is that the point when the work is completed comes early, and any addition will begin to detract from the original intent. I probably passed that point some time ago, and that is why there is now so little activity here. I am simply using and just enjoying the garage.

However, I continued to replace the red-on-white labels (all that was available before) with white-on-clear ones, in an effort to clean up the shop a bit more visually. It is quite a change that this simple replacement did, as seen in these before and after photos (aplogies if you have already seen these in the general section).

Before:

After:

And to put the job in perspective, here is the cabinet in the shop.

Best regards to all,

Andy

akdiesel · Nov 26, 2012

They definatly read better in the after pics. Nice cabinets.
I may have to change mine as well since they are blue with black writing, somewhat difficult to see.

abstamaria · Nov 26, 2012

Thanks, akdiesel. Yes, I also find them easier to read. Black on blue wpuld be hard to read, on the other hand, so you might try the white-on-clear labels, assuming you have blue or dark colored boxes.

Good luck!

Andy

pwschuh · Nov 28, 2012

Re: Little jobs

abstamaria said:
[And to put the job in perspective, here is the cabinet in the shop.

Appears that you forgot to label the dog.

Jvvmusme · Nov 28, 2012

I can bet that the dog is labeled ....and soon will be red

abstamaria · Nov 28, 2012

Pwschuh, Jose, that really made me laugh! Jose, I hope you and the old cars are doing well.

Andres

thomfr · Nov 30, 2012

I assume that the dog is chipped (so already a few steps beyond labelling).
Nice dog btw!

Thom

The J · Dec 4, 2012

It looks like you're well north of the storm path, but we're hoping you are not affected by this typhoon.

We are all sending our best to your family and friends in Manila, and of course your countrymen in the path of the storm.

abstamaria · Dec 4, 2012

Thank you, The J. So far, the typhoon has kept its course South of where we are, but it has already claimed several lives. These are in areas that historically did not see hurricanes. It was good of you to write.

Best,

Andy

krunkfoo · Dec 20, 2012

Are tiles slippery at all? I'm thinking of installing polished porcelain like yours in my garage, but they will be used to garage my daily driver and I'm worried if they are going to be too slippery to drive in. I do live in Seattle and so we see quite a bit of rain.

abstamaria · Dec 20, 2012

I only have the shiny tiles in the garage for the old, non-daily-use cars, Krunkfoo. They will be slippery in the wet and so may not be a good idea as a surface in daily use.

There are some non-slip tiles, like those used in high-end commercial service garages (e.g., Lamborghini), that will be better suited, I think. See also Jack Olsen's 12-Gauge Garage; he uses a textured tile that seems to work well.

Good luck, and best of the holiday season.

Andy

abstamaria · Dec 27, 2012

Year End.

No snow to show in this Christmas photo in the tropics (although it is a chilly 25 degrees C – we may have to put shirts on!) and nothing to report in the now long-completed garage, but just a note to wish all a happy and peaceful New Year.

Andy

ConCretin · Dec 27, 2012

Andy,

I don't recall having seen your home from this viewpoint before. Despite embarrassing amounts of time looking at architecture (and garages) on the internet, I've rarely found homes I like as much as yours. Thanks for sharing.

shopnut · Dec 27, 2012

What a great shot of the house Andy - with the cars resting peacefully in the garage, enjoying a view of the pond out the window

Returning the wishes for a wonderful 2013!

jimmie jam · Dec 27, 2012

LLWillysfan said:
Andy,

I don't recall having seen your home from this viewpoint before. Despite embarrassing amounts of time looking at architecture (and garages) on the internet, I've rarely found homes I like as much as yours. Thanks for sharing.

I agree. Andy's home is :pimpflash

for me!

ODIS · Dec 27, 2012

Beautiful shot, Andy!

As I recal, this is the year you set yourself free from the day to day grind of work. With all this "new found time" on your hands, will you turn towards making more music or perhaps taking on a new restoration project of some coveted automobile?

No matter the direction or the projects you choose, the days going forward have been well earned by all of your life experiences.

Happy New Year!

Ody.

abstamaria · Dec 27, 2012

Many thanks, LLWillysfan. I love your design, build quality, and location; I am envious! I am glad the financial plans and schedule are all in place.

Thanks, Shopnut. I am forever stealing ideas from you. What a great shop! Thanks, too, Jimmie. I am glad you like the design. The house I think looks better in photos than in real life.

Ody, that’s right. If plans go forward, I should be retired from the firm this year and have a different schedule, hopefully fulfilling and more relaxed, by the end of the year. What a view you have. And such great cars. It seems you are having a great deal of fun in your spectacular place.

By April 2013, we will have lived in the house for ten years. Then I would like to take photos of the bedrooms early morning, when the beds are still unmade, the kitchen after a dinner, and so forth to answer whether it is indeed possible to live in a bare, minimalist house. I have to say that, so far, it has not only been possible but quite rewarding in terms of the tranquility and order the lack of stuff has encouraged. We look forward to the next ten years, and personally I look forward to more time working on my old cars in the garage. Hopefully, it will remain clean!

Best, and Happy New year!

Andy

markviii · Dec 28, 2012

Hi Andy,

We've been following from the Center of the Universe, enjoying your changes which fit into your setting so well. Hope you had a Merry Christmas and that your New Year brings you your well-deserved retirement to do the things you want to do on your own time schedule. Happy adjusting!

Chris

akdiesel · Dec 28, 2012

Andy

Great looking place. It would be nice to be in a location where you can wear shorts most of the year, but I do like snow.

abstamaria · Dec 29, 2012

Many thanks, Chris. I appreciate that.

Thanks, too, Akdiesel. I lived in the NE U.S. for a few years. and do miss the seasons and the cold. The one thing I wish I could do is play with my dogs in the snow. They would love it.

Best,

Andy

Omphaloskeptic · Dec 29, 2012

Andy, Happy New Year to you and your wife.

You're still working!? For as clean and pristine as your home and garage is shown, I thought for sure you were already retired and spent 24/7/365 just keeping it looking that good! lol

When you do retire this year, I think we here at GJ will be as excited as you - we anxiously await to see what fabulous 'retirement project' you will choose to share with us. If you could discover a barn-find worthy of your restoration efforts, what would be your 'heart's desire'?

abstamaria · Dec 29, 2012

Haha, thanks, Omphaloskeptic! Yes, unfortunately, I still spend long days at the salt mine. I may still work a few days a week after retirement, but I am looking forward to more time in the workshop. I may even get a small sailboat!

High on my list is a GT40. And a Jaguar D-Type. And a Bugatti Type 35B (there was one here before the War). Each is worth more than my house, though, and the current, crazy market is driving prices up even more. But there are excellent replicas by Superformance, Proteus and Lynx, and Pur Sang, respectively. The Superformance GT40 Mark I with a 289 or 302, Le Mans winner flares, and correct everything is mighty tempting. In Gulf colors, please!

Best wishes for the holidays and the coming year,

Andy

ODIS · Dec 29, 2012

Andy,

Good to read that you are thinking of the GT40. A wonderful car especially in Gulf livery.

Then again, even if you chose to go with the more modern day GT, you could still be having a ton of fun...

What a great decision to be making.

Best,

Ody.

Scuderia-F1 · Dec 30, 2012

abstamaria said:
Haha, thanks, Omphaloskeptic! Yes, unfortunately, I still spend long days at the salt mine. I may still work a few days a week after retirement, but I am looking forward to more time in the workshop. I may even get a small sailboat!

High on my list is a GT40. And a Jaguar D-Type. And a Bugatti Type 35B (there was one here before the War). Each is worth more than my house, though, and the current, crazy market is driving prices up even more. But there are excellent replicas by Superformance, Proteus and Lynx, and Pur Sang, respectively. The Superformance GT40 Mark I with a 289 or 302, Le Mans winner flares, and correct everything is mighty tempting. In Gulf colors, please!

Best wishes for the holidays and the coming year,

Andy

I sent you 2 links in a DM that I think you could like!

abstamaria · Dec 31, 2012

Thank you, Anders. Those are fascinating links; I have bookmarked the site. I am very tempted!

Happy New Year! May 2013 prove peaceful and happy for you.

Andy

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