Restoration Project Considerations - Any Thoughts??

[Burdekin]

A lift is a good idea. My height is limited so I went for Quickjack, they're excellent and I just hang them on the wall when not in use. A two post is great but can take up room so a couple of other options to consider is a single post lift: https://automotechservices.co.uk/pro...-vehicle-lift/ there is a mobile version too: https://automotechservices.co.uk/pro...-vehicle-lift/ then there are scissor lifts this one is sort of mobile: https://automotechservices.co.uk/pro...-scissor-lift/ weighs a lot so not easy to move and you can also get flush mounted ones that don't take up space when not in use: https://automotechservices.co.uk/pro...-vehicle-lift/

Every lift is a compromise, just need to decide what's right for you.

[Steve 940]

Originally Posted by 4x4

Also worth thinking about building a pit into the floor, cheaper than a lift and no requirement for 3 phase inverters

My plans were submitted to the council and included a pit in the floor, I excavated the void but it filled with water therefore below the water table so it was filled in and I put in a ramp instead.

Good point, and one that I will look into, but as Alan mentioned, I am in Suffolk and water table is fairly high, I recall doing our house extensions and you tend to hit water around 24" down obviously depends somewhat on time of year.

For some reason I thought pits were no longer allowed at planning, due to toxic gases etc..

Lifts would be great, but I am limited with roof height to around 2.4m and that is having trusses with a raised collar tie.

Think for a body restoration a rotisserie will be more use to start with, and perhaps some sort of lifting mechanism could be bought as and when needed.

Cheers
Steve

[4x4]

Because I had planned for a pit I was also limited by height. I spoke to my architect and he told me to order an extra two roof trusses and double them up at each end of where I wanted the height. Once the roof was in place it was a matter of bolting in some extra 6x2 timbers then cutting the lower strings from the trusses

Limited height


Extra height


Additional timbers in and trusses cut

[Othen]

Originally Posted by 4x4

Because I had planned for a pit I was also limited by height. I spoke to my architect and he told me to order an extra two roof trusses and double them up at each end of where I wanted the height. Once the roof was in place it was a matter of bolting in some extra 6x2 timbers then cutting the lower strings from the trusses

Excellent solution. That is exactly what I was thinking of for Steve. If done at this stage the only cost would be for two extra joists, but trying to fit enough reinforcing retrospectively would be much more difficult and costly.

I'd say a lift would be much more useful than a rotisserie.

Alan

[4x4]

Originally Posted by Othen

If done at this stage the only cost would be for two extra joists, but trying to fit enough reinforcing retrospectively would be much more difficult and costly.

It would be a major PITA trying to do this once the roof was on.

I now have enough headroom to allow a car to go right up into the roof space and I can park another car underneath

[Burdekin]

Originally Posted by Othen

I'd say a lift would be much more useful than a rotisserie.

Alan

For a full strip down resto a rotisserie is much more useful and a huge time and energy saver. Being able to rotate the car when stripping underseal and paint, welding and painting the underside is a godsend. There isn’t much work under the car once painted. Post resto you’ll never use it again and that’s when you want a lift.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by 4x4

It would be a major PITA trying to do this once the roof was on.

I now have enough headroom to allow a car to go right up into the roof space and I can park another car underneath

Prima! Toll!

:-)

[4x4]

Some Volvo on the lift pics...

[Othen]

Originally Posted by 4x4

Some Volvo on the lift pics...

That is such a neat solution, well done. I may well choose to move house next year when my son goes off to university. If I can't find a place with something similar I'll build a garage like that. It is perfect.

[4x4]

Originally Posted by Othen

That is such a neat solution, well done. I may well choose to move house next year when my son goes off to university. If I can't find a place with something similar I'll build a garage like that. It is perfect.

Thanks, if you do go down this route have your architect draw up the plans and follow them exactly. There's a lot of weight up there and you don't want it to come tumbling down.

The XC90 on the ramp