Need help finding space to rebuild in Miami

[Discseven]

Am rebuilding my engine and need a secure space to work in somewhere between Brickell and Kendal in Miami. Parts are cleaned up and short block is together so no more messy stuff. Trick is I don't want anyone coming and going in work space without me there for security of the build. Hard floor is needed for engine stand. I can bring my own bench if necessary. If you know of any one willing to rent me space for a month or two, or watch in trade, please let me know. Can call or text me. 786.403.3991

[fanaudical]

Have you considered a secure storage unit? Not ideal, but could probably suffice to get it done if you don't find something else...

Doing anything unique/special with the engine?

[HarryD]

While the Forum is somewhat dead, maybe post in the Regional Forum as well? https://forums.pelicanparts.com/southeast-us-ar-al-fl-ga-ky-la-ms-nc-sc-tn/

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Have you considered a secure storage unit? Not ideal, but could probably suffice to get it done if you don't find something else...

Doing anything unique/special with the engine?

Hi Jim! Hope all is more than well with you. I looked into some different storage units. One way or another there was a problem with each of them. If no electrical, then access was limited, or "working" in the unit was a problem, or getting the engine out once it was built. Location is another challenge. Was always something. Regardless, I appreciate you thinking it through!

While back I hatched a build plan dedicated to extreme durability. Everything balanced out to zero tolerance. Bored rods to channel pressurized oil to the pins, cross drilling, glass polished bearing surfaces, lightweight but tough parts (titanium stuff.) No budget---whatever it took. Enjoyed the pizzz out of researching what could be done in that vein. I started a thread on it. Forgot how far I got with it all. Life got in the way of getting on with that plan. Now I'm in a different mindset. Simple has come to mean a great deal to me. Translation = am going factory spec route but for some ARP stuff. Totally boring to speak of factory spec!

BTW, the fuel filter head we did together has performed flawlessly. Of course it doesn't have to do much but still, flawless is flawless. Anyone who looks in the bay wonders where it came from. Never ending thanks to you

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[Discseven]

Originally Posted by HarryD

While the Forum is somewhat dead, maybe post in the Regional Forum as well? https://forums.pelicanparts.com/southeast-us-ar-al-fl-ga-ky-la-ms-nc-sc-tn/

Harry, thanks for the link. I just looked into it. It is indeed dead. There have been no posts in 30 days! Curious that PP has started regional forums.

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[HarryD]

Originally Posted by Discseven

Harry, thanks for the link. I just looked into it. It is indeed dead. There have been no posts in 30 days! Curious that PP has started regional forums.

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Still worth a try. Someone may be watching.

The west coast ones are quite active.

[Dpmulvan]

The kitchen is perfect lots of workbench space, storage, built in parts cleaner and good lighting.

[boyt911sc]

Karl,

What is preventing you from rebuilding your motor at your condo? I reside in a townhouse and rebuilt motors in my basement 12 steps below and get the motor out by myself. Since you are not allowed to do work in your building parking garage, you could do it some where else. Or pay a shop to install the motor.

Doing the rebuild at your leisure is something I prefer. Finding a remote and safe place to do your rebuild is a logistic problem unless the room could be secured.

Tony

[fanaudical]

Am doing great, Karl! Work has me busier than a cat trying to bury $$$$ on a tin roof, but doing well other than that.

Couple of other thoughts:

- Short-term small commercial space rental?

- Network with your local cars & coffee or PCA crowd?

- Ad on Craigslist for shop space?

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by HarryD

Still worth a try. Someone may be watching.

The west coast ones are quite active.

You're right Harry. I will load a post and see what comes of it. TY!

Originally Posted by Dpmulvan

The kitchen is perfect lots of workbench space, storage, built in parts cleaner and good lighting.

Dp... indeed a fine idea and were I alone, I'd be on it. As it is, my wife would not appreciate an engine going together anywhere in our shared space! She's worth treating with great respect.

Originally Posted by boyt911sc

Karl,

What is preventing you from rebuilding your motor at your condo? I reside in a townhouse and rebuilt motors in my basement 12 steps below and get the motor out by myself. Since you are not allowed to do work in your building parking garage, you could do it some where else. Or pay a shop to install the motor.

Doing the rebuild at your leisure is something I prefer. Finding a remote and safe place to do your rebuild is a logistic problem unless the room could be secured.

Tony

Tony, as a matter of fact I spoke with my building' management yesterday. The response was favorable but it was a "loose discussion." I need confirmation before getting overly excited. Perhaps I'll accomplish confirmation today.

I started out on the wrong foot with management here which generally put me in a bad place. Anything to do with my car was made difficult. Things have changed. Manager and I are now comrades of a sort. So I do get to work on the car now but I can only go so far before fellow residents---the majority of which are not gear heads---would not appreciate my goings on. I do miss my house & garage where just about anything was possible.

I hope to get an enclosure here as there would be no transport issues with my wife and I'd be able to spend as long as I want whenever I want doing the build. Am heading to the management office after this post.

And, am too fond of this stuff to pay someone to do it. You know that when we do it ourselves, we know exactly how the work was done---there's great value in that IMHO.

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Am doing great, Karl! Work has me busier than a cat trying to bury $$$$ on a tin roof, but doing well other than that.

Couple of other thoughts:

- Short-term small commercial space rental?

- Network with your local cars & coffee or PCA crowd?

- Ad on Craigslist for shop space?

Pleased to hear Jim! Image of a cat digging into a tin roof... entertaining! Those are fine ideas. I have dug into commercial places. Short term, no one was interested in me. If they were, the cost was untenable. Networking I have not done and that's now on the menu. So too is Craigslist. Both are on the menu. Mentioned to Tony just above that there's a possibility my building's management will cooperate with me---they'll do an enclosure and after I'm done, use it for storage space. This is based on a "loose" discussion had yesterday. Genuine confirmation pends. There was no mention of liability which I can't help think will shut this idea down. Perhaps a disclaimer would be acceptable.

Amazing that finding the right space is more difficult than building this engine! Is sort of comical.

Will see how it goes with building's management. If it goes as easily as we discussed yesterday, I will be astounded!


Am still looking in other directions so I appreciate the input of all

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[EC900]

Although I’m not familiar with co-ops, there were east coast motorcycle shop/clubs that was doing this sort of thing. They even supplied tools and lifts. Can’t say if theft or liability was an issue.
It will take some leg work to find the right situation that meets your needs.
Good luck in your search !

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by EC900

Although I’m not familiar with co-ops, there were east coast motorcycle shop/clubs that was doing this sort of thing. They even supplied tools and lifts. Can’t say if theft or liability was an issue.
It will take some leg work to find the right situation that meets your needs.
Good luck in your search !

EC... motorcycle guys. Interesting idea. Wish I still had my Harley shop connections. Owner rebuilt Harleys and Lycoming aircraft engines. Was a surgeon to watch. That was many moons ago. I might still have some indirect connections down the bike path. Is worth thinking through. Thanks.

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[Discseven]

Met with building Manager's secretary. She said "space will be ready for you this coming Wednesday." She proceeded to lead me to the space. Was surreal. With HOA rules, insurance, usual red tape with building, etc., I genuinely thought there was a slim to zero chance for this working out.

That said, fat lady hasn't sung yet. I have to confirm in person on Monday with Manager there being a complete enclosure with a locking door and the door will be a certain width. Space is on the Lobby Level in the parking garage. Seems an odd location to put an enclosure, but odd fits right in with the quirkiness of what's unfolding.

If this works out, will post some pics for amusement purposes. Monday = pivotal.

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[Discseven]

Monday...

Manager's secretary told me the walled enclosure would be made for me here, taking the space that is the yellow-striped area...



Ample. Fresh space. Clean. No traffic through it but for me. All good reasons to be excited! I didn't let the thrill go too far knowing that secondhand info tends to wander from accuracy...




Met with Manager today to confirm status and space. Secretary was off target by 10 yards. Am getting existing storage space that building's maintenance uses. Supposedly only the Maintenance Director goes in & out of here but that's debatable. Bit of a let down from the "ivory tower" that was dancing in my head. But, in the Brit-spirit of "Cracking on!" going to make the best of it. No rent. No travel. Only concern is the space being accessed by maintenance. Obviously there's no storing parts or tools here but that's a no problem. Engine security is a concern. I did require a lock be put on the door which was agreed to. Am thinking to wrap-lock engine in some sort of "flexible armor" when I'm not working on it.

Thank you guys for your spacial suggestions---is all much appreciated. This worked out as it has only because... I asked on a lark where I thought the answer from Management would surely be "Nope."

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[PeteKz]

Make sure you have a 120v outlet too. At least for lighting.

[EC900]

Nice find…glad Management was able to be so accommodating, we all should be that lucky. With a little rearrangement of their equipment I’ll bet your working space will be adequate.

Surely secure your engine, as some maintenance workers as I have found can and are notorious scrappers. Clearly mark your space, tools and equipment that may be required to be left behind. Late nights and hurry ups tend to get the best us to get lazy rather than collect our belongings.
Sourcing a used Knaack box or similar might be an option.

Also, get to know those maintenance workers and develop some sort of confidence so your stuff doesn’t become missing. They’ll also have a responsibility to keep the door locked. Downplay the engine value and describe it more as a bucket-list learning exercise. Keep prying eyes from seeing what’s going on helps.

I still can remember the day my father came home after finding his distant rented garage was completely raided of every loaded toolbox to nuts and bolts. That was circa 1966.

This could become an interesting build thread. Hope you can share progress !

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by PeteKz

Make sure you have a 120v outlet too. At least for lighting.

Thanks Pete. With everything related to the move, 120 is something that slipped my mind. I'll be going down in a few minutes to look for outlets. They are few and far between in the parking garage as I have looked for them before.

Checked: Nearest 120v is about 50 yards away. Lighting is overhead fluorescent. Am going to get headlamp. Anything needing 120v... doing in apt. What I'm missing is shop air.

Originally Posted by EC900

Nice find…glad Management was able to be so accommodating, we all should be that lucky. With a little rearrangement of their equipment I’ll bet your working space will be adequate.

Surely secure your engine, as some maintenance workers as I have found can and are notorious scrappers. Clearly mark your space, tools and equipment that may be required to be left behind. Late nights and hurry ups tend to get the best us to get lazy rather than collect our belongings.
Sourcing a used Knaack box or similar might be an option.

Also, get to know those maintenance workers and develop some sort of confidence so your stuff doesn’t become missing. They’ll also have a responsibility to keep the door locked. Downplay the engine value and describe it more as a bucket-list learning exercise. Keep prying eyes from seeing what’s going on helps.

I still can remember the day my father came home after finding his distant rented garage was completely raided of every loaded toolbox to nuts and bolts. That was circa 1966.

This could become an interesting build thread. Hope you can share progress !

EC... all clever thinking that's worth heading on my part.

Building's Maintenance Director and I met earlier today to discuss a few details. Among them, who will have access once the lock is on the door? Supposedly it's only him and I. Of course any number of keys can be made. He's a good sort. Asked me if I wanted anything moved and I did---he'll take care of it. Am glad to be dealing with him. Fact that he's an engineer and this is a "build," I imagine he has some admiration for what's ahead---vs my wanting the space to do... origami. (No offense to origami.)

There's a surveillance camera over the doorway. MD emphasized I should be confident nothing escapes the "eyes of the building."

Parts and tools will go down from my apartment with me, then back up at the end of the day---am not leaving anything in the space but for the engine on the stand. Have ordered a 10' x 20' canvas tarp from Grainger. Plan is to fold & wrap---origami after all---the engine with that then spiderweb a stainless cable around the whole enchilada and lock it. Conceptually that works. Reality may prove different.

Am I nervous about working like this? Yeah. Maybe once the program is in the works I'll forget about the risk being taken. Maybe not. At one point I was struggling to find workspace. Now that I have it, the struggle has changed costume on me.

If everything goes according to plan, I'll get the engine into the space on Thursday.

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[Discseven]

Rented Jeep today. Got engine and all parts moved.




Lock’s been put on slider. Totally secure but for the place being swiss cheese.




Much of the gear that was in here has been moved out. Beyond camera angle it shows a bit rough. Complete intake manifold is in bag on bench. That’ll get out of here later. Picked canvas tarp up from Grainger. Is still folded on bench. 20’ x 10’. Severe overkill given the thickness of it. Didn’t expect “Heavy Duty” to actually be that. Tarp is "security plan" as I mentioned earlier.




Where I’m at. Missing a few crush washers that I thought would be in the PP engine kit. Not too pleased with that “kit.” Could be I lost the missing stuff. Am generally crazed about keeping track of everything. I could have f’d up so can’t point true finger at PP. I inspect parts as soon as I get them by default. The “kit” I failed to inventory everything when it came in. Bad move.

Only sour note is one bad rocker and related cam. One of those parts had ruined the other. All else = good news. Typical new stuff… bushings, bearings, seals, chains, rails, rod bolts & studs. Going 964 cams with SSIs exhaust. Was told that adds a little zip to the party.

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[EC900]

Looks like a decent spot, good daylight, flat flooring for rolling around on a seat, and a hefty and long 12ga. extension cord with multi outlet will add to electrical needs. Too bad the nearest outlet is that far away. With a minimal amp draw like lights, radio, fan… that’s not too far away for basic powering needs.
Being a half wall structure, maybe that’s been enough for the bldg.management to be considered safe enough for what they had stored their w/o incident.
In any case - Mgmt. had been kind to your needs…I’d certainly entertain paying it forward time and again.
Crack on mate !

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by EC900

Looks like a decent spot, good daylight, flat flooring for rolling around on a seat, and a hefty and long 12ga. extension cord with multi outlet will add to electrical needs. Too bad the nearest outlet is that far away. With a minimal amp draw like lights, radio, fan… that’s not too far away for basic powering needs.
Being a half wall structure, maybe that’s been enough for the bldg.management to be considered safe enough for what they had stored their w/o incident.
In any case - Mgmt. had been kind to your needs…I’d certainly entertain paying it forward time and again.
Crack on mate !

EC... turns out it's a great space. Main thing is the elevator commute to & from the engine to home. (Working at my friend's place by comparison was a logistical nightmare.) So far nothing has disappeared and no sign of anything of what the building has stored---or my stuff---being moved. Am weened off my initial paranoia so the guard has dropped. Hopefully that will not bite me.

Where build is at...



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