Who has some diesel-head garage tips?

I'll include a few of mine:

1) Put the compressor at the back of the garage, or better yet in a shed behind it. The noise reduction is worth the extra hose. You can reduce the noise from your compressor by plumbing the intake outside. Much of the noise comes from the intake valve(s) flapping.

2) If you garage has an attic above it, put a box fan in the opening to exhaust the hot air up in the summer.

3) Use conduit around aux wiring to protect it from tools while you are knocking around in the garage.

4) Mount a fire extinguisher near the door (all doors) for easy access no matter which way you are headed to excape the flames. No sense having to go deeper into the garage to access the extinguisher.

5) Garden hose holders make great hangers to support air hoses, and extension cords.

6) Keep your eyes out for an old laptop. It's great to have a cheap/free computer that you don't mind getting greasy in the shop when you need to look something up in the diesel forum half-way through a job.

7) Storage bins with hinged lids keep dust out of parts and supply storage. They also keep spills contained if a bottle leaks. Having hinged lids means that you won't throw all of the lids in the corner when you use the bins.

8) Refrigerator. Need I say more. Dorm sized fridges are often given away in the spring.

9) Line up sockets in the top of the tool box. Most people leave the tops open all of the time anyway, and when you are working on a car the most common thing that you'll need is the next larger/smaller socket. Above the tool box on the wall is a good place to mount an open end/box wrench set.

10) You're wife will be happier if you buy a small set of screwdrivers and pliers to use inside the house where grease isn't quite as welcomed.

-Tad

When you remove more than one part at a time, bag the fasteners for each part, and write the part name on the bag.
This is a life saver; if you need to leave the work for days or weeks...

If it must go to a shop, they will be much faster and happier with you.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

Most everybody has old spray paint cans...before you undo that bolt/nut spray it red/green, whatever color you have....makes it easy to put back in the hole that's only just long enough to acept it.

I've got some pretty tranny, engine combo's running around here



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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

Hook a dry vac hose to the bench grinder. Keeps the grinding dust off the bench and out of the air.

__________________
1983 300-D turbo
1985 300-D turbo
1959 Harley Panhead chopper
1929 Ford coupe restored
I hang out with Boneheaddoctor at Schuman Automotive OBK#5
All liberals are mattoids but not all mattoids are liberal.

And blows it outside so the air compressor can suck it up !




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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

put the cat upstairs, babies are alot of trouble=)

dont use an iBook as a garage computer.

wash your hands before you look something up on your apple computer.

put your dads tools where they go or face the wrath.

try to finish the vw before you buy another hobby car when you have a 2 car garage.

and finally the best advice i can give anyone.....

wash your hands before you use an apple computer. (should i repeat it?)

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http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Untitled-1.jpg

I mostly catch grief for getting grease on the handle of the fridge. When my parents visit my mom points that out to my wife, I guess to rub it in. I'm sure that I did the same thing when I lived with them.

-Tad

The Powerbook G3 "Pismo, or Lombard" work great for this purpose. Mine is 5 years old, still used daily and looks brand new (condition and design) But my white iMac keyboard, well lets not go there.

__________________
Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

I have an iMac in the garage that I can hit if I am frustrated when working It lets me take out the stress of the moment, as well as my general dislike of macs . (its a broken one a friend let me have)

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

dont be like that!

is it a slot loader with the firmware/fried wires issue or the tray loader with the display transformer issue?

i hate that apple cant make a good computer anymore, im still holding out hope that this intel thing is a big joke and the g6 will be the punchline...

this imac g5 isnt so bad, but every g3 computer i had was garbage.

ive sent my g3 ibook 900mhz in twice and it has arrived back to me effectivly DOA both times. i dont think they even repair them.

i know its going off topic wayyy off topic, but shouldnt a $2,000 product last more than a month beyond its warranty period?

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http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Untitled-1.jpg

Tad, excellent list dude.

I had most of those in my head already do to for my garage. Got the compressor, haven't installed it. got the laptop with wireless card to go out there too (more so for music though ). fire extinguishers near both doors too.

im disapointed with the toolbox I got, the biggest and cheapest harbor freight had ($220 for 3 boxes) but it came dented, but the drawers really arent big enough for everthing I need. I may go get a craftsman, I saw them at about the same price for a little larger box after I got mine.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

One thing I definatley have while in the garage is a LOT of lighting, both from the ceiling and portable lights, so I can see everything I am doing.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

http://www.garagejunkies.net/

- Patrick

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1982 240D. 198k, Marine Blue/Blue, 4 Speed, Crank Windows, No Sunroof, No Rust, No Oil Leaks
2001 TDI. 197k, Lagoon Blue/Black, 5 speed, Chip, G60/VR6

You've found the mecca!

-Tad

I was under the assumption that everyone here had enough sense to have one end of the hose connected to the grinder and leave the other end connected to the dry vac.

__________________
1983 300-D turbo
1985 300-D turbo
1959 Harley Panhead chopper
1929 Ford coupe restored
I hang out with Boneheaddoctor at Schuman Automotive OBK#5
All liberals are mattoids but not all mattoids are liberal.