Am I really Nuts?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Am I really Nuts?
Wife thinks I'm nuts. 
I've already rigged up a hose in such a manner that I can wash off the underside of my car before I pull it in the garage and I am seriously contemplating cutting a section out of the garage floor and making a pit just for undercar work.
Already took a core sample and it's about 4 inches of concrete over pea gravel. My buddy has a backhoe on a BCat and I have a concrete mixer soooooo!
Figured it might be a good winter project.
Has anyone installed a pit.
Would not be as fancy as Jiffylube etc., but would be well lit and set up with stairs and metal catwalk material and L beams.
Any realtors out there that can tell me if it will change the resale value of my house or should I only sell to a C5 owner in the future?
Regards
Jim
Remember if you are going to party hardy
this holiday season and partake to excess that you should have a designated driver 
as we need all of the forum members back after the New Year.
Happy Holidays.
I've already rigged up a hose in such a manner that I can wash off the underside of my car before I pull it in the garage and I am seriously contemplating cutting a section out of the garage floor and making a pit just for undercar work. Already took a core sample and it's about 4 inches of concrete over pea gravel. My buddy has a backhoe on a BCat and I have a concrete mixer soooooo!
Figured it might be a good winter project.
Has anyone installed a pit.
Would not be as fancy as Jiffylube etc., but would be well lit and set up with stairs and metal catwalk material and L beams.
Any realtors out there that can tell me if it will change the resale value of my house or should I only sell to a C5 owner in the future?
Regards
Jim
Remember if you are going to party hardy
this holiday season and partake to excess that you should have a designated driver as we need all of the forum members back after the New Year.Happy Holidays.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,630
Likes: 8
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
I've always wanted to have an oil change pit in my garage...let me know how that turns out...as far as setting a hose up to wash the undercarriage as you go in...that's taking it a bit too far. If she's going to be a "garage queen" (i.e. only drive it on nice dasy) like mine...then you only have to clean the under body panels about every two months by lying on your back. 
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: Riverview Fl
[QUOTE=Benpup]Wife thinks I'm nuts. I've already rigged up a hose in such a manner that I can wash off the underside of my car before I pull it in the garage and I am seriously contemplating cutting a section out of the garage floor and making a pit just for undercar work.
Already took a core sample and it's about 4 inches of concrete over pea gravel. My buddy has a backhoe on a BCat and I have a concrete mixer soooooo!
Figured it might be a good winter project.
Has anyone installed a pit.
Would not be as fancy as Jiffylube etc., but would be well lit and set up with stairs and metal catwalk material and L beams.
Any realtors out there that can tell me if it will change the resale value of my house or should I only sell to a C5 owner in the future?
Regards
Jim
Ahhhh love in the air..
I've already rigged up a hose in such a manner that I can wash off the underside of my car before I pull it in the garage and I am seriously contemplating cutting a section out of the garage floor and making a pit just for undercar work. Already took a core sample and it's about 4 inches of concrete over pea gravel. My buddy has a backhoe on a BCat and I have a concrete mixer soooooo!
Figured it might be a good winter project.
Has anyone installed a pit.
Would not be as fancy as Jiffylube etc., but would be well lit and set up with stairs and metal catwalk material and L beams.
Any realtors out there that can tell me if it will change the resale value of my house or should I only sell to a C5 owner in the future?
Regards
Jim
Ahhhh love in the air..
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
It's a daily driver and the winters here in Cincy OH are unpredictable so I think washing the underside every few days before it's parked for the night isn't a bad idea. 
Will keep you all briefed on progress if I get a wifely nod.
Regards
Jim
Remember if you are going to party hardy this holiday season and partake to excess that you should have a designated driver as we need all of the forum members back after the New Year.
Happy Holidays.
Will keep you all briefed on progress if I get a wifely nod.
Regards
Jim
Remember if you are going to party hardy
this holiday season and partake to excess that you should have a designated driver as we need all of the forum members back after the New Year.Happy Holidays.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Wow that sounds like a nice idea. I use 4 ramps to lift mine, but would feel much safer in a pit.
I am not sure if you home value would go up. Pits are very dangerous (gas and stuff gets in them) though. I thought that even NY went as far as trying to out-law them because of the danger (not sure of this though).
I would also guess your concern would be digging the hole and having the land shift causing your garage to shift.
Maybe a quiklift would be less money and less of a hassle if you had enough room in the garage....
Wow like to see the process documented if you do it...
I am not sure if you home value would go up. Pits are very dangerous (gas and stuff gets in them) though. I thought that even NY went as far as trying to out-law them because of the danger (not sure of this though).
I would also guess your concern would be digging the hole and having the land shift causing your garage to shift.
Maybe a quiklift would be less money and less of a hassle if you had enough room in the garage....
Wow like to see the process documented if you do it...
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 210
Likes: 1
From: Aberdeen NC
I have a hot water in my garage for washing my vettes. Last weekend I spent about 6 hours washing and waxing inside my shop with 40 degree weather outside. So, when it is snowing outside I can still wash them with hot water in a heated garage. Oh did I mention the TV and recliner so I can sit and admire them. 
I want to add a center drain to my shop to let the water flow while washing, currently I have to push it outside with a broom. Go ahead, take some picture before and after for us.
Oh did I mention the TV and recliner so I can sit and admire them. I want to add a center drain to my shop to let the water flow while washing, currently I have to push it outside with a broom. Go ahead, take some picture before and after for us.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 14,863
Likes: 0
From: In a pineapple under the sea.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
CI 8-9-10 Veteran
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
Maybe a quiklift would be less money and less of a hassle if you had enough room in the garage....
Pupster - you may also run afoul of local codes. Be sure to check!
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Originally Posted by Iron Chef
Pupster - you may also run afoul of local codes. Be sure to check!
I'm getting a bit older
(won't go into detail) and rolling about on a creeper just isn't my idea of a good time anymore. 
The MD's keep bandaiding me back together but I have more miles on me than my C5 has on it. Lead content alone from Viet Nam is a hassle.
A lift sound great and would probably be easier to install so I'm going to look into that.
After reading about the recliner and the TV, a pit that is well furnished sure sound great.
Again I didn't think about the local codes
so I'll keep you all posted.Regards
Jim
Remember if you are going to party hardy
this holiday season and partake to excess that you should have a designated driver as we need all of the forum members back after the New Year.Happy Holidays.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
A pit sounds great. I would also think this would add value to your house. So many car guys out there that would want a pit if they were going to buy a house.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,217
Likes: 48
From: After reading this thread, I gotta tell ya... you're an ass. .
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by Iron Chef
Pupster - you may also run afoul of local codes. Be sure to check!
I know some friends who had pits in their garage. They were forced by the city to comply with the local codes, of fill them in.One major problem was that there was no emergency exit in the pit.
What if there was a fire,or over come by CO, or You became trapped.
Go with a lift it will be cheaper & better in the long run.
Good Luck
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Witness Protection Program Somewhere, USA
2026 Restomod of the Year Finalist
Am I really nuts?
Yes you are. 
But then again, many of us are. From a realtor's view, this would be a nice addition if you find a car guy as a buyer. But the truth is that most buyers aren't and for them a hole in their garage floor would be a negative. Consider the family with small kids. Liability galore.
If you never sell the house it may work for you but probably would have to fill it in if you ever sold it to a non car person.
Small lift is probably a better Idea.
But then again, many of us are. From a realtor's view, this would be a nice addition if you find a car guy as a buyer. But the truth is that most buyers aren't and for them a hole in their garage floor would be a negative. Consider the family with small kids. Liability galore.If you never sell the house it may work for you but probably would have to fill it in if you ever sold it to a non car person.
Small lift is probably a better Idea.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,137
Likes: 2,984
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Originally Posted by jeromeunderwood
I have a hot water in my garage for washing my vettes. Last weekend I spent about 6 hours washing and waxing inside my shop with 40 degree weather outside. So, when it is snowing outside I can still wash them with hot water in a heated garage. Oh did I mention the TV and recliner so I can sit and admire them. I want to add a center drain to my shop to let the water flow while washing, currently I have to push it outside with a broom. Go ahead, take some picture before and after for us.
Oh did I mention the TV and recliner so I can sit and admire them. I want to add a center drain to my shop to let the water flow while washing, currently I have to push it outside with a broom. Go ahead, take some picture before and after for us.
I say the under car hose and pit are not nuts, go for it
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Greenville SC
Originally Posted by Benpup
Wife thinks I'm nuts. I've already rigged up a hose in such a manner that I can wash off the underside of my car before I pull it in the garage and I am seriously contemplating cutting a section out of the garage floor and making a pit just for undercar work.
Already took a core sample and it's about 4 inches of concrete over pea gravel. My buddy has a backhoe on a BCat and I have a concrete mixer soooooo!
Figured it might be a good winter project.
Any realtors out there that can tell me if it will change the resale value of my house or should I only sell to a C5 owner in the future?
Regards
Jim
I've already rigged up a hose in such a manner that I can wash off the underside of my car before I pull it in the garage and I am seriously contemplating cutting a section out of the garage floor and making a pit just for undercar work. Already took a core sample and it's about 4 inches of concrete over pea gravel. My buddy has a backhoe on a BCat and I have a concrete mixer soooooo!
Figured it might be a good winter project.
Any realtors out there that can tell me if it will change the resale value of my house or should I only sell to a C5 owner in the future?
Regards
Jim
Would probably be cheaper to get a lift if your ceiling will allow it.. And, you can take it with you when you move...
JCR_Indy
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Not nuts at all. Sounds like a great way to clean the underside of the car - at least it would get some of the easily removable dirt off. As far as the pit, I would think that is may hurt the resale a bit, unless the potential buyer is a car nut themself. Plus, you'd have to be careful not to drop a wheel off into the pit by accident.