Working on a car without a garage?

[Daymoe]

Is it possible to safely work on a car without having access to a garage? I mean in the ways of keepings things out of the weather, would covering them with a tarp work?

[rag top]

What sort of work?

[boss 300]

no way mate

[RSgerry]

if it was for a night or two, and the weather was kind, then you could get away with it. but it would depend on what your doing.

[gz1]

Let's see now. Over the years on the sidewalk as I did not even have a driveway back then, nevermind a garage.
Replaced head on EH holden (with old one from wrekers)
Replaced head on HQ 202 (with yealla tera) and installed extractors, heavy springs and shocks all round.
Rebuild motor on Hilman, (new pistons,rings,bearings, hone cyls, valve grind).
Changed brake shoes on all above and then some.
Change engine on different Hilman with reco one.
and many other bits of minor work over the years Till I grew too old.
I now have a garage that is too full to fit the car in it but at least I have a driveway. However I also have a wife and two kids and the car I drive is a company car so no work gets done on it by me anymore. Sometimes I miss that.

[Daymoe]

Originally Posted by boss 300

no way mate

Didn't think so, I'm talking about engine transplant, stuff like that. My grandma has a garage she doesn't use but its about an hour away from home and can only fit a single car in there barely. Could only be used for storing a car.

My garage has been filled with the stuff when we moved into this house...... 15 YEARS AGO.

[GT69]

Short answer, yes you can work on a car without a garage. Containing bits and pieces is the biggest worry you have, but it depends what your doing, and how long its going to be under a tarp for. I've never worked on a car inside a garage before, always under a carport, to be honest i find it easier. but once again containing bits and pieces is a problem (though im sure it is in a garage anyway. If your replacing engines, well its always good to have solid ground under you. And lets face it, crawling around on your back, under a car, through dirt, wet grass and leaf litter isnt exactly an enjoyable experience.

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by Daymoe

My garage has been filled with the stuff when we moved into this house...... 15 YEARS AGO.

Well unfill it then.

[Daymoe]

It ain't my house, What am I supposed to do, go to the tip with mum's belongings she wont get rid of?

Walk down to the tip carrying a full garage of junk?

[GT69]

Originally Posted by Daymoe

It ain't my house, What am I supposed to do, go to the tip with mum's belongings she wont get rid of?

Walk down to the tip carrying a full garage of junk?

I see no problem with your plan mate haha

[Daymoe]

(Me and Dad actually did empty out some stuff when we sent her on holidays once).

Our plan is, send her on a holiday again, then hire a van with a huge trailer and get everything down to the tip.

[OLDFORDNUT]

ive never had a garage with space for a car, just my tools and car parts, and have done up lots of cars in driveways and only time ive had trouble is when its raining but that just give me an excuse to visit friends

[Pinch]

What abut one of those $99 temporary carports from Supercheap? In the sales you can get one with sides - or try ebay.

[MR.BA.GT.332]

Originally Posted by Pinch

What abut one of those $99 temporary carports from Supercheap? In the sales you can get one with sides - or try ebay.

how good are those temporary carports??? anyone used them??

[XR Lita]

I have also been contemplating one of those carports from Supercheap. Anyone with experience with them?

[XR2DOOR]

use what youve got and get on with it dont drag it out

[greenfoam]

Go to Mexico the land of if you don't get that small block chev rebuilt before the sun comes up you ain't making any pesos on your bus run that day. VERY common to see mechanics rebuilding engines/gearboxes/anything on the front lawn. Everything is fixed and fixed fast, if you bust some suspension it's fixed where it broke on the side of the street. Pretty insperational how they keep things running with almost no budget.

I will add that I have a double garage but don't keep my car in it or work on it in the shed only out in the paddock I like the grass better, more comfy than concrete

[klawsterfobik]

Sure you can. My dad and I the head in my girlfriends Barina in his drive way, and a week later changed the engine (don't ask) in the exact same spot. The trick is to have containers for bolts and clamps etc.

If you know what needs to be done, have the right tools, do it in good weather and don't prolong it, its no more difficult than doing it in a garage.

You're only swapping the engine, just shut the bonnet when you're done, and park the car so that you can get an engine crane under it and move it around freely.

[Unco]

i don't see a problem with it. if you don't finish it in one day, just put the bonnet on and take it off again the next day, how hard is that?

some people around here want a 4 post hoist in their garage to do a simple oil change.

if you don't have a garage, make do with what you've got.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Unco

some people around here want a 4 post hoist in their garage to do a simple oil change.

if you don't have a garage, make do with what you've got.

What he said

A friend of mine converted his XJ12 Jag from auto to manual on his front lawn.

[mustang70]

i dont even have a carport,just a driveway. currently got the diff in bits. like someone said made do with what you've got,cant see any problems at all, if it rains, you dont work that day. if it rains , you cover stuff up. the only safety issue would be having a flat ahrd ground, i dont think engine hoists/axle stands on grass and sand is very worksafe

[Addz08]

Originally Posted by mr_460bigblock

how good are those temporary carports??? anyone used them??

yeah i had one didnt last long, once the sun gets to them they fall aprt..

[Nostalgia]

Originally Posted by Addz08

yeah i had one didnt last long, once the sun gets to them they fall aprt..

Correct, it even state's in the catalogue that these are for temporary use only.

They don't like the weather at all.

I would only ever buy one if i was having a party in crappy weather.

Adam.