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  • Fit Garage & Co.

    This thread will function as a chronicle for any and all progress of the Fit Garage and more importantly: the cars associated with it.

    For more photos and projects:
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    It has been a few years since I've regularly posted on S/W, no better time than now. The last build thread was devoted to my e12, I'd link to the thread but all the pictures are dead because I thought imageshack was a good choice. Genius. After being somewhat dis-involved with automotives as a hobby, I was offered a chance to own the Garage I'd been hanging out at for the past 5 years. Basically a dream.

    Here we go:

    In 2010, my good friend Sean started Fit Garage as a Wheel, Tire and Suspension shop with a heavy focus toward the fitment crowd (hence the name). Wheel refinishing, Air-Ride distributing and installation, and tire sales were the primary focus. Over the years it evolved into an all-purpose tire and mechanic shop, but the roots are still there grasping toward auto enthusiasts and the wheel/tire fitment culture as opposed to your Aunt Rachel getting some Mastercrafts for her minivan. Even if that pays the bills.

    After consulting with my longtime friend(and often the voice behind all poor choices) Zane, we went in together and bought the Fit Garage. After a few months transitioning, quitting previous employment, and a handling of funds, a major revamp was in order!

    Narratives are boring, here are pictures:

    The state of the garage was a bit neglected. (sorry Sean) First things first, the lobby.
    Before:



    We tore out the floor and installed some hardwood.




    Finished. Complete with shop dog Finn, a desk I built, and of course, some of Andrew's Art!


    Here are some more updated pictures of the lobby:




    Next the bathroom








    Next, a few years worth of tires had collected. Our friend Evan at Item-B came to help clear them. He brought his pile with him



    This is about 10% of the total tires we had to remove from behind the shop. Here, Sean proudly looms over myself and friend/Fit Garage-snapchat-aficionado: Troy.


    We also spent a great amount of time turning the piles of trash into the garage. Into a clean working space. Before:


    After:
    Actually kind of a mess because we're deep into a ton of projects.





    We removed the old workbench and built a new one.




    Since then, I haven't taken many pictures of the garage itself. But throughout the thread you'll be able to see what it looks like, and I'll update with more.



    Here are some of my favorite cars and projects we've had the pleasure of working on over the summer, listing what was done:

    Air-Ride, Wheels + Tires


    Air-Ride, Wheels + Tires


    E-Level Management


    Air-Ride, Paint, All Modifications, Restoration, Wheels+Tires


    Drop Kit


    Misc work, Tires


    Wheels + Tires, Sport Springs


    Air-Ride, Flares, Wheels+Tires:























    .........
    To be updated.
    Last edited by willis; 01-05-2016, 11:51 AM.

  • #2
    e30

    (Edit Space)
    About the time the garage started, I started delving into heavily modifying my daily driver: A 1989 e30 with s50 engine.





    The driver side had heavy damage to the driver rear fender, and a set of wheels that were way too wide(actually just offsets) came up for sale so I made the obvious choice and got on the rocketbunny wanna-be train and bought some flares!



    The wheels were a set of BBS Mahle in 5x130 pattern. Adapters and tires were purchased, and the car bean prep for paint.
    Big thanks to Zane and Wyatt Lay for the help in this department.




    Laying down paint. I settled on Anvil Grey from a 2014 Jeep.






    I had also swapped my interior including doorcards and carpet to black/houndstooth units to go with the look. I also installed vintage Recaro LS seats I sourced over the course of a couple months online. Not the best photos of this.


    Before I found a matching passanger:


    Complete photos of complete paint:






    And it was complete and I was happy.







    Until I got a phone call...
    Last edited by willis; 01-04-2016, 10:52 PM.

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    • #3
      190e 2.3-16v

      About the exact time the paint was drying on the e30, I received a phone call from the owner of a vehicle I had left a note on 3 years ago. He wondered if I was still interested in his car.

      That evening I went to check it out in person to see if it was worth it. It was.
      A 1987 190e 2.3-16v with 161,000 KM on it, so roughly 101,000miles.
      1 owner, imported from Canada. Complete with all records, OEM stainless steal Oris roof rack AND some terrible wheels!



      Interior in immaculate shape and somehow everything still functioned. Within a few days I came up with the cash and took it home.

      Here are a couple interior shots, after I installed a Narda Gara III

      Rear recaro buckets!



      Euro Lights along with about $800 worth of OEM tune-up parts was the first on the list.




      Installing an updated timing chain tensioner:


      Last photos of both cars before the e30 was purchased.



      Wheels were in order, I purchased a set of 17x8.5 OEM 6 spokes from an ML320.


      A set of 205/40r17 Falken Ze950s wrap them.

      Next was the height. Until I come up with $1800 that doesn't go into my shop or personal money blowing habits, I'll be installing Ground Controls as per Ossiep's recommendation. Until then, I have tricked the rear suspension by reclocking the self-leveling hydrolic suspension and cut a few coils in the front. SHHHHH these aren't progressive rate springs it's the same as getting lowering springs.






      I currently drive it daily, detail it weekly(especially the interior) and enjoy every minute of it.
      Last edited by willis; 01-05-2016, 03:52 PM.

      Comment


      • #4
        Vanagon

        (Edit Space)

        Updates to come, but some progress on one of Zane's MANY over the top projects.

        Zane's Vanagon in stock form:


        A set of 15" Mercedes wheels were purchased as well as a set of Hankook Dynapro M/Ts




        It was driven like this for a few months, until recently:


        A set of Steel Wheels, BFGoodrich KM2s, 3" Westfalia Springs, Fox Remote Reservoir shocks, Early front end conversion, complete tune-up, Skid Plate and sliders.
        Not Pictured, Rear Tire carrier, UCAs, and I'm sure more. His bank account is dieting.





        Last edited by willis; 01-04-2016, 11:49 PM.

        Comment


        • #5
          Well done on all accounts. Clean workspace really goes a long way towards setting the tone for any project or business, I like what you've done with the place! Good luck with the garage, it can be tough to start a niche-focused shop, I have a few friends that are going through this right now. Sometimes Grandma's Mastercrafts pay the rent, but it also dilutes your workflow. A customer looking for the type of work you'll be marketing doesnt want to come in and see a 1999 Ford Windstar on the lift... It can be a tough balance.

          Love the e30 and e28 in your sig. I just parted out my s54 e30 to build it into a spec e30 (I'm dumb) and just logged back onto Stanceworks to get some idea for an e28 I've had sitting around.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by jcbe34 View Post
            Well done on all accounts. Clean workspace really goes a long way towards setting the tone for any project or business, I like what you've done with the place! Good luck with the garage, it can be tough to start a niche-focused shop, I have a few friends that are going through this right now. Sometimes Grandma's Mastercrafts pay the rent, but it also dilutes your workflow. A customer looking for the type of work you'll be marketing doesnt want to come in and see a 1999 Ford Windstar on the lift... It can be a tough balance.

            Love the e30 and e28 in your sig. I just parted out my s54 e30 to build it into a spec e30 (I'm dumb) and just logged back onto Stanceworks to get some idea for an e28 I've had sitting around.
            Thanks! A clean workspace is so important to me, especially cleaning as I work. I'm not the type to clean at the end of the day, it has to be as I'm going. We always keep a few "niche" cars around, either our personal projects in the garage or daily drivers out from, so people have a sense of what our specialties are. Thanks for the best wishes, good luck with the e28 and e30!

            Comment


            • #7
              I really like what you did to the Shop and the Cars

              Comment


              • #8
                Awesome.

                All of it.

                You guys are living a dream I wish I followed. Glad to see you're having fun while making money.
                BB6 Prelude . . E36 ///M3 . . VA WRX Limited . . 1969 Nova
                Originally posted by Ollie
                We all love to turn heads. Sub-consciously we're all materialistic attention-craving dickheads.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Awesome stuff. Love the progress. I also enjoy your picture taking abilities. Hope you are enjoying all the snow at bachelor my buddy lives out there and works for a local company and says it has been a pretty great winter so far.
                  Originally posted by s t a y g o l d
                  and don't trash talk people, that's for hos at the club.
                  S4 Avant - Build Thread

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Why don't I have money... YOU ARE LIVING MY DREAM!

                    Awesome garage, awesome cars. And Finn... I need a Shiba Inu in my life.
                    I am a party pooper. I poop at parties.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      *sighs*

                      *clicks subscribe button*

                      *sighs again*

                      *looks at own workshop*

                      *grabs beer*

                      *starts sobbing*
                      Lucas
                      Daily: 2004 Pontiac GTO. . . . . . . . . Daily Econobox: 2009 Mini Clubman Cooper
                      Originally posted by LCG
                      High 21! It's like a high 5 but includes both hands, both feet and a boner.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by MadMax View Post
                        I really like what you did to the Shop and the Cars
                        Originally posted by MommysLittleMonster View Post
                        Awesome.

                        All of it.

                        You guys are living a dream I wish I followed. Glad to see you're having fun while making money.
                        Thanks guys! It was nerve racking at first, but it's starting to pay off.

                        Originally posted by kittenpuncher View Post
                        Awesome stuff. Love the progress. I also enjoy your picture taking abilities. Hope you are enjoying all the snow at bachelor my buddy lives out there and works for a local company and says it has been a pretty great winter so far.
                        Bachelor has been amazing this year. Tough to get up there but I usually get up at least once a week on slow days at the shop or weekends.

                        Originally posted by Dutch View Post
                        Why don't I have money... YOU ARE LIVING MY DREAM!

                        Awesome garage, awesome cars. And Finn... I need a Shiba Inu in my life.
                        Pfft, we don't have money! Just some initiative, and hardly that.

                        Originally posted by loekaaz View Post
                        *sighs*

                        *clicks subscribe button*

                        *sighs again*

                        *looks at own workshop*

                        *grabs beer*

                        *starts sobbing*
                        Oh there are countless days where beer is the only thing getting us through that lift kit on a 3500 Ram that is taking 4 hours too long.

                        I'm off to mount some tires on a Kia Sorento. Living the dream!
                        (I updated a few current photos of the garage this morning)

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Damn dude thats awesome, good job on updating the shop and making it your own.
                          Insta Mintyhinrichs

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Glad to see you guys building the dream! The whole garage and workspace is awesome looking and you know I love all the cars. Best of luck with it all.

                            E30 V8 Build thread

                            Go here be happy!

                            Instagram: stuartrussell

                            Store: alwaysindividual.bigcartel.com

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                            • #15
                              I love all this and everthing about this

                              Comment

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