New Southern Man Cave

One of the outcomes of the build is the New Southern Man Cave (NSMC). One of the really big problems with living in a northern state is winter. It cuts down on driving days and building days. Even with a propane based bullet heater, there are three to four months out of the year where it is too cold in the garage to get much done.

The second problem (not for the build, but afterwards) is that running three or four cars in two car garage is not a long term solution. Granted, I have a storage space for one car (usually the Boxster) in northern Minnesota. I have been truly blessed to have that space. The prospect of parking either the Boxster or the GTM outside just doesn't work for me.

My wife and I decided (basically, I got permission, but decided sounds so much better) to build the New Southern Man Cave in South Carolina. There are about 10 to 15 days per year where the weather is truly horrible. I can congregate all the cars in one place, and we get the lift out of the Northern Man Cave - something the love of my life will truly appreciate. She's been a really good sport about having a lift shoehorned into the garage, but all things come to an end.

The New Southern Man Cave is located on a former bean field about 20 miles inland from the Grand Strand. It is 75 x 30 feet (2250 square feet) with a clearance of just under 11 feet. It has sufficient space to park the Boxster, Corvette and GTM, a paint booth that can be taken up and down, tool chest and work bench, the lift, electric hoist, small welder and air compressor. Plus, it could hold additional project car (or two - I wrote the last bit really quietly).

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When I started this post, the NSMC was in the planning stages. Somewhere in between planning, building and moving the build from Minnesota to South Carolina life stepped in. My mother suffered a fall in April 2014, and a good chunk of the summer went to dealing with the crisis. She is much better now. Needless to say, between family issues and running a business, the GTM build took a back seat.

The NSMC was completed in May. I only had a week to set up things in May, before heading back to Minnesota. By the end of summer, the GTM and Boxster joined the Corvette; the lift was reassembled, an overhead hoist for the engine and body was installed; a ground winch was bolted into the slab; and Internet service was established. The move was not trivial, but I worked with a number of great vendors:

• Benco - The original vendor that I purchased my four post Direct Lift from in 2011. They came and dismantled the lift, then shipped it to South Carolina.
• Quality Air Tool -  I was very fortunate to find the nearest Direct Lift vendor to the NSMC was in Florence, SC, which is 50 miles up the road from the NSMC.
• Select 1 -  These folks transported the cars to the NSMC. They showed up on time, demonstrated great care  car for the vehicles they were moving and delivered them on time. They were recommended to me by my wife's cousin.
• Homewood Metal - These folks built the NSMC. Mr. Jimmy is a gentleman, true to his word and schedule. The NSMC is absolutely fantastic!

This required planning, timing and money. So nothing major happened on the build this summer. The neighbors near the Northern Man Cave are disappointed with the move. They wanted to see the car run, but in reality it would have been very difficult to do all the required body and engine work on one side of a double garage that already has a lift and a car. The rest is a pictorial of the NSMC and the move.

This is mid April, 2014. The steel frame is going up.

Early interior shot, early May 2014. The building is fully insulated.

Early exterior shot, early May 2014.

Moving Day. This was late July 2014.

She had to be winched into the truck.

Settled in for the long ride.

Early August 2014 - Arrival day in South Carolina. The drivers for Select 1 are fantastic.

This car that has smudged primer, no engine and no glass attracted a HUGE amount of attention. This was the first time it had ever been out of a garage and I was able to take photos from a number of angles.

No one really knows what a Factory Five GTM is. So I explain it is based on a C5 Corvette, with the engine the rear hooked up to a 7 speed Porsche transaxle with some Ferrari like styling. Then they ask, how fast can it go. I explain that the estimated top end speed is 207 mph. I'll never take it that fast, but that's what my calculations estimate.

Did I mention friends? This is Charlie, my neighbor from Richmond, VA. He helped me get the GTM into the NSMC. He was so happy to find out the towing package on his SUV really works.

My son in law made the Corvette photos for my birthday.

This is the Swisstrax floor from the Northern Man Cave. I picked it up, put  it in the Van and reassembled it.

All the cars in one place and plenty of space. You can see the rolling bench next to the GTM. I was very busy getting things put together.

Just before Labor Day, the lift arrives!

The lift is back in business.

Of course, it wouldn't be complete without the Lift Lytes. One of the best accessories for any lift.

Overhead hoist (Northern Tool and Equipment) for the engine and body work. Essentially, I can do everything as a one man shop.

We all have to answer to someone. I answer to 9 lbs of Attitude.

The lift went to use immediately. The Corvette goes up for some much need maintenance.

There was never any room in the Northern Man cave for a rolling bench. Now there is plenty of room.

Long shot of all the cars.

My grandson, Zachary, came to help me get the GTM covered. He is really into cars.