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[tidla]

A lot more things to consider , thanks for the info ..Who would have though that digging a hole in the ground
needs so much planning  So if the pit was inside a garage you would still get water of some sort seeping in through the pit walls ?

Yes, you'd need an impermeable membrane between the pit wall and outside world, especially if the water table is high where you are.

Or fit a fibreglass pit liner and forget all the headaches - dig hole, drop liner in, backfill with concrete and rebar mesh. Job jobbed (Ok, good idea to run conduit & SWA in there for power & light, too)

http://mech-mate.co.uk/Motor-Pits.html

I have the 2.5m, if I were doing it again I'd go for 3 or 3.5m - basically as long as you can fit in the garage and still have 0.5m at the steps end (or both ends in the case of the 3.5m one).

That fibreglass pit liner is a great idea , would save a lot of faffing about 

The mother of all fish ponds.

[aaronjb]

That fibreglass pit liner is a great idea , would save a lot of faffing about 

It's a doddle to clean out, too, when you do the inevitable and dump half a sump full of oil in the bottom of it and all over yourself..

[omega3000]

That fibreglass pit liner is a great idea , would save a lot of faffing about 

It's a doddle to clean out, too, when you do the inevitable and dump half a sump full of oil in the bottom of it and all over yourself..

A few hundred magic tree's will sort out the stench though 

[feeutfo]

I wondered.... If digging the depth suitable for working while sat on a wheeled stool, say 4ft maybe,  would save effort and cost in construction...?

[aaronjb]

I wondered.... If digging the depth suitable for working while sat on a wheeled stool, say 4ft maybe,  would save effort and cost in construction...?

That's the sort of depth of the pit liner I linked to - you can't stand up under the car but you can sit on the (included) seat and slide up and down on the sliding rails.. actually (most of the time) more comfortable than standing in a full depth MOT pit.

If you ever make it over to mine when I'm in, you're welcome to have a look at the pit

[omega3000]

That looks quite impressive



Decent guide on how to as well , any idea what the cost of the liner is ..

[Marks DTM Calib]

Just confirmed with a BCO, building regs are required to cover:

Structual (both effect on existing structure and structual integrity of pit walls)
Drainage
Electrical lighting (if fitted)

[andyc]

I read in one of the classic car mags a while back the pit has to be a certian distance from the garage walls otherwise the walls of the garage may slip into the pit.

Do your home work well before you start digging

Andy

[aaronjb]

Decent guide on how to as well , any idea what the cost of the liner is ..

£1000 to £2000 depending on size, excluding VAT - if you find the guy at Goodwood or the Revival and he has one sitting there, though, you can get a good deal if you offer to save him taking it home