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PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRRGGGH

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Tinkerman

Tinkerman

Darth Vader
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How do you keep up with all of the parts. Got to be thousands in a total restoration. I know that a pair of SU carbs has 92 and the front suspension has 364, not counting fastners.
So what do you do or what have you done to keep up with all the STUFF?
Is there a system out there? Some nifty way so that we don't have to spend twice as much time hunting then we do assembling stuff.
Your thoughts,ideas and experience really REALLY welcome.

Tinkerman
 
Tinkerman-

As a non-mechanic Triumph owner, I too am overwhelmed by
all the parts. I also must do my own work because of where
I live.

I find that using a "parts board" helps keep me organized.
When I remove a part, I place it on a white painted board
and label it. I try to keep the parts in their correct
orientation as well. I take hundreds of in-progress photos.

When I replace fasteners: I take them off my parts board,
one by one, and tag them with where they go and what size
they are. I put them in seperate bags and go to the
fastener store. New fasteners go into the individual plastic bag with the originals. I take photos of fasteners
also.

I hope this concept helps.

dale

powderParts.jpg
 
Ooh, I like the parts board.

I was fortunate that I could take over the guest bedroom for a year to keep everything sorted and clean.


parts-2.JPG



Added bonus: no pesky visitors for the duration of the project.
 
My wife says there are 15,000 parts in a TR3A. How would she know, you ask. She says she counted them all. Under the bed, on the dining room table, behind the sofa, on and under the beds in the guest room, in the - - - - -. Well, you get the idea.

I did my restoration from 1987 to 1990, so she only had to put up with this for three years. Yes, she's still with me. How many parts boards can I fit in the pantry ?
 
I now use clear plastic tubs with lids to store parts in, for both my new and used parts. I'm trying to separate them by chassis, brakes, engine, etc.

I find that if I have a project, like the fuel pumps, putting all of those parts into one container, makes it easier to clean off my workbench to do something else and not to lose anything when I do.

I'm also beginning to run out of room. Just one more reason why I need one of the "super" garages.
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

Brosky said:
I now use clear plastic tubs with lids to store parts in, for both my new and used parts. I'm trying to separate them by chassis, brakes, engine, etc.
Click to expand...

I'm w/ Paul on the plastic tubs, except I use the kind my wife buys salad in;
IMG_0759.jpg


Many different sizes, and they're free! I used to keep stuff in the cardboard boxes they came in, but too hard to find stuff...
IMG_0760.jpg
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

Same as me, Kevin. I just use the heavier ones for heavier parts.
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

My approach is a little different, but only a little ... I buy large plastic crates at HD or Costco (the Costco ones are better made) and then pile things into them roughly according to pages in the Spare Parts Catalogue. Obviously that doesn't apply to large parts, like transmissions and cylinder heads, but anything small enough for a crate goes in a crate. If necessary I further subdivide along logical lines; eg "lamps" in one crate and the remainder of "electrical" in another.

Then many smaller items get grouped together in baggies inside the crates, like TR3 dash switches all go in one baggie. Here's part of my stash, on some neat shelves that I snagged when a previous employer closed their sonar business.
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

Being an ultra-cheapskate I use old beer boxes from the local brew-thru.

Free and sturdy.

I just put a large white mailing label on the ends to identify the contents.
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

I noticed the use of a parts board in the shop I am taking an auto body class in, never thought of it, great for bolts and small bits, or a small to medium project, but I would think a little large or cumbersome for a total resto or big project unless you have a lot of space and cardboard.
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Being an ultra-cheapskate I use old beer boxes from the local brew-thru. [/QUOTE]

I quit buying beer a long time ago or I'd probably be doing the same. Those were great boxes that the long necks came in. I can remember carrying in a lot of full ones and carrying out a lot of empties in my younger days.
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

My two cents - make sure all the boxes are the same size. Makes them much easier to stack/organize.

I buy boxes from office depot... pretty expensive at $1/box, but they are all the same, I can stack them, etc.
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

Starting point is to photograph everything before dismantling, as rebuilds always take longer than expected, and it's impossible to remember where everything goes.

A very cheap way of storing smaller parts is in sealable clear plastic lunch bags (Gladbags here). There are heaps in a box for $1.50 and you just describe the stored item on the bag with a black texta pen.
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

As a suggestion, give your cardboard boxes a coat of shellac and they will last a lot longer
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

Hey Frank !!

I'm still enjoying that horde of PF pretzel goldfish you
brought with you.

I'm sorry guys but I just have to belly laugh at all this
talk about the cheapest way to store expensive TR parts.
Cardboard box trash from retail stores? Shellac them for
longer use? You guys are pulling my leg since you know
I'm stupid about thing auto mechanical. Right??

On average, I pay $5.00 a pop for SAE Grade 8 bolts and
nuts. I store them in compartmented, water tight, plastic
boxes with hinged lids.

Proper, hinged or snap on lid plastic containers cost
nothing compared to the high cost of parts. Yes, I also
put parts inside zip lock bags to keep out the moisture.
Then I put them in a plastic container.

Just my $2 cents: but then I'm a rookie at this car stuff!

d /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

I'm in the miscellaneous cardboard box mode right now, though I'd prefer clear plastic boxes of the same size if I could get them cheaply.

I use the sealable lunch bags too. For labels, I also found thats a great use for outdated business cards I have, add some notes and toss the card in the bag.

Randy
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

Frank - I agree that the shellac will make the cardboard boxes last longer, but the idea is to put the car back together ASAP. Otherwise, you will keep the parts and the boxes and the car will never get re-assembled. That's what we're doing ! Getting it back on the road for our pleasure. You can tell that shellac is not a priority with me.
 
Re: PARTS, parts, Parts, parts, par..........ARRRR

>As a non-mechanic Triumph owner, I too am overwhelmed by
>all the parts. I also must do my own work because of where
>I live.

I hate to point out the obvious...but you are transforming into a MECHANIC...:smile:
 
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