Recording restoration prgoress

[mcsdaz]

Quick question, what methods do people use for keeping track of a restoration (things to do, parts/suppliers used, photo's of where things were taken off etc) and what would you say the pro's and cons of your method is? Thanks in Advance

 

[HealeyRick]

I've heard there are folks who use Excel spreadsheets for this and put their to-do lists on whiteboards in the garage. Being more or less disorganized I keep it in my head.

 

[mcsdaz]

I've heard there are folks who use Excel spreadsheets for this and put their to-do lists on whiteboards in the garage. Being more or less disorganized I keep it in my head.

I wondered, because I find keeping on top of it a little bit difficult at times, nice Healey by the way

 

[Popeye]

I use a simple excel spreadsheet. The spreadsheet captures, at a high level, the order in which I take things apart - and conversely the order to put back together again. I find it helpful to capture the “I really must temember X when I put this back together in a year.” I also keep track of all the parts I have ordered; I get parts when on sale and not necessarily when I need them. I find this helps to locate parts - and not re-order.

I also use my iPhone camera. I do not rename the photos, rather I let the iPhone naming scheme - numerical - let me sort pictures in the order I do the work. I have put all the photos in a PowerPoint photo album, which is a nice way to get four photos on one page, and quickly scroll through them.

 

[DavidApp]

I had intended to do the spreadsheet thing but the TR3A I got was completely dismantled and when I picked it up the PO said just get everything that looks like it is part of the car. Things have been moved around a bit. So I started from that point and have never got back to the spreadsheet thing.
I try to put the new parts in plastic tubs with all the parts for a given area in the tub.

Helps to be organized which I am not.

David

I've heard there are folks who use Excel spreadsheets for this and put their to-do lists on whiteboards in the garage. Being more or less disorganized I keep it in my head.

 

[Alfred E. Neuman]

I've used a marker and zip lock bags for ages. Every component that fits in a bag goes in with all fasteners, gets marked with Sharpie, and put into a storage area dedicated to the car. Larger components get their small parts and fasteners put in a bag that stays with that component. Suspension gets it's own box for LF, RF, LR, and RR.
I've watched Tush's youtube channel and am going to steal his method and take it to a little higher level next time thanks to him. Same bag technique, but a simple spiral notebook noting the Date, component taken off, bag #, and then the bags get put into large plastic storage bins. Bins are numbered as well. So if you need a part all you have to do is look back in your notebook. Windshield wiper and all associated hardware will be in Box X, bag Y.
Good digital camera and more pictures from more angles than you think you will ever need to reassemble the thing. Pictures before of component in it's home, pictures coming apart, pictures of each component refurbish, pictures after it's back on the car. That record alone is worth several thousand $ if you ever want to sell and prove how thorough your restoration was.

 

[JPSmit]

Classic Motorsports says lay out the parts - take the pic - then load the box. then print the pic and put it in the binder, then no lists just look at the pics. Of course this is exactly what I will do if I can find where I put the camera. :grin:

 

[TomMull]

Classic Motorsports says lay out the parts - take the pic - then load the box. then print the pic and put it in the binder, then no lists just look at the pics. Of course this is exactly what I will do if I can find where I put the camera. :grin:

Now that hits home.
Tom