For what it's worth...

[Don Jordan]

Most of you guys know all this stuff and I, for some reason, always have to learn things the hard way.

I took my engine out and had it rebuilt. Putting it back in I noticed I had some extra parts and I couldn't remember where they went.

I TOOK PICTURES!!! I know people are always saying that but I actually did. When you're taking a part off you tell yourself "How could I not remember where that goes - it's obvious." Well, trust me you can forget.

I was having trouble with the linkage, could not visualize from the parts book, checked my pictures and presto there it was - pictures right out of the car.

In the old days you had to waste film, had to have it processed, and couldn't zoom in on a single area. Some day I'm going to have to embrace the 21st century.

Anyway for you week end mechanics like me: take pictures of everything. If you don't have a digital camera it will be worth the investment.

Just thought I'd share.

d-

[Eneto-55]

I've started doing this for other types of repair as well, like with the clothes washer & carpet cleaner. It helps in not only seeing how things go together, but the order in which it came apart, hopefully a reversable process you can follow as you reassemble it.

Neto

[greg g]

Digital camera, zip lock storage bags, 3x5 index cards, and sharpies are definately your friends. I have a friend that also keeps a 9x11 spiral notebook in the vehicle. When he's done with a work session, he does up a synopsis type journal entry in which he documents his time, and any paranthetical information, like tools used, directions he hammered stuff, trips to the hardware or other suppliers, stuff like that. He also lables his parts bags and tags with the date he worked on them so he can refer back to his journal if he gets in a spot with reassembly.

He worked for a restoration shop for about 15 years, and when they did time and materials jobs, the boss insisted on this process for billing customers, it ended a lot of questions about time spent on processes.

He is a lot more orgainized than me, and his work habits carried over to his hobbies.

But he has sold a coupel of his projects and the new owners appreciate the detail especially when they need to buy 86 ford t bird rear brake pasds for their 47 chevy...

[Chester Brzostowski]

The digital camera is definitely your best friend. If I didn’t take the pictures I did my car would still be a pile of parts with a huge question mark. Also probably saved hundreds of posts titled: “Anyone know where this goes”

As Greg said I used plastic bags and a magic marker. The car moved to three different locations during the course of 6 years. Once you move parts from one location to two other locations finding things is a huge challenge. Remembering what they looked like, is yet another. Having a picture showing where it goes is priceless

Chet…

[Young Ed]

You guys take all the fun out of it. At 21 I got my 46 1/2 ton which was a stripped out cab on a rolling frame and a 1 stall garage full of parts. And I didn't even have the benefit of being the one who took it apart.

[Dan Hiebert]

You guys take all the fun out of it. At 21 I got my 46 1/2 ton which was a stripped out cab on a rolling frame and a 1 stall garage full of parts. And I didn't even have the benefit of being the one who took it apart.

Ditto. My first old car project was a 55 Ford F-100 that had been someone else's project, and was probably close to yours in condition. The guy sold it because he couldn't remember how he took it apart. Made for a good price, but I sure learned a lot the hard way. (Mainly never to do that again if I can help it!)

[Young Ed]

Made for a good price, but I sure learned a lot the hard way. (Mainly never to do that again if I can help it!)

For sure! I said I'd never do it again too. Three years later I bought my p15 which was also someone elses abandoned project. That one wasn't nearly so taken apart but the guy also had a 46-48 ford coupe that was in the next stall so I ended up with a few ford parts in place of my plymouth stuff.