I'll be completely stripping this car to the frame and it will be my first total tear down. For those of you who have done this, do you have any advice before I get started. I'm already set with a digital camera and notebooks to document how everything came apart. Any helpful hints are appreciated.
Yep, go buy a box of ziplock sandwich bags. As you remove parts, put all your nuts, bolts, clips, etc., in a bag and label them. Keep all the bags in a box and keep it safe. Makes re-assembly a breeze when you don't have to wonder where everything came from. Sam
Respirator mask.... ..buy one... a good one. And eyewear also. Especially if you are going to be using chemicals but it also helps with sand or media blasting. As stated previously, organization is critical. Have fun. That's an order! Seth
The ziploc bag idea by Sam is a good one, a very good one. However, I would go one step farther and buy the Ziploc or Glad disposable containers (the ones that are supposed to copy Tupperware but be thrown away). You can buy various sizes. The longevity of these containers with nuts, bolts, screws, clips, etc., is longer than the bags. If you haven't heard yet, all restorations last longer than expected. I use coffe cans, but I have an ample supply. My sister's office goes through a can of coffee per day and she brings me the cans. Just my two cents.
I do the same thing when we take apart any car. All the nuts, bolts, washers, and screws go into thier own seperate bags or containers and labled according to what they can off of and what side they came off of. It is so much easier than dumping out a can full of nuts and bolts and trying to remember what they go to and saves a great deal of time. For some parts I tape the screws directly to the parts so they don't get lost. For those really rusty bolts that need to be reused, we drop them in a can filled with motor oil, close it up, write on the can what they are for and let them soak. The main thing is to take your time and don't rush things. Taking pictures is a terrific way to help in remembering how something goes back together weeks or months later. And last but not least, make sure you have all the tools you think you need handy, including lots of WD-40 or something similar and plenty of rags. Nothing kills time faster than having to hunt for the one wrench you need and not have a clue where it is or where it was left last.
Hey Man Help a poor working man out and buy the Presto or Kroger or food lion brand containers . Those folks at Glad & Ziploc charge too much. As you can tell I work for a private label company Later Tim
Don't throw anything away no matter how hammered it is! Chances are anything you throw away you will need desperately either five minutes after the trash is picked up, or in a year or so when you're going back together with the car. Also keep plenty of food and beverages around. I tend to forget to eat when I'm doing a big project. I'm told this will eventually make you die, so I'm working on it. Have fun!
you will need bigger containers than just those little things....go to your local ODD Lots and buy some of their big storage containers to put stuff into also, it makes it alot easier to stack that stuff when it is out of the car. you wont believe how much space all that stuff takes up until you get it all out of the car. I have a 10 x 20 storage that i have moved all my parts to and it pretty much filled it up
