I tried selling my car and the guy asks for a build sheet. I built the car myself and never made list of what I was doing step by step. I have receipts and bills of sale. What else do I need?
Take the time to do***ent what you did, along with the parts, etc. If you, in fact did the building, you won't have any problems remembering and a buyer will have a great deal of info re the car. JMO
nothing, you wouldn't have a build sheet if you built it yourself. if you word and the receipts aren't good enough for him sell it to someone else.
Get back to the guy and ask what he is really after. He may just want to know something like the rear end is from a '56 Oldsmobile and the engine is a 350 SBC from a 1990 car. He will need this type of information when he goes to buy parts. Charlie Stephens
I always take tons of pics and a word file of every part used that may not be obvious in case a future owner needs to replace something. Ever take a plain front rotor down to Autozone and say "Its off a 31 Ford" and them know where the rotor really came from? Hell they can barely do it when you have all the info.
I am not opposed to writing down the odd ball stuff, but build sheet? I guess its just the wording that throws me on that one. I usually have most of the stuff written down for future reference anyway and won't be needing it after the car is gone.
We hear "build sheet" being car guys, we think ***embly line build sheet like desired for concourse restoration. Its like when someone says they are looking for a "rim" that has a certain bolt pattern. Some guys correct them and say "the rim is the outer hoop and has no bolt pattern, you mean a wheel". While others, like me, walk into the back yard and just find them what I knew they meant. Just ask the buyer if thats what he is looking for.
I keep the part numbers off of just about everything I buy for the car that's not stock. Makes it easier if you ever sell it for the next guy to find parts.
If the lower moulded radiator hose is an off the shelf item but you cut 10 inches off one end and 6 off the other the new owner sure would like to know that NAPA part number. Bob
I don't think it is unreasonable thing to ask for . I have not sold many cars but I have sent a notebook along with them of the parts I used in the build. Whenever I do work for someone else's car I try to include all of the part numbers ,manuals and instructions so that they do not have guess on things like the radiator water hose combination I spent several hours and visits to different stores to find. If you didn't keep track of your parts or take pictures of your build then he will just have to take or leave the car as is. Good luck either way.
All great comments. I never intend to sell my car so have not even thought of this. All my info is in my head. I possibly need to put it down on paper for someone else in the future...
Unless your a pro shop building said car resale the "build sheet" thing sounds totally Barrett/Jackson-ish. Perhaps he wants to know what name-brand components if any were used, it's important to some people.
A build sheet is something that is found in manufactured automobiles not your average home built hot rod or custom. The beauty of building a car and sharing it with the hamb,or any other social media,is you have all the do***entation anyone could ever ask for. I'm afraid your buyer may be more interested in having a car with name brand parts than a car built with attention to detail. HRP
I have compiled a spec sheet for my '40 coupe....my son may need it someday, 'cause the car will be his upon my demise! I suffer from CRS, so I have to do***ent everything that I have done to the '40 as I do it!
I agree that you should ask the buyer what he is looking for. I don't have a build sheet on either of my finished vehicles, but I have info on what I used. When I sold my 46 I gave the guy all the info I had on what I had used on the car, and since I didn't build that one I also gave him what info I knew about the car. He has told me several times how helpful that has been. If I were considering buying a completed car I would expect the same or I would not be a buyer.
Every car I've ever had I keep a running journal so to speak of the when and what parts used or installed. Along with this info I keep a maintenance record and all the receipts and paperwork of anything that went into the car. It's always been appreciated at sale time.
I always start off a build by logging all the pertinent info into a notebook, but somewhere into the build I stop doing it. I have a few half finished notebooks, but it did save me a few times, especially on my 27, when I needed to go back and replace some wheel cylinder or whatever. Tell the guy you are a hot rodder, not an Accountant ! Don
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