I saw the "Figuring Out What the Last Owner Did Under the Hood?" thread and wondered if anyone keeps a log of changes,build and buys for their hot rod? I have one that's fairly accurate for my truck,but doubt it'd go with the thing if i ever sold?
Looking back, I wish I kept a better log and took more pictures. You just don't think of it at the time. Next one will be different.
yep. In the envelope under the seat is a list of part #'s for belts, hoses, bearings, what got moved where, etc. Makes life a lot easier when you can't remember..... what was the question???
My late father-in-law kept a log of everything for every vehicle. It's great to flip through the dates and see all that has been done. I now do the upkeep for his vehicles for our mother-in-law, so I need to keep it going.
I wish the former owners of the A and the Chevy I have would have kept a journal. Not so much for parts numbers and such but rather for history sake. I would love to have known when the juice brakes were put on the A and even the why! I keep notes on my cars-- the what, when and why along with lots of pics. I can't imagine getting rid of either car but I'm sure I'd gladly copy my s****book for the new owner. Good topic!
Back in the mid-80's I published a hot rod owners manual which basically had a complete listing of every possible part in a vehicle. Next to the name was a blank space to write in the mfg, part number, year or make...just whatever the next owner would need to identify the item for replacement in the future. There were several totally blank note pages for the builder to add build info and dates. They didn't sell as well as I had thought, and I never did a second printing. I think I still have a few in my filing cabinet. PM me if interested.
i do... my trusty jalopy journal log book... every time i make a repair, take a trip, replace or upgrade something, etc... first time in 20 years i've done so.
That is one of my winter hobbies. All of my hotrods has had a pretty accurate "diary" kept on it. I use a 3x5 spiral note pad. Starting with the front,I keep a year by year diary of how many miles I put ,where I went,etc. Then I flip it over and starting from the back page I keep a running total of what I bought / built for it and when I installed it. This helps me keep track of what I have into the car. I also keep a looseleaf binder with pictures and a section of receipts catalogued by ch***is,engine,body, interior,etc. ****,hey???? Hey, the winters are loooonngg in New England. Glenn
I remember those books! Cool Idea. As another person posted, Ryan did a limited run of Jalopy Journal Logbooks a couple years back.
I keep a 3-ring binder for each car. I learned a long time ago that throwing receipts and pictures into a box was not a good way of doing it. I put pictures, receipts, notes, previous history, etc in their own section and it works great when you need to go back and find something. I'm sure the next guy in line will probably like it.
I keep a log for every car I have. (6). Oil changes, plugs, belts, batteries, brake pads, tires, etc. I keep my cars a long time, so when you need to replace a battery, and you say "Man, I just bought that a couple years ago" and you look in your log, and say, "Oh, that's why, 6-1/2 years ago." :| Pete
I keep a log of what's been done, part numbers, dates, who (if I don't do it) did the work, mileage and cost. I also keep all of the receipts. I had a guy do my brakes, when I went in to pick the car up there were no part numbers on the invoice. We went an pulled the boxes from his trash and recorder them. I did take the car back for some "diagnostic" work so I took a copy of my log. From the log they were able to determine that the mechanic who tuned it up before I bought it put the wrong spark plugs in it. They changed the plugs and it solved the problem. Now he has a log for his car.
I keep an Excel spreadsheet for all the purchases with P/N's, manufacturers, etc. The depressing part is the total dollars spent at the end of the spreadsheet.
I keep a website log on each of my rides. Takes me about twice as long to do anything because I write it as I do the work and while it's still fresh in my mind. It helps a lot years down the road when I'm trying to remember how I did something. I also get emails from readers of the weblogs that often help me with a problem I'm having.
I've got service records for the 'chief since it was new. When my Mom gave the car to me (as a wedding gift) she also gave me a photo album of all the pics she took detailing any changes, receipts for all purchases, all her POCI newsletters and such. I believe it was about 2 bankers boxes worth of stuff. She also logged every single time she put gas in, how much, where, the cost and mileage since last fill. While I have continued with the service records, I don't log the fuel anymore... it's too painful to see. Other than that... I take lots of pictures when I **** up...uh I mean "fix" something so that when my son gets the car I can continue on with the photo album, which by then will either be a CD/DVD or some virtual computer thing.
Good do***entation is essential. Every part on the roadster is do***ented by year, make and part number when applicable. Couple this to over 600 digital pictures of the build means that when I get old I'll still be able to recall what is what on the car. Or if someday somebody decides they want the car more than me, they will get a cradle to grave history on the car. Having bought and sold a number of cars in my lifetime, I would pay more $$$ for a car if I was able to see what was under the finished interior and paint vs. taking the sellers word for everything that had illegidly been done to the car.
I have kept one from the 1st day i started the build. I told a story week by week and took tons of pic of it along the way. Sat. i did my 1st oil change in it. And i posted it on there. And put the mileage down As of Sat the 18 i had 1955.7 miles Now i never put the cost of stuff. I dont want the wife to see what this all cost hahaha Should be fun for my kids or who ever ends up with my car to look at. Who knows??
I get a small spiral notebook everytime I start a project and I mark down everything that I buy and I keep a running total so I know how much I have in it. I have file cabinet that I put all the receipts in a file folder. I can also keep any pictures in there with it. I also log in the spiral notebook what has been done to the car.............
I guess it's a history log so to speak. I write down mileage/service stuff on the car. MPG, oil changes, changes, valve adjustments and so on...
I bought my '65 Panhead from a guy in Newport News, VA. It came with a hand-written accounting that almost resembled a Captain's Log. This log had been p***ed down from the second owner in the early '70s (the first was the Newport News police department) to me and contained ride descriptions, weather reports, mechanical info, and maintenance. Very, very cool to read. I've kept the tradition alive and still make notes. Someday it will be great provenance for a great bike.
i photograph every time i weld in a piece, or change anyhtign, i have thousands of photos, only becasue i can show the pics to my highschool and get a cl*** credit
The Jalopy Journal
