Art & Inspiration Getting Organized

I'm definitely not that organized. For big projects I make lists, but otherwise I tackle things as they come up or make changes as they are needed or an idea strikes me. A lot of times I'm just sorting things in my head. But I'm not building a car from scratch like you are.

 

I use the notes app on my phone the same way. It has helped make the overwhelming seem possible.

 

I currently have “master lists” for each car on a marker board. I try to be kinda broad about the bullet points.

when it’s time to do that specific task I get a chunk of butcher paper and a marker and write out the 5 to 50 steps/ sub projects to be able to check that main bullet point off the marker board.

I try my best to write them in order. And I cross them out when done. I often end up making a second or third draft after I cross a bunch off and add even more just to keep it readable.

once I’ve crossed off a half dozen or so from the marker board I erase them completely from the board.



I find the marker board simplifies the larger over all project. Crossing stuff off feels like progress but erasing them makes the larger project feel smaller because the list is only 5 things now.

this works because visually a huge list with stuff crossed out still feels like a giant list to me.

the smaller butcher paper lists get crossed out so I get my “checked that off” satisfaction and feeling of progress. It also helps because if I have limited time to work I can just look at what’s next and do that and not waist time and energy farting around trying to figure out what to do next.

it’s a delicate balance of feeling productive but not overwhelmed at the same time.

I keep some parts lists or parts hunting notes etc on my phone but i find it doesn’t work for the to do list because it’s to much of an out of sight out of mind thing

 

I am a traditionalist

 

I have no idea how I've survived for the last 40+ years in the Hot Rod business. I'm fairly well organized when I build a chassis as I have a sequence so everything goes together. Building cars is another story. This current deuce roadster is a good example. I've been buying parts for about 4 years, I've had shops from as far away as southern Texas, Ohio California and others building me one off parts. The body is in one shop waiting for the chassis, the motor is another shop waiting for the chassis, The chassis is waiting for me to get off my ass and finish it. I've got parts strung between 4 shops from the trans in central Kansas to the motor in SE Nebraska to the partially done chassis here in my shop to the body and components in central Nebraska. I'm fairly sure I have everything to get this finished to the point of ready for paint, wiring and interior. Maybe I need to take a day and organize everything and take an inventory but that would not be my style.

 

Cool video of the startup. Nothing like that feeling.
Andy

 

For several of them, I've made a spreadsheet of parts I need to buy...of course the first go is missing at least half of what I need. And I've then kept up the spreadsheet for a while, but usually give up about the time the car starts being driveable.

but for what still needs to be done, I generally don't make a list until it's right near the end, and the "to do"s will fit on one sheet of paper.

It's neat how a project like building a car will take over my brain, and there usually isn't room for anything else in there at the same time. So the rest of life kind of gets left to fend for itself, and I get the car built.

 

I think lists are deceiving. Shaving a door handle can be a 50 step process. Maybe scrolls would be a better option.

 

I do this…..

 

I usually have scraps of paper thrown about, with ideas I had throughout the day (and night). Then I try to make a list, but end up bouncing around to different parts of the car as I remember (or to keep me from burning out). I do keep a good list for materials I need (parts, hardware, tools......etc)....go figure?!?.

 

I still make lists ;,to check things off of. Even as a teen in the 1950s.
These were not neat n clean,but a bit scribble on what ever paper was near by,then added too an line put through done parts!!
#1
First part of list,is always ;=Any thing I don't know how to do[ or think I'm rusty on ]> Find an learn***** what's needed! What engineering info.*make drawings< not for anyone but me,so not text book stuff.

#2
Then supplies/parts to do it with>list of have an have not's/were to find..
#3
Tools n space {sometime this means;clean up/make room,find stuff/tools that will be used. {Like????Who the heck borrowed that tool ???, get it back }
#4,line up any help if going to be needed and get off ass,an start doing..

 

This is always the most fun part of a project. I got to do a whole bunch of this, building Almost Funny.

 

Tried that list crap most of my life on everything from employment, family, home & car projects, seemed the employment took most of the energy leaving little time for other personal satisfying things, but it does feel encouraging to scratch a job off that haunting list. Now do what I can daily with a sense of accomplishment to whatever it might be & give it a go the next day.

 

Gearz has a project planning book. Tailored to general automotive and mostly bolt together projects.
https://www.staceydavid.store/products/project-planning-book

 

I just work on what I tripped over so I can get it out of the way for the next step
though green masking tape is my friend for what is safety related.... or potential carnage if missed....though I keep a written running list of needed parts or components

 

Hello,

Our biggest project was the 1940 Willys Coupe build. My brother was the smart one in the family as told to me by our mom. Ha! So, he did make a “to do” list on a spiral small 8 x 10 notebook. It flipped open and could stand up by itself, so it had a dual purpose. He took it everywhere. I assumed he wrote down what he wanted to do as the next step in this giant puzzle. I remember we used to sit in the backyard garage and go over the list of the next day's jobs. Everything was already labeled and set in their own space on the counter and benches.

Our initial build of the Willys Coupe to get it ready for the 283 motor and LaSalle transmission was written down. But, his first project was just scribbled on a 8 x 10 lined paper from his school binder. It was how to take apart the stock rear end and install the 56 Chevy complete rear end, suspension and stuff.

Once that was done, the rest of the project was put on the spiral smaller notebook. When he was away at school or his job, I could look at the items I knew how to finish and get started. I put on * next to the items I could do without his supervision. He ok’d the starred list and so, I had my own list within his list.

Anytime I was at home for any reason and he was away, I could always go do some small steps on a part of the build. I could gas cut and weld as good as he could. But, I knew the firewall shape and size was going to be a two person measurement and cut, then install together. The list was short term for the item at hand. Whether it was wiring the cab for the 283 motor or installing the seat brackets for the two bucket seats.

For him and me, too, we both liked short lists. Why? Well it was told later that it gave us a sense of accomplishment when that list was zero again. So, there were sections of the Willys and small projects that needed to get finished before we could think of the final installs. My brother had an overall idea of what he wanted to do to finish. But in looking at his close friend’s 34 Ford 5 window coupe, he could get his ideas in his head and then come up with a short list to take the first step to finish a certain part of the build.

Jnaki

I have seen long lists on a flat cardboard sheet. That is fine for those guys with the long cardboard panel with the items to cross off when attempted and finish. We just had certain things that needed to get done first. I trusted my brother’s ideas and he had the overall plan of which thing was next.

Not everyone has to follow the steps that we always see on those TV hot rod shows in today’s viewings for completion of a project. We could never see the idea of doing body work and painting the whole car before we started the assembly steps. My brother said that it would be upholstered and painted after our final build steps. And, it had to be after we got the whole thing up and running well enough to push to the end result.

To me, his knowledge was self taught for organization and parts necessary. The only thing holding us back was money and the lack of it. So, we did as well as we were able to do in small increments to our next to the last step of having a top running finished Willys Coupe in the C/Gas or B/Gas class. YRMV

Note:

My wife has a good influence on me. In those top drawers are notebooks for any scribbling in a list form for projects she has for me to complete in a reasonable period of time. The rest of the time, the counters are pristine and cleaned off. They have to be clean because she puts her jacket/sweater/purse on top of the counter and then, runs off to get the mail. YRMV If any marks get on those sacred items, we are all in trouble. Ha!

 

I set myself points of progress. Ill type them up and then tape them to the door in my garage.
"Things that need to get done before the body goes on".
"Things that need to get done before I can drive it".
"Things that need to get done before I chop it"
"Things left to do before its done"

As you can imagine the list for each one of those can be quite long but it gives me a starting point and doesn't let me forget little things. I can also make little notes next to each thing such as "Cant do until X is done" or "Nevermind"
I then order things as im doing them with small "to order" lists as I hit points of impass until I have new parts in front of me.

I also cut out the part number from the box of everything I order and keep them in a ziploc bag. That way I can find replacement parts much easier later down the road.

Its a bit of a cluster but works for me.

 

Every car has note pad and clip board. I also have a white board. Note pad and clipboard for the full scope. White board to keep me organized and on task on a weekly/daily basis.

 

I keep a roll of drywall tape mounted to the wall in the garage that spools on to a "take up" spool. This is where any pertinent info such as measurements, crude drawings, needed supplies, random thoughts, future plans or anything that could be overlooked or forgotten is recorded.
Its a pretty good method of keeping priorities straight and projects on track, for the most part, but there has been some notes and drawings that I can't decipher a few months later and many that turned out to be not necessary any longer.
Just can't rely on memory alone.

 

Maybe I should try that? Was in a hurry to wrap up pump and line rerouting that I forgot to remove the bolt in the front of the block holding pushrod in place on the back side of the lobe today. Luckily I do this with just my fingers and not a wrench.

 

Because I'm not real organized, I keep a note book for each car. On the right side I date and describe each task as they happen and what's next in the sequence. On the left side I'll jot down anything peculiar, torque specs, if it did get torqued, diagrams, ideas for a particular part or assembly etc. Sometimes it's redundant. I'd rather have it repeated than forgotten. (Like the bolt holding the pump rod)
Often I get side tracked with other jobs, projects around the property and house or other areas that need my time. Maybe a vacation or what ever causes a lapse in time spent on the car. So when I come back to it, I get an "Ah-ha... that's where I was" moment and can pick up where I left off. It's a me vs. A.D.D exercise.
I also use a "punch list" on paper or cardboard, taped somewhere on the car, that I can run a line through as each task is completed... instant gratification if you will... each item is like the aforementioned "bite of the elephant".

 

That's a great tip I hadn't come across before.