Restoration Logs

[Tom R.]

Anyone keep a restoration log when they are doing (did) their restoration? If so, what type data did you track?

[Stuart F.]

Re: Restoration Logs

Everything Tom. I recently went through my notes from back in the 70's when I did a lot of rehab work on my 63. You'd be surprised how many questions were answered; Oh Yah! That's what it was. Seriously, I'm sure others who have done it for the intended purpose of documenting the car will tell you what is and is not important. But if it is for your own edification for future reference, every detail is important.

Stu Fox

[Stephen L.]

Re: Restoration Logs

Photograph everything... details of markings.... parts etc. Keep your photos (digital) in "folders" that are meaningful to you for later searching.

I broke my folders into subcatagories under things like chassis and then front left wheel assy etc. I also documented the finished item(s) so I had a comparison for future reference.

Digital cameras and computers make documentation very easy.....

[Rick A.]

Re: Restoration Logs

agree with Steve - pictures are worth a thousand words! when I restored my 1963 Z06 - two full DVDs of pictures, and then thumbnails! all the paperowrk to go along with what I did to every part - all saved away in a portfolio

[Dennis A.]

Re: Restoration Logs

Tom...
I made notes (some pictures) that matched each AIM page for 1961"s. Doing a 1962 now and have they come in handy for remembering small things, like; don't install the fuel tank until you have installed the door strikers and fuel overflow hose.....

[Jack H.]

Re: Restoration Logs

One Rocky Mtn Chapter member did something quite clever... He bought an extra copy of the AIM book and as he disassembled the car, he hand annotated the various AIM pages with the actual head marks of the fasteners he removed + put the fasteners into baggies with the AIM page & part reference numbers on the baggies....

[Tom R.]

Re: Restoration Logs

Photograph everything... details of markings.... parts etc. Keep your photos (digital) in "folders" that are meaningful to you for later searching.

I broke my folders into subcatagories under things like chassis and then front left wheel assy etc. I also documented the finished item(s) so I had a comparison for future reference.

Digital cameras and computers make documentation very easy.....

I've begun photographing the obvious but organizing for ease of retrieval seems the challenge. It sounds like using some combination of the AIM as an index and folders to store seems like it will add retrieval.

[Alan S.]

Re: Restoration Logs

Hi Tom,
In Michael Antonick's book CORVETTE RESTORATION...STATE OF THE ART, he writes about David Burroughs' restoration of the Ellefsen 65.
There are some VERY interesting sections about Sequence, Documentation and Staging. I found them very useful and inspiring.
If you don't have access to this book I'd encourage you to try to find one. When I'd get bogged down on my long restoration journey, I'd read the book again, not for the answer to a problem (it's not that kind of book) but for inspiration.
Regards,
Alan

[Tom R.]

Re: Restoration Logs

Hi Tom,
In Michael Antonick's book CORVETTE RESTORATION...STATE OF THE ART, he writes about David Burroughs' restoration of the Ellefsen 65.
There are some VERY interesting sections about Sequence, Documentation and Staging. I found them very useful and inspiring.
If you don't have access to this book I'd encourage you to try to find one. When I'd get bogged down on my long restoration journey, I'd read the book again, not for the answer to a problem (it's not that kind of book) but for inspiration.
Regards,
Alan

Alan...I read it this weekend which got me thinking about restoration with a deliberate, structured approach. But your absolutely correct...it's inspirational with the encourage to document your endless hours of investment in research, education and achievements.

[Gary S.]

Re: Restoration Logs

One Rocky Mtn Chapter member did something quite clever... He bought an extra copy of the AIM book and as he disassembled the car, he hand annotated the various AIM pages with the actual head marks of the fasteners he removed + put the fasteners into baggies with the AIM page & part reference numbers on the baggies....

Jack,
Would that be Tim Gilmartin? If so, tell him I said hello. He introduced me to the Corvette world and in our discussions he talked about using the AIM as his notebook.

Gary

[Alan S.]

Re: Restoration Logs

Hi Tom,
I can't tell you how important I found it to take photos (700, before and during), make notes of things you think you'll never need to know, put everything in a labeled bag or box, and keep scroupulous track and care of fasteners. You never know what information you may need further along.
I labeled every connection on all the wiring harnesses. I'm color blind for some colors so part of each wiring diagram is in Greek for me. You just can't have too much information.
Regards,
Alan

[Harmon C.]

Re: Restoration Logs

Tom
I kept all the bag and tag small parts and bolts from the interior in a flat cardboard trays like the ones six packs of the beast would come in. If you run out of trays you are removing parts too fast and not drinking enough beast.
I had about ten boxes in all labled for the area the parts came from.
It took about 12 feet of metal shelving to hold all the small parts with the heavy stuff on the floor.

[Rob M.]

Re: Restoration Logs

I'm keeping my weblogs on the C1, C2 and C3 registries, eg: http://www.c1registry.com/index.php?...id=1&order=asc

[Roy B.]

Re: Restoration Logs

I keep a large collection of Pic's concerning my 55 and those that I find on e-bay to share with people restoring a 55 , also 53 to 57.
When I see an original used or NOS part on e-bay I save the pic. For future reference.

[Tom R.]

Re: Restoration Logs

Tom
I kept all the bag and tag small parts and bolts from the interior in a flat cardboard trays like the ones six packs of the beast would come in. If you run out of trays you are removing parts too fast and not drinking enough beast.
I had about ten boxes in all labled for the area the parts came from.
It took about 12 feet of metal shelving to hold all the small parts with the heavy stuff on the floor.

Lyle

Had to look up "Beast" figured it was some kind of energey drink or some new brew. Have to look around stores to find some..maybe even pick up a six pack. Thus far, I've been using baggies, labeling everything I pull off but do have interior screws laying around on carpet. It was a bear to pull the last seatbelt. Had to use heat before it would finally give up. Only lost one 50 pt torx bit (broke off using the impact wrench).