Thread: Spreadsheet/List for your projects?

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Do any of you come up with a spreadsheet or list for your projects to help you keep organized, not just money but to figure out the best order to do it in?

Reason I ask is we have what seems like a massive list, and I thought if I put it all down it might help in figuring which order to go in to reduce as much work as possible (i.e. disassembly and reassembly of the body for one thing). I have a sheet I write down hours and money on already, but it is just on a notepad I keep in the shop.

Thanks guys.

Red

I have a pretty simple Excel Spreadsheet that I keep all of the part costs and supplier info on. I dont really use it to figure out what order to do things in, its just a nice way to keep track of the build cost and where I got everything from. If I need to send anything back its alot easier to look at than going through the reciepts. I probably should keep track of the hours I spend on it, but Im not looking to advertise that for any reason, so I just dont bother.

Originally Posted by Dago Red

Do any of you come up with a spreadsheet or list for your projects to help you keep organized, not just money but to figure out the best order to do it in?

Reason I ask is we have what seems like a massive list, and I thought if I put it all down it might help in figuring which order to go in to reduce as much work as possible (i.e. disassembly and reassembly of the body for one thing). I have a sheet I write down hours and money on already, but it is just on a notepad I keep in the shop.

Thanks guys.

Red

Red,
I started an Excel spreadsheet for my car listing almost every part that I purchased or labor that I had done - then gave it up when I totalled up the costs column one day. Frightening, to say the least($30K and rising). I down loaded it on to a floppy and decided that it be left for another day. What I have done since then is to file each receipt in date order for that "another day" and will eventually update my file.

As far as a spreadsheet to use for planning, I drew up a plan of a build time frame and what would be needed and when. This evolved into a list as I ended up purchasing parts and pieces as they became available and at a price I would pay. I have a small Wally World pocket notebook that I list parts needed as well as tools and supplies and take it with me to various NSRA and Goodguys shows and take advantage of some of their specials. For instance, I have a '32 style gas tank on my '31. I bought all the parts from Yogi's at York. A 10% discount PLUS they paid shipping. My Walker radiator was purchased at NSRA Burlington at a big discount($100+) and since they didn't have one on the truck, they paid shipping as well. And it goes on like that.

A plan, but flexibility is nice to have, as time and money usually are well exceeded .

I use Excel too.
I have all the vehicles and try to keep it updated.
Also put my wish list with them and as I purchase the parts I just fill in the quantity and it adds it to the total invested.

I'm not all that sophisticated, so I just keep a notebook with "things to do." One page will be entitled "Frame, things to do", then I will list things like:

1) Weld rear brackets for coilovers

2) Weld transmission crossmember to frame

3) Prep for primer

etc etc.

I do a page for each part of the car, such as frame, body, front suspension, front brakes, etc. At night I cross off what I have completed, it sort of is my psychological reward to see things coming off the list.

I also keep a page with part numbers for components so that a year down the road I know what master cylinder or other part I need to buy to fix the car.

As for how much I have spent.................I don't want to know.


Don

I've got some software, no idea what it's called, but it's a modified version of an automotive shop invoicing and bookeeping system. My kid put it all together for me as a project for one of his school courses.... Actual cash cost was room, board, tuition, books, fees and upkeep on him for the last 22 years!!!! Hope you can find a nice system at a far more reasonable price!!!!!!!! If you know of any computer savvy kids, they can probably whoop up something for you. Mine also does inventory and manhours, fairly simple unless I let the items to be input get too far behind!!!!!!!!!!

I use Microsoft Project. Every specific task is defined with start and end dates and/or linked to the others via predecessors. Each task is also loaded with appropriate resources and process control documents and drawings as needed with pointers to all critical interface control documents ................

Psyche!

No wait that's what I have to do at work. For the Rod I spend a few minutes at night winding down in bed thinking of what I need to do next and how best to proceed. I try to research the crap out of everything in here and on the web before acting or buying, technically speaking. I keep all the receipts and take digital photos of everything and one of these days I will make a book about the car's creation.

Kitz

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I also keep a page with part numbers for components so that a year down the road I know what master cylinder or other part I need to buy to fix the car.

As for how much I have spent.................I don't want to know.
Don

Thanks for reminding me of this list.
My list of JIC car components that I hope to never need on the road. It does need a bit of an update on my PC version, but I have a copy in my tool box marked up with any changes and does look much better in columns as a Word Doc but is current to April:



Engine Block M6007-A50 Mfd 11/20/98 @12:45
Heads GT-40P - Left mfd 11/20/98 @12:22
Right mfd 11/23/98 @08:02
Head bolts ARP 154-3601 Torque 75lb.ft.
Crankshaft F7TE-CA
Rods F0AE-AA
Camshaft M6250 - E303
Timing chain Cloyes Tru-Roller 9-5135
Rocker arms Crane 44746-16, 1.7 Energizer bolt down
@240 lb.in.
Valve Spring Kit Crane 44301-1 (118#seat/375#open)
Intake Manifold Edelbrock Performer RPM #2171
IntakeManifold bolts ARP 454-2001@torque 240lb.in
Carb Edelbrock 1405 w/Elec choke(600CFM)
Fuel pump Carter CRT M6904
Fuel filter Speedway 91011743-6
Headers Sanderson FF-1
Header Gaskets Earl’s 29D03AERL(Repl Inserts 29D03A1ERL)
Mufflers Flowmaster Delta Flow #942452 2.25” 50 Series
Oil filter Motorcraft FL-400
Transmission TCI 511600 -s/n 03190T16
Transmission cooler 24” Specialty Auto Double Pass
Torque convertor TCI Saturday Night Special 450700
Flex Plate TCI 529620 = 164 tooth SFI s/n A533999
Flex Plate Bolts ARP 100-2901
Transmission oil pan TFS Aluminum
Transmission Pan Gst Fel-Pro TDS 18634
Trans. Fluid 10.5 Qts Valvoline FA
Spark Plugs AWSF 32E/EG
Plug Wires Taylor Spiro-Pro #73251 (8mm Red)
Oil Pump Melling M68(Standard flow)
Pump drive M6605-B302
Oil pan Motorsport
Oil pan gasket Fel-Pro OS13260/ SVT M-6710-A50
Valve Cover Fel-Pro VS50029C
Harm. Damper Damper Dudes FOEB316, 6.375/50 in.oz.
Head gasket Fel-Pro 1011-2 (Original F6TE-6051-KA)
Intake gasket Fel-Pro 1250
Distributor MSD Billet 8479 (w/vac adv removed)
Coil MSD Blaster 2
Ignition system MSD 6A
Water pump Stewart’s Stage 1 #16113
Radiator Walker B-C-AC491-2
Radiator fan CCI-50
Side Motor mounts ?????
Trans. Mount 2253
Drive Shaft Denny’s HD Steel
U-joints 1310 series
Front wheel bearings L68149/LM12749V Seal 6815 National
Rear wheel bearings Federal Mogul 9568
Alternator Powermaster 8-37100 100amp
Starter Ford SVT M1100-A50
Drive Belts 7460 / 7500
Steering U-Joints .75-36xDD(7DD) @ column
(all Borgeson) .5625-26x36(#526) @R&P
.75-36x.75-36(#736) middle
Support Bearing Aurora .757 bore
R&P Steering Omni manual
Rear springs TCI 250#
Front springs TCI 200#
Shocks TCI All American
Powdercoated Chassis Powdertech Black
Differential 57 Ford 9”/3.25 gearset(year unk)
Master Cylinder TCI/Corvette
Brake Light Sw Ford HD hydraulic
Prop. Valve Speedway/Wilwood
RPV Wilwood F=2#/R=10#
Brakes Wilwood Dynalite 4 piston
Front Polished Dynalite ll w/’75-‘80Granada
Rotors w/polymatrix tan pads
Rear(140-2275-B) 20-5005 caliper(polymatrix tan 170-1827)
160-5844 hat
160-0276 rotor
(Modified w/spacersto fit ’57 axle offset)
Wheels GTX01 – F=15x6/3.5BS R=17x8/3.75BS
Tires F Yokohama AVS ‘Z’ 205-60x15
Tires R Dunlop Sport 5000 265-60x17 ( 29.1Dia)

Diane keeps my project history in QuickBooks Pro as a project. She enters each purchase with the item number, cost, vendor, etc. Occasionally, she hits the "total cost" button and gets miffed at the cost....I tell her to not hit the button and all will be well.

Like Admiral Rickover supposedly once said "a billion here and a billion there and pretty soon you're talking about a lot of money"

Don't keep track, don't want to. Keep it all in my head. That way if I can't remember what it was that I needed, I just buy something that I like. Got lots of spares that way. Rarely have any money either.

I need to keep track for my uncle, it is his project and his money, but he spends a lot of cash on it and since he is on fixed income other than his nest egg he wants to keep on top of it so he doesn't over extend himself. I totally agree. Plus it will be interesting in the end to see where we are at both labor and cost, give us an idea of what we are looking at in case we decide to start on another one at some point (probably by that time it would just be me, I think he'll stop all together after this).

The part I really want to see is the list of things that have to be done so i can get some sort of idea of what order to do it in. I start thinking there is progress then realize how little we've done and how much is left!

Red

Originally Posted by mopar34

head. ........................................ I just buy something that I like. Got lots of spares that way. Rarely have any money either.

This is why I've ended up at the NSRA York swap meet every year since I started my project in 2000..... and sell for 1/2 to 3/4 of what I paid for the items.......someone's gotta keep the economy moving and the inflation spiral in check. (I've also cleaned out my garage and shop as well and have actually made a buck or two on 'other treasures')

Nothing fancy, just a three ring binder with sections for parts used, and the part numbers. Measurements of various items that I've made, might have to make another someday, this should be easier if it gets pranged. Pictures of the project as it goes along, and pictures of other peoples projects like mine. Might want to "incorporate" some ideas! A place to jot down ideas and drawings so I don't forget what the day dream was at the time.....three months down the road. More or less a paper memory of what's happening with the project.