Thread: How to start the strip down process??? PLEASE LOOK!!

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Ok my 54 is about to come down to the frame it is complete as i type. i was just wondering what everyone did when they started one their projects and what worked for them and what didnt?

Thanks

lots of ziploc bags and liquid wrench. the more detailed you are in cataloging your fasteners and parts the easier your life will be on the back end. since it is typically a while before the assembly begins. oh yea a camera helps alot (where the hell did that go ) hope this helps

thank you i had antother tread but inly one person looked at it and he said the same thing

Pictures, baggies or cans for the parts and also a grease pen to mark the parts and the coinciding area it comes from. Basically do the same thing that you would do when removing and tearing down a motor or tranny. this will save you alot of time and money on tylenol. I should know as I started my tear down of the 49 with out this stuff and now I don't know where screws go or where they went when I took them off. So I will be looking at buying all new bolts nuts and screws. and some new fasteners as I snapped them taking off the chrome.
Good luck and take lots of pics to remember this joyous occasion and to help put it back together.

Like Tim said, lots and lots of pics. If you don't have a digital camera this would be a good time to get one. If this is your first frame off, then take more pics and get more bags to put the hardware in. Take pics in stages. Lots of pics befroe you start removing anything, pics of wiring, connections, motor mounts, body mounts, etc. I usually remove the front sheet metal first, seems like a good place to start. With the front skin removed, get lots more pics of how the suspension goes together, etc.

I trust my digital camera and computer's memory far more than I trust my own memory!!! Especially if it is going to be a considerable amount of time before I put the car back together.

Have fun, take pics as you go, and take your time. Keep us posted on how the project is going.

As you come up with more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

If you dont already know, alot of people are swapping to stainless steel nuts, bolts, washers and so on. when your pulling your stuff apart learn your bolt sizes. Its a big help and makes a diff. between putting somthing back together and "assembling" Yuo will also learn by doing this that there are not alot of different size wrenches you need. Make sure to learn coinsiding taps and dies for cleaning out your old bolt holes and bolts you breaak off on older cars. sound anal but theres alot to be said for nuts and bolts for old projects.

Make sure when you take the body off to weld in supports so not to bend or tweak it. Other than that I think you already know what to do, you seem to know more than me. Can't wait to see your pics tomarrow when you get em done.

Besides the suggestions above, I would highly recommend investing in a factory shop manual and if available a factory assembly manual. I've found that the manuals for most cars are availalbe in reprint usually under $50 each.