Build Sheet to set Goals and Track Progress

[MotorCityImpala]

I am wondering if anyone has made or has available a Build Sheet or Progress Sheet to keep track of a projects goals? I have been a long time lurker and now I have a small budget to work with and I want to keep my goals realistic and be able to keep track of things. Has anyone done this and if so what method did you follow?

Thank you

Todd

[Rick D]

Todd, first welcome to Lat-G, second just take an Excel spreadsheet and track everything there. You can set your goals for time, money, really any part of the build. You set it up to subtract money from the buget as you purchase parts right down to every little thing you buy just add to the line.

I'm making sound super easy, it does take a little time to set up the formulas but even if you don't know how to do it just google it and you will see thousands of videos of how todo any thing in excel.

Don't forget to start a build thread! :D

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Simple note pad for me. Its tough to find time to sit on the computer and deal it out. I save that for profit loss work.

Just a note.


When doing a large build, I usually throw out the progress sheets and no longer keep an actual deadline or time milestone planner. They work if EVERYTHING GOES PERFECT. I'll will tell you, it does not.

Reason, you never know whats going to happen when you are dealing with vendors or any other aspects of the project you have no control over.

Instead of say putting down...."suspension mock up July 1st. Wheel fitment July 3rd and body fitment July 10th." Try "Suspension mock up July 1st. Wheel fitment 24 hours from receipt. Body fitment 48 hours after receipt."

Reason being, if there is even a 24hour delay it will throw the project time dead line off and then it turns to a negative.

From experience I can predict what job has to be preformed and completed before the next part of the project can take place.

My advice to you is if at all possible, keep your project running as long as possible during the process. If it does come to a point where you have to down the car, make it a goal to have it running again. What I see alot of is guys will start a pretty basic project. They start pulling parts off of it then the metality is "well thats off, I might as well pull that off "....repete....repete.
Next thing they know they have a car that now needs 1500 hours of labor, $12K worth of parts and guess what? You don't have the money or time to finish.

This is my order list. It may sound crazy but it works for me. Mind you we may go through 4-5 mock ups before final assembly. Every change has a repercussion in the build. Watch for it.

Wheels and tires (we use mock ups)- needed to fit and modify body and suspension
Suspension-modifications, frame powdercoating, assembly
Brakes-plumbing and installation
drive train- rear differential modifications, powder coat and assembly engine transmission installation,cooling, related plumbing.
fuel system-plumbing, system placement
wiring mock up-pre paint, plan routing, drill holes, weld in supports, note and remove
paint-paint interior, prep body, ready for final
wiring- final
interior-full instal with body seals
glass installation
trim out
tune

[MotorCityImpala]

Thank you Rick and Vince. I am looking to track my progress and to provide an additional item to showcase on my resume.

Todd

[Black93GT]

My advice to you is if at all possible, keep your project running as long as possible during the process. If it does come to a point where you have to down the car, make it a goal to have it running again. What I see alot of is guys will start a pretty basic project. They start pulling parts off of it then the metality is "well thats off, I might as well pull that off "....repete....repete.
Next thing they know they have a car that now needs 1500 hours of labor, $12K worth of parts and guess what? You don't have the money or time to finish.


Wish you'd have said that 3 years ago when I was saying "whats one more rusted body panel". I might actually have a living room with furniture and not boxes of body panels.... well and a drivable car. haha!

[Sparks67]

I am wondering if anyone has made or has available a Build Sheet or Progress Sheet to keep track of a projects goals? I have been a long time lurker and now I have a small budget to work with and I want to keep my goals realistic and be able to keep track of things. Has anyone done this and if so what method did you follow?

Thank you

Todd

You can do it in Microsoft Project, and link the excel spread sheet to project. I used to do this for my former job, when I was a project manager on fighter aircraft. The projects were never on time and always over cost. I knew the exact turn around time for each process, but it never worked out as planned. Sheet metal always took longer than planned, and it is based on each aircraft. This same example is applied on cars, because of the same processes. In Pro-touring, you see something new that looks cool. So, you want to spend more money than you planned.

Shoe box method works better! Pay cash for everything.. Just put all your bills in the box and forget about it. You won't want to know the actual cost when you are done.

Jeff

[Flash68]

You won't want to know the actual cost when you are done.

Jeff

This is undisputed! :lol:

I had an excel file going for awhile... shut that sh!t down a long time ago. :headspin:

[Richio1]

This is undisputed! :lol:

I had an excel file going for awhile... shut that sh!t down a long time ago. :headspin:

Word





An excel spreadsheet will replace this :ups: with this :bang: :waveflag:


Don't do it... You don't want to know :thumbsup:

[kevin_l]

I am using the excel spread sheet, can't hide from the reality that these cars are expensive. Forces me stick to the budget and realize where my money is going. In fact, seeing the amount of money I dropped so far really motivates me to get it finished.

[ADiCarlo]

I'm using an excel spreadsheet. I broke it out into seperate sections so if you get stuck on one you can work on another.

Body - any parts or labor based modifications (tubbing, paint, rust repair etc.)
Suspension / Brakes - Suspension and brakes for these cars can go from mild to wild and multiple parts are needed.
Interior - Pretty self explanatory
Electrical - self explanatory
Driveline - Anything that is required to add motion to the car from wheels to rear axle to the trans and engine and accessories.

This process works if your building a complete car and starting from scratch. I like this set up because if I'm waiting 2 months on back order for parts I start on another section.I'm probably 70% there in 1 year.

And yes you don't want to look at the money but you might as well.

[214Chevy]

I thought I was gonna keep track of my build and spending when I first began. Grant it, I was just using a simple notepad, I quickly stopped counting. I was just buying parts, etc. and I stopped counting at $15k.

[MotorCityImpala]

You can do it in Microsoft Project, and link the excel spread sheet to project. I used to do this for my former job, when I was a project manager on fighter aircraft. The projects were never on time and always over cost. I knew the exact turn around time for each process, but it never worked out as planned. Sheet metal always took longer than planned, and it is based on each aircraft. This same example is applied on cars, because of the same processes. In Pro-touring, you see something new that looks cool. So, you want to spend more money than you planned.

Shoe box method works better! Pay cash for everything.. Just put all your bills in the box and forget about it. You won't want to know the actual cost when you are done.

Jeff

Jeff I have Office 2010 and I don't see Project listed in any of my headings. If this does exist this sounds like what I am looking for. If its not in Office is there an add on I need to download or purchase?
This isn't my first project car by any means and I'm not looking to keep track of every penny; What I want is to keep track of my goals. I only have a short window of time for my car to be off the road and I feel a Project list will do me good. This is my daily driver that will see a few "Pro-Touring" enhancements along the way. I intend to create a build thread called Stepping Stone as this will be the first in a succession of builds on the GM B-Body platform. Any input is greatly appreciated and I thank all of you for the laughs already. I agree in some cases of the "shoebox" method of drop it and forget it.
A prime example is my experience with the wheels on my car. They are '88-'92 Pontiac GTA wheels. I wanted an updated look for little money. Boy was I wrong. $350 for the used wheels. $160 for a chemical dip paint stripper. $150 for paint. So now you can see my desire to keep things in a "Project List" and keep it manageable. The engine is a 2001 Camaro LS1 5.7 with 4L60E. I've got the accessories off and I'm getting ready for a full tear down.

Enough rambling. This weekend I will be starting my build thread with Pictures. I know how you all LOVE pictures.

Todd

[Sparks67]

Jeff I have Office 2010 and I don't see Project listed in any of my headings. If this does exist this sounds like what I am looking for. If its not in Office is there an add on I need to download or purchase?
This isn't my first project car by any means and I'm not looking to keep track of every penny; What I want is to keep track of my goals. I only have a short window of time for my car to be off the road and I feel a Project list will do me good. This is my daily driver that will see a few "Pro-Touring" enhancements along the way. I intend to create a build thread called Stepping Stone as this will be the first in a succession of builds on the GM B-Body platform. Any input is greatly appreciated and I thank all of you for the laughs already. I agree in some cases of the "shoebox" method of drop it and forget it.
A prime example is my experience with the wheels on my car. They are '88-'92 Pontiac GTA wheels. I wanted an updated look for little money. Boy was I wrong. $350 for the used wheels. $160 for a chemical dip paint stripper. $150 for paint. So now you can see my desire to keep things in a "Project List" and keep it manageable. The engine is a 2001 Camaro LS1 5.7 with 4L60E. I've got the accessories off and I'm getting ready for a full tear down.

Enough rambling. This weekend I will be starting my build thread with Pictures. I know how you all LOVE pictures.

Todd
Todd,

You can buy Microsoft Project, but the software is also available for trial period. You can use Excel as well. The first step is to develop a Work Breakdown Structure for the project.

Actually, this is my 67 Camaro is my first car that I bought in 1983. I had it painted in 1985, but I always wanted to do a frame off restoration. I bought the Guildstrand book in 1985, but my goal in the future was to make the car handle. I couldn't afford the cost in the 1980's, but I did buy a few NOS parts from GM in 1985. Cowl induction hood was $239, and 2 front NOS Camaro fenders were $189 each. I wanted to buy NOS quarters in the 80's, but I didn't have a place to store the parts.

I started buying NOS parts for my project around 2001. If you can't afford a build, then just buy parts along the way. The original plan was to do a frame off restoration with pro-touring handling, suspension, etc. I did lot of work on it at friend's Dad's garage from 2005 to 2011. The project was stopped a few times by his Dad, because he was addicted to cars as well. As soon as you get addicted, then the shoe box method applies.

I had advice from a few people on the cost estimate, but I have the Pro-touring addiction. Goals can change to feed your habit. So, in April 2013, my 67 Camaro went up north to see the Godfather.



http://67rscamaro.smugmug.com/2013ModsandAssembly/67-RS-Camaro/i-TgTRKwN/0/L/100_2728-L.jpg




I have to start a build thread one of these days.

[Richio1]

An excel spreadsheet will replace this :ups: with this :bang: :waveflag:


Don't do it... You don't want to know :thumbsup:

Honestly, I had/have a build sheet too. Just a simple excel spreadsheet. I also tracked parts I removed and sold. This was helpful in offsetting some of the cost of the new parts. You would be surprised how much you will recouped from selling the parts you replaced.

I know this will vary depending on what you are starting with and what you have to sell. Mine was badged as a Z28 by the previous builder so I had a lot of good parts that were snapped up right away. I also sold a lot of parts at the GG's swap meet and through craigslist.

Every little bit helps.

Good luck.