"Inside garage" How do you organize your projects?

[katit]

This is not about tool organization. This is more about project logistics. Here is what I am battling with.

So.. I got a project. It takes week(s) to get parts for more modern cars. For this one - lot of stuff NLA, lot of stuff takes months(!!!) to get.

And here is my dilemma. I want to not occupy lift for long time, but I need to somehow organize myself with what to buy/prepare.

Watching lot of youtube videos, recording stuff, looking at part fiches anticipating what I might need. Searching for parts, etc. MOST work done at computer, not wrenching. But I KNOW when time comes - I will be missing stupid little thing which will pause project/assembly for another month. And I want to avoid any of that.

So, my current process is like this.

When I take stuff apart I bag and label everything. I write on whiteboard in garage everything I need to order. Then I take picture of it and when I am at computer I try to find/research and order what I need. I even started to take videos of myself talking through what I just did, mental notes I took, etc. This comes handy after some time passes by.

But that obviously means that I won't order everything until I am not done with disassembling everything. And then I need to wait. And then when you start to clean/review stuff you realize that you need to go little further into disassembly or that connector crumbled in your hands..

This is kind of restoration projects, but even with bigger repair on regular, how do shops deal with it? If you got car on a lift and you missing parts or you broke something and need replacement?

So, question is about organizing project, disassembled parts, ordering/researching and keeping all of the info conveniently accessible..

Also, question on how do you move car which is not running if you don't have helpers? I have lift, but I don't want car on a lift forever..

 

[LeeG]

A buddy of mine has car dollies so he can roll his project car out of the way when he needs to work on his daily drivers.

 

[jkuro]

Not to be a smart *** but spend less time typing and go in the garage and start working. Use logic and common sense and everything will work out fine.

 

[BiTurbo228]

I have something similar to this but with different causes.

Most of my project car fleet, half my tools, and half my parts are still at my folks' place. My daily drivers, one project car, and the other half of my tools and parts are at my house an hour and a half away.

Invariably I turn up at one place or the other planning to do a job and the tool or part I need is at the other place (or I forgot to order it because of the switch in location messing with my short term memory). I do all the sorts of organisational stuff like writing lists and planning out jobs in advance, but there's only so much you can plan for.

The only real way round this I've found is to have a number of backup jobs to be getting along with when you reach a roadblock in the main one. Takes a bit of mental preparation as flitting between jobs isn't quite as nice a sensation as seeing one job through from start to finish, but it's not about having a nice time, it's about getting stuff done in less than perfect circumstances.

Or, rather, you need to derive your enjoyment of it from different things. Rather than the dopamine hit of having one whole job ticked off the list, get lost in the detail of the job you're doing to tide you over until the whole thing is done and your brain gives you the goods.

So long as you're progressing on something it's not wasted time. The more mental preparation you can do to make the transition between different jobs quick and smooth, the less time you'll waste moping around being annoyed you can't do the job you planned to do (which I know I'm very prone to if left to my own devices).

 

[Pennsylvania 39]

I have car dollies you don't need to buy real expensive ones Slim

 

[Stelzer]

I try to address where the common bottlenecks are and go from there. If yours revolves around your lift, get some dollies and reserve a space to move vehicles around in order to keep busy. Logistics will be different for everyone, as will their priorities, their available space, etc., so you'll likely get a number of answers which may or may not help for your situation. One thing we all have in common though are the bottlenecks, so recognizing where yours are and how to reduce them should lead to more efficient use of your time.

 

[katit]

Not to be a smart *** but spend less time typing and go in the garage and start working. Use logic and common sense and everything will work out fine.

I spend time typing when I am in an office, so can't really go to garage. When I go to garage at night - I want to minimize time I have to spend online. So, if I need to research or read manual or shop for parts - I want this to be done while in office, not when I go to garage at night.

And I want to have all parts and supplies in my garage when I go there...

 

[katit]

re: Dollies. I am not sure how they going to work. I have 2 garages with "dip" between them. Not flat surface.
Also, my lift is scissor lift "in ground". I can't use dollies with those tiny wheels because of gaps around lift/slab etc.

I was wondering maybe there is some kind of "puller" I can use to roll car instead of asking 5 guys to push.. Like those airplane tugs they use at hangars?

 

[katit]

I have something similar to this but with different causes.

Most of my project car fleet, half my tools, and half my parts are still at my folks' place. My daily drivers, one project car, and the other half of my tools and parts are at my house an hour and a half away.

Invariably I turn up at one place or the other planning to do a job and the tool or part I need is at the other place (or I forgot to order it because of the switch in location messing with my short term memory). I do all the sorts of organisational stuff like writing lists and planning out jobs in advance, but there's only so much you can plan for.

The only real way round this I've found is to have a number of backup jobs to be getting along with when you reach a roadblock in the main one. Takes a bit of mental preparation as flitting between jobs isn't quite as nice a sensation as seeing one job through from start to finish, but it's not about having a nice time, it's about getting stuff done in less than perfect circumstances.

Or, rather, you need to derive your enjoyment of it from different things. Rather than the dopamine hit of having one whole job ticked off the list, get lost in the detail of the job you're doing to tide you over until the whole thing is done and your brain gives you the goods.

So long as you're progressing on something it's not wasted time. The more mental preparation you can do to make the transition between different jobs quick and smooth, the less time you'll waste moping around being annoyed you can't do the job you planned to do (which I know I'm very prone to if left to my own devices).

I feel better it's not just me I thought there is people who can plan 100% and execute. I mean, I am OK with ordering every single thing now and wait for 3 month and then start working on project until finish. It's bottlenecks that kill "momentum", you forget where you left off, and it's hard to come back to the same thing.

 

[sjvicker]

I'll usually have a few different projects going at a time and swap between them as parts and project funding allows.

I also keep a mental list of things I can do that dont cost any money and am usually surprised how much I can get done with what I have on hand.

 

[BiTurbo228]

I'm sure there are somewhere, but I haven't seen one outside of a heavily edited youtube video!

It's all about riding that wave of momentum and not letting stoppages disrupt your flow (or keeping that to a minimum anyway). Part of that is planning, part of that is being able to hop from one job to another if the first one doesn't go to plan, and part of that is finding a way to keep track of all the jobs you end up getting halfway through.

Even if you can plan out all of the parts you'll need for a project, there's still going to be stuff that goes wrong halfway through a job you hadn't foreseen. Sooner you get stuck in, sooner you find out what those things are.

 

[BiTurbo228]

I'll usually have a few different projects going at a time and swap between them as parts and project funding allows.

I also keep a mental list of things I can do that dont cost any money and am usually surprised how much I can get done with what I have on hand.

I like the 'list of no-cost jobs' idea useful as it gets towards the end of the month!

Me with a kiddo and neighbours I also keep a list of quiet jobs I can do after everyone's gone to sleep and they wouldn't appreciate angle grinding or hammering. All depends on what your constraints are I suppose.

 

[racecougar]

re: Dollies. I am not sure how they going to work. I have 2 garages with "dip" between them. Not flat surface.
Also, my lift is scissor lift "in ground". I can't use dollies with those tiny wheels because of gaps around lift/slab etc.

I was wondering maybe there is some kind of "puller" I can use to roll car instead of asking 5 guys to push.. Like those airplane tugs they use at hangars?

Got a golf cart, riding mower, ATV, or...? You could also install a floor mounted winch in either/both garages. That said, how heavy are these vehicles? I push mine around by myself.

 

[sjvicker]

re: Dollies. I am not sure how they going to work. I have 2 garages with "dip" between them. Not flat surface.
Also, my lift is scissor lift "in ground". I can't use dollies with those tiny wheels because of gaps around lift/slab etc.

I was wondering maybe there is some kind of "puller" I can use to roll car instead of asking 5 guys to push.. Like those airplane tugs they use at hangars?

Could you build your own set with larger casters? As a side benefit, this would give you a secondary project to work on when you find you dont have parts for the primary.

 

[CoogarXR]

I try not to dig into major projects that disable a vehicle in the garage unless I'm sure I can get them at least sorta movable (enough to start it and move it out of the way) again relatively quick.

I mean,if stuff breaks and I need to wait on parts, so be it, but with experience, that happens less and less. You start to know what you're getting into and the pitfalls that might happen.

 

[Fixr]

re: Dollies. I am not sure how they going to work. I have 2 garages with "dip" between them. Not flat surface.
Also, my lift is scissor lift "in ground". I can't use dollies with those tiny wheels because of gaps around lift/slab etc.

I was wondering maybe there is some kind of "puller" I can use to roll car instead of asking 5 guys to push.. Like those airplane tugs they use at hangars?

There are battery powered car pushers.

 

[katit]

Got a golf cart, riding mower, ATV, or...? You could also install a floor mounted winch in either/both garages. That said, how heavy are these vehicles? I push mine around by myself.

Nothing like that. I was contemplating getting winch mounted. This car is BMW 7 series, so like 4000lb. Since I have scissor lift it's not flat floor. Almost flat, but not 100%. And there is dip between garages.

Lot of times I just need to get car out and back in to reposition on a lift, or want to wash outside and it's a problem.

I was thinking about winch inside, but still need something on outside to pull it out of garage.

 

[katit]

I try not to dig into major projects that disable a vehicle in the garage unless I'm sure I can get them at least sorta movable (enough to start it and move it out of the way) again relatively quick.

I mean,if stuff breaks and I need to wait on parts, so be it, but with experience, that happens less and less. You start to know what you're getting into and the pitfalls that might happen.

For some "regular" car repairs I am sort of decent as well. In this case it's engine pulled (33yo car) and 1000 little things need to be done in a bay. Hoses, cleaning, etc. V12 engine will need to be disassembled to the point of block+heads to completely reseal it.

 

[Fixr]

Nothing like that. I was contemplating getting winch mounted. This car is BMW 7 series, so like 4000lb. Since I have scissor lift it's not flat floor. Almost flat, but not 100%. And there is dip between garages.

Lot of times I just need to get car out and back in to reposition on a lift, or want to wash outside and it's a problem.

I was thinking about winch inside, but still need something on outside to pull it out of garage.

Receiver type trailer hitch on the car, winch on a mount that slides into the hitch, could maybe have a battery on the mount and just put it on a charger after use? An ATV winch might well be enough if the dip isn't deep.

 

[katit]

Receiver type trailer hitch on the car, winch on a mount that slides into the hitch, could maybe have a battery on the mount and just put it on a charger after use? An ATV winch might well be enough if the dip isn't deep.

Not sure I follow. Hitch on OTHER car to pull from outside?
Dip is not deep. It's just for water management but enough to be uncomfortable for pushing. Same as with lift. It's recessed, but there is maybe 1/2" difference in height where ends of platforms and slab.

This operation is not going to be common/often. Should be something compact/easily stored as well Lot's of requirements I know.

Also, when pulling car out, need to think about stopping it when it's out. Most of the times there will be brakes, but it is possible when it's roller with no brakes.

 

[Fixr]

Not sure I follow. Hitch on OTHER car to pull from outside?
Dip is not deep. It's just for water management but enough to be uncomfortable for pushing. Same as with lift. It's recessed, but there is maybe 1/2" difference in height where ends of platforms and slab.

This operation is not going to be common/often. Should be something compact/easily stored as well Lot's of requirements I know.

Also, when pulling car out, need to think about stopping it when it's out. Most of the times there will be brakes, but it is possible when it's roller with no brakes.

I was thinking of putting the hitch on the car you need to move. Pull the cable out and attach to a suitable anchor. Sit in the car with remote control for the winch in your hand so you can steer and brake as needed. Could be done without the hitch setup. It just makes things less floppy.

 

[CoogarXR]

For some "regular" car repairs I am sort of decent as well. In this case it's engine pulled (33yo car) and 1000 little things need to be done in a bay. Hoses, cleaning, etc. V12 engine will need to be disassembled to the point of block+heads to completely reseal it.

Well, yeah, a job like that is gonna tie up the lift for a while in even the best of shops.

 

[katit]

Well, yeah, a job like that is gonna tie up the lift for a while in even the best of shops.

I have a parking spot in other garage where I can store car no problem while I am working on engine, etc. But ideally I need to be able to move it outside for cleaning, move it back, move it to other garage. Even if it occupies lift, I hate to do cleaning in garage and would be nice to be able to clean engine bay on a driveway.

Scissor lift and especially recessed one is not your best friend when you need to clean something...

 

[Skellyii]

Depending on the project vehicle you are working on, you might be able to purchase a tow bar for it. Then you can move it around, take it to the local car wash, etc. On most rear wheel drive cars, you will need to drop the driveshaft if you're towing for any significant distance.

But if you don't need to move it too far, and your driveway isn't sloped, a good set of car dollies is perfect. I've been using them for years in several garages, and I can move the project cars sideways from one garage stall to another, out in the driveway so that I can clean the engine bay, or just to clean the garage with no cars in the way. My current garage is a three car, but it's deep enough so that I can spin a smaller car (Miata) 90 degrees, so that I can fit 4 cars.

 

[Mike65]

When I am going to do a repair, I order the parts I will need ahead of time, so I have them here when I am ready to do the job.

 

[racecougar]

When I am going to do a repair, I order the parts I will need ahead of time, so I have them here when I am ready to do the job.

While I typically do the same, it only works if:

A) You know what you're repairing (you know what has failed).
B) It's something you expect, rather than sudden failure.
C) You don't run into anything else that you find is needed (another failed part) while mid-repair.

Case in point, I'm about to pull the engine out of one of my cars to go through it, as it's been 17 years since I built that engine. I know some of the parts that I'll need (gaskets, bearings, etc.), but there is no telling if it will need new cam followers, cams, lash adjusters, etc. I'm certain I'll order additional parts once it's out and torn down.

 

[pcmeiners]

I'll usually have a few different projects going at a time and swap between them as parts and project funding allows.

Same here. Generally I have 4-6 projects going at once, I am constantly ordering parts for all of them. If I run out of parts on one project, I jump to another, coming back to the original project once parts come in. I get bored and frustrated easily, so going from one project to another helps. Jumping from project to project saves money, as I have less hardware store runs, and it gives me more time to shop for better pricing.

 

[Skellyii]

When I am going to do a repair, I order the parts I will need ahead of time, so I have them here when I am ready to do the job.

Yep, I think that's the way most of us handle repairs.

But, the OP was asking about projects, which are usually long term things that typically take more than a single day, a week, or even a month to accomplish. And once you start taking things apart, you never know exactly what you're going to find. And this applies to vehicles, home improvement projects, and anything else you might take apart.

For project vehicles, if I have any inclination that it might take awhile, I either disassemble it in a low usage part of my garage or shop, or make sure that it's on car dollies(casters), so that I can easily move it out of the way while I'm waiting on that small but significant unobtanium part(s).

 

[cannuck]

My 1000 sq. ft. home shop is laid out as 1/3 machine, 1/3 main central work bay (covered by 2 x 1000 lb. cranes) and 1/3 weld/fab. I have 1200 sq ft of covered by not heated storage and emergency work space behind main shop. Jobs hit the main central bay by priority, and are often weeks or even months long. I have easily enough lower priority projects that can happen in these spaces while I wait for parts, supplies or information fpr top priority jobs. Things that are too big for home shop are either at my farm (limited unheated work space under cover so summer only), best bud's farm (2 heated bays with lift for short term work) or another friend's shop in city. I can't say how much more productive it is to be able to have a job at home where I have the tools and equipment to do almost anything, but my limited space makes that tough for some jobs, so have to work where and when I can. What I can say is that it takes a lot of thought and organization (choke!!!) and bit of money to maximize what resources are available.

 

[joe_pinehill1]

Everyone has a different style. A friend helped me to Head Gaskets on a Subaru, as he disassembled everything got tossed into a box or on a bench, and he put right back together. He does it for a living. When I did the timing belt on another Subaru, I photographed, laid parts removed out, hand new parts laid out, bought replacement fasteners for all the bolts. I do it once every 5 years, he does it everyday and has a lot more confidence.

 

[Nutria]

Lots of good stuff in this thread. I try to plan in advance and have projects staggered in some sort of logical manner, planning for the inevitable delays (parts or other hiccups). For me, the biggest problem is working on projects that don't work and play well together, say woodturning and bearing packing, in close proximity.

 

[Joemctag]

My 1000 sq. ft. home shop is laid out as 1/3 machine, 1/3 main central work bay (covered by 2 x 1000 lb. cranes) and 1/3 weld/fab. I have 1200 sq ft of covered by not heated storage and emergency work space behind main shop. Jobs hit the main central bay by priority, and are often weeks or even months long. I have easily enough lower priority projects that can happen in these spaces while I wait for parts, supplies or information fpr top priority jobs. Things that are too big for home shop are either at my farm (limited unheated work space under cover so summer only), best bud's farm (2 heated bays with lift for short term work) or another friend's shop in city. I can't say how much more productive it is to be able to have a job at home where I have the tools and equipment to do almost anything, but my limited space makes that tough for some jobs, so have to work where and when I can. What I can say is that it takes a lot of thought and organization (choke!!!) and bit of money to maximize what resources are available.

Well said.

 

[katit]

Perfect example of what I mentioned. Car on a lift, suspension removed, new (rebuilt) shocks came in, and just before install I noticed this..
Now it's another 2 week+ wait for bushings they will send my way..

And I don't really want to install anything "temporarily" because those are hydraulic shocks with lines, fluids, etc.

 

[whitesco]

We call it the Saturday Morning Shuffle. Bikes, Cars, Trailers, etc. get rolled out to the driveway and that usually leaves a couple of hours before dark to start on whatever it was we were going to do, if we can remember it by then.

 

[niget2002]

We call it the Saturday Morning Shuffle. Bikes, Cars, Trailers, etc. get rolled out to the driveway and that usually leaves a couple of hours before dark to start on whatever it was we were going to do, if we can remember it by then.

I had that issue when I was doing woodworking in a 2 car garage.

Move my vehicle out to the street.
Back the wife's car out to the driveway.
Back the motorcycle out to the driveway.
Move all the big tools around to where they can be used.
Run extension cords where needed to reach some tools.

I got to where I could set everything up in <30 minutes if I remembered all the keys from inside the house and didn't have to go back in for a set.

The wife was at least kind enough that if I was working on a 'larger' project, I could leave her car out until late Sunday evening. Which meant I had until about 4PM on Sunday to finish the project so I could start the cleanup process. Cleanup took much longer than setup

 

[no704]

Buy a second lift.

 

[Joe Reed]

Local shop near me has an old electric golf cart with a push bar welded on the front (covered with foam padding). They use it to get non-op vehicles in and out of the shop. You would, of course, need to have someone in the car for steering and brakes.

 

[zendriver]

I have almost everything in the garage on wheels, so I can rearrange as needed

 

[Glemon]

This is kind of restoration projects, but even with bigger repair on regular, how do shops deal with it?

While am not a pro, for repairs I think that is one of the reasons shops recommend replacing everything "while they are in there" not only do they not want call backs for the part of the assembly they didn't replace going south after the repair, they also don't want to find a bad part they don't have one hand once they get in there, so wear and maintenance items are assumed to be worn and in need of maintenance and ordered in advance.

Cheap amatuers like me might wait until they get in there to see what they need.

As far as restoration shops, they quote the job for three months, continue to bill the customer as it inevitably takes longer, and add more bays as business grows. That is sort of a joke and sort of what I have seen with a lot of friends with money who send their cars to a shop for major restoration work.