Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22449 Location: UK

Morning all,

Do you keep a journal of work you've done to your car(s), either during a restoration or for running repairs?

I try and keep a notebook going for things I'm working on, if only to act as an aide-memoir as I tend to forget if, and when, I've actually done jobs, for example oil changes, replacement of anti-freeze, greasing and so on.

RJ
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7119 Location: Edinburgh

I religeously recorded all my expenses for parts, fuel, oil and travel associated with the car for the first 4 years of my ownership but gave up after that. It even included the cost travel to see potential cars prior to my eventual purchase.

I do find it quite useful now and again to get suppliers' contact details or discover when I did something.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Ashley · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos

I just keep the bills, but the wife files them before I remember amounts or worse still add them together.

Keith D · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 3:21 pm Post subject:

I never keep bills. If I knew how much money I have spent on cars and motorcycles during my lifetime I'd never sleep again!

If my wife knew how many hours I've spent working on said cars and motorcycles during my lifetime she'd probably make sure that I'd never sleep again!

I do keep a whiteboard in the workshop so that I can remember when to point a grease gun, do an oil change and perform other maintenance type chores. I also keep a notebook where I list all suppliers and specialists that I have found competent and reasonably priced.

Keith

Ellis · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 5:25 pm Post subject:

I have every invoice, bill and photocopies of any relevant magazine article about Mark Two Jaguar improvement or modification since 1991 when I bought it.

In addition I have a hard backed black notebook detailing anything done to the car until 1999. It was at that time that I reread what had been recorded and came to the conclusion that I really needed to get out more.............
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1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2472 Location: South Cheshire

I've started keeping records more recently - keeping a note of what I've done on the rebuild prompted me to do so on the Firenza as well, and also keeping some records on my daily driver so I can get an idea of when it starts costing more to run.

Phil - Nottingham · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham

I have always recorded everything I do and its cost. With 7 classics some of which we have had over 20 years its the only way I can keep tabs on when something needs doing. I often think it was only a few years ago but checking it out has often revealed 10 or more years have passed.

My wife has had her Mini since she passed her test in 1972 and she kept major repair bills till I took over when we married in 1983. Some work has been redone and major parts replaced several times
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

Rootes75 · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 10:01 pm Post subject:

I keep a log of everything on my lorry restoration but I never have with the cars. Its nice to look back to when certain jobs were done or how you did it.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

welder · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 265 Location: North Warwickshire

I have no need to. I just glance at my bank statements before shredding them.

Ian

goneps · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 12:27 am Post subject:

Everything committed to a spreadsheet log since 1995—work done, fuel and oil consumption, both for the old 'un and the modern. All invoices filed away, too.

It's the result of having what a friend once described as a "tidy mind", but also of being brought up in the old-fashioned school of "the job's not finished until the paperwork's done".

Richard

bob2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1727 Location: Malta

I do keep a notebook in every car listing all the work done on that relevant car, including the mileage at the time of the repair and the date it was done. If I did not do that I'd forget all. I rarely re read what I've done, just when there is something wrong with that particular car, do I go back and check when was the last time I did something or other!
I do not bother with the prices the repair has cost me otherwise I'd probably go mad when adding the lot!!!

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

I don't keep any log but maybe will in the future. Most of my vehicles I have kept for a very log time,the other day I was cutting out a bit of rot and in the way of these things the grinding and sanding spread a fair way from the hole. I came across the edge of a plate welded,ground down and painted and realised that was me,about ten years ago.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).