I am not sure if this is the appropriate forum, but is there any info on this site about the recommended sequence of events in a total disassembly of the vehicle for a frame off restoration? I have searched under disassembly, and found some good stuff for the front clip, but that is about it.

Kevin

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We will either find the way, or make one. Hannibal

68 Chevelle
383 Stroker/AFR 195s/XE 274/RPM Air Gap/Holley 750 cfm

TC# 1805

i just staretd the resto on my elky and the first thing i did was tear the interior apart cept for the dash...didnt wanna screw anything up just yet. Got the carpet and such out so water wouldnt collect and kill the floors anymore than they already were. A bunch of the panels were hung on mine so i took those off...then camethe front clip. if you want youcan check my web site. I have everything documented on it cept the interior(broken camera) in order. hope this helps...others will chime in.

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Steve
1972 el camino
hey its not done but check out its progress.
http://stevelaser_1.tripod.com/

You can do it in any order that works. The most important thing you can do is get about 200 zip-lock bags in a couple different sizes for all the fasteners. Plus, a half dozen sheets of Avery adhesive labels for the bags if the bags don't have the white label portion already stenciled on the bags. There is about 60lbs of fasteners total.

Look at it this way. Chances are you will never lose track of your radiator core support, but there is a good chance you will loose the hex head screws or loose track of where they go if you don't label the bag they are in the SAME DAY you take them off.

I agree with bonecrusher...

Use many different bags...

I got some at Costco...

Some of mine only have 2 or 3 screws, and some have 15 or maore... It depends on what they are from, and if I can remember where the each went...

I also had a note pad, and if needed, I would take notes and draw diagrams showing where different pieces went (bolt/nut/washers/etc), and their order, etc.... I put the notes in the bags with the parts... I used several smaller boxes to organize the bags, maybe one for engine compartment, one for dash/interior, one for body and trim, etc...

Makes it much easier...

I took apart my convertible top frame years ago, and even though I labled all the parts, over the years they got missed up... What a nightmare...

A little extra time now will save countless hours of frustration during the assembly process...

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"Once you go RAT, you never go back..."
TC #1366
Tony
The Chevelle (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/1966_L78/ChevelleA.jpg)
Dual Quad 396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/1966_L78/ChevelleC.jpg)
Side View (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/1966_L78/ChevelleD.jpg)

Ditto the bags, diagrams, and disassembly notes.

And be sure to use indelible ink. Sure is bad when you come back 6 months later and the paper is there but your notes are gone.

Remember that what makes perfect sense now as you're taking it apart is gonna be a complete mystery to you a year from now.

While I havent begun a full on resto I have found that using a digital camera and logging pictures to my laptop really helps when reassembling things. Just snap shots where you figure you might get confused later for visual reference or before you start ripping things apart.

My diagrams and notes get harder to follow as the day rolls on due to beer consumption and just general lack of understanding sometimes. Also helps with the posting a picture and "Hey guys, WTF is this thing?" and not having to describe it in detail.

i recommend getting the assembly manualfor putting stuff back together once you find what you want to put back together in there the diagrams are very helpful another word of advice is if your going to change body panels and you have the front clip off change the boddy panels then take the car off the frame because if you do it with the body of the frame and remove a body panel it will flex the body and throw it out of square, dont change to many panels at once one at a time if possible and i would do the panels first because if you do the frame first then do the panels then everthing fall on the frame so it may be better to start from the top down

Thank you for the responses gentlemen. I did purchase the Fisher body manual, the Chassis Service manual and the assembly manual. I will get a digital camera to record every step of the way. Zip locks and Sharpies it is. MM, do you find that if you reconstruct the initial buzz that you can make sense from the beer induced hieroglyphics? http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif
Kevin

Thank you for the responses gentlemen. I did purchase the Fisher body manual, the Chassis Service manual and the assembly manual. I will get a digital camera to record every step of the way. Zip locks and Sharpies it is. MM, do you find that if you reconstruct the initial buzz that you can make sense from the beer induced hieroglyphics? http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif
Kevin

Crash and Burn http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif Mine started with the trunk emblem removal on Thanksgiving Day 2 years ago. Finished a year later.
Definitely the pics and the Ziplocks. An occassional drawing might come in handy later on too. As your taking it apart, it will seem obvious where everything goes, but as time passes it will be less and less obvious, but then you've got Team Chevelle http://www.chevelles.com/forum/cool.gif

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1970 SS 454
454 MUSL (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/RC70_454MUSL.jpg)

[This message has been edited by RC 70 (edited 11-01-2002).]

Don't know how we missed this one, but buzz reconstruction is perhaps the most important element when reassembly time comes.

I make a point to carefully note the elements that went into each day's buzz in the disassembly notes. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

The plastic bags are good but i got a car already apart andthe guy who started it put the bolts right back where the came from after taking it apart he put them back in the threaded area much easier than looking through bags

I like the "Put-em back" method. If you do then they will be painted toooooooo.Not much worse than having paint them seperate and to wait till the bolts dry to reassemble.

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71 SS-454 El Camino