Vehicle Binder(s) - Notebook(s) - Etc.

[ntsqd]

I brought this topic up in another thread and since it's veering that thread off topic a bit I thought I'd extract the topic and put it over to here for more general input.

What's been said on the topic in that thread so far:

This is a good place to bring up the notebook idea. ANY time you veer from stock in a vehicle prep/build I highly recommend starting a notebook for the whole vehicle. In Vintage Racing we used a spiral bound college ruled 5 topic notebook. That notebook was considered to be as much a part of the car as is the steering wheel.
In it one section should have nothing but what ever info someone other than yourself might need to get a replacement for a non-stock part. The "someone else" criteria is critical because it forces you to note what you might otherwise think that you'll remember. 5 years from now you probably won't remember that crucial tidbit of info. The other sections we used for sketching future mods or parts, various settings (points gap, ign timing, valve lash, etc.), etc.
FFT anyway.....

In my Jeep's Chiltons manual, I've written all sorts of notes about non-standard parts or parts cross-references. Made life a lot easier when it came to finding parts, since my brain was never all that good to start out with.

I started my own manual around 1995 or 6 when I made a new scratch built wire harness that included wiring for the Delco alternator, multiple fuel gauges, aux lighting, winch, second battery and a few other things. It is is a small binder that lives in the Land Rover whenever I go on trips.

I've kept the schematics up to date over the years which has really helped when electrical problems occurred. I have added additional pages to my vehicles personal manual. There is now a page with catalogue numbers for custom parts, including Goodyear numbers for all hoses & belts. Since I now have EFI with a return line, dual fuel pumps and a fuel accumulator, I have a plumbing diagram covering all three fuel tanks. There is a page covering the engine vacuum & PCV system that includes service intervals and since I have a built in propane tank with the old style filler valve I keep a copy of the new propane valve regulations that explain that older horizontal permanently mounted propane tanks are exempt from the regulation. Just in case I need to show it to someone to get my tank refilled.

Complete, accurate wiring diagrams & a custom parts list. Don't leave home without them.

 

[overlander]

That's what I've done with mine. I obtained a day planner binder and gutted it. Then I downloaded the manuals for my vehicle, and all my accessories and printed them all in half page format (double sided binder). I also got a 5 hole punch, punched them all, and seperated by section with day planner tabbed section pages. I also created part references that include part#'s for different suppliers (bosch, napa, fram, etc.) and when they are non-standard, vehicles make/model equivalents (ie my diesel fuel filter is the same as a 97 VW diesel rabbit, which is easier to find in most catalogues). I printed this spreadsheet in the same half page format and it's in the maintenance tab section. This is the most organized I've ever been with vehicle records, and I can just keep adding.

At some point, I'm going to do a full reprint with waterproof paper.

 

[oldcj5guy]

I have built notebooks for several different builds of my own after finding that I don't remember things worth a crap a year down the road. I noted what vehicle the item was for as well as important part numbers. After the vehicle is done I have the whole thing printed out on hard almost cardstock paper by Kinkos and collated. 1 copy goes in the rig and 1 goes in a box at home along with a disc with all the info. I have them include extra blank pages for add ons down the road. Remember to also include parts sources in the back for stuff that isn't off the shelf. Guy that bought one of my old rigs thanked me for that when he needed to replace some stuff after a wreck.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Oh man, you have to remind me too...

I've been meaning to do this for my track car, my bike, and my truck, but just can never seem to get around to it.

By the time I even heard of the idea of a "Log Book" for racing cars, my track car was pretty far gone. I bought a book, and planned to take some time and try to remember everything I'd done. I didn't want to start writing in the new stuff until I'd filled in a section for the past. So I didn't write anything for 2 years after I bought the book. :smilies27

 

[vengeful]

It's not so much a binder/notebook, as a big dis-organized box-o-truck-cr*p. :smilies27 :sombrero:

Oh, I also have a 38mb .XLS file on the computer with a complete part number reference for just about every part on my truck, design calculations, everything...

 

[eugene]

I started one recently myself. Downloaded as much info as i could find and printed it all out and hold punched it as others did. I used a school type binder which has a zipper going all around to keep dust out. Then as I modify things I can print out pages and put them in my binder.
I also print up 4x6 (because I have a 4x6 photo printer and tray) maintenance sheets with things such as the amount of oil, tire rotation direction and lug nut torque and a checklist for grease fittings. This is so I don't get my greasy fingerprints all over ,y good stuff, just pull out a checklist before starting and toss it when done.

 

[Alaska Mike]

I will also mention that my maintenance books go in giant ziplock bags. Even though they are in action packers already, it would be very bad if they were to get wet and become unusable.

 

[Allen Bosely]

I didn't think about a modification/repair notebook, but what a great idea.

What a great help for someone down the road if the vehicle was to ever be sold or in my case (as in not ever planning to sell it) it out lives me.

Plus I find it absolutely amazing how many things that at the time I am completely sure I will not forget, but later I can't remember to save my life!

Allen