Gizmosrcool
03-24-2023, 12:23 PM
Hi Everyone
It was 10 months from order to delivery. In between a lot of research, questions, stocking parts and tools. Delivery day was last weekend. I was able to separate, hang the body, complete the inventory, and organize the garage (again) this week. I appreciate all the help along the way.
Here are a few newbie observations.
Delivery day. Goes by fast. While u can do it alone, have a few people, and enjoy it. You need a person to check off each box as they come off the truck and on to the dolly. My friend Rich handled that. You need a camera person. My wife Pat took great pictures. The Stewart team works very hard and is a tough job. We provided snacks, water, and a handful of $. They earned it and both very nice.
The driver has a box check off list. When you’re done. Take a picture. Not every box # is delivered. I had box 1 and box 46. And a ton of boxes. One would think I had 46 boxes. Big truck goes down the road, I start organizing boxes, to discover I am missing 5-6 boxes or so I thought. I looked at the picture I took and there is no box 14 or 15 or the other three boxes on the check off list I was freaking for a few minutes.
Dolly. While handy. Not sure I would build again. I am using 1 bay in a two car garage. Once set, Jack stands take up less space, and lower on the ground. I was a dummy and made mine higher stacking two 4x4. Leaning over is harder. Raising it a little does not really help. I’ll likely lower it. 🤦
Body Buck. The buck worked well. I put a cargo net and the hood, trunk, and doors were too heavy. I put a few cross braces in, left the net on, and everything stores well.
Inventory. Inventory was ok and helped me understand where all the parts are. Especially the fasteners and the small stuff. The good thing is I am pretty complete on my order. I have a small POL list. I should be able to work on specific areas as I decide how best to go through the manual. I thought the box #'s would follow the manual. Not really. Stuff is all over the place and boxes hold dissimilar components.
I did a modified process. Some boxes I inventoried and put back on the shelf. I wrote in sharpie the major component on the outside of the box. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking by using the details from the packing list. Say "14842 Engine Bay Aluminum" is in box 10. I can search excel and find stuff quickly.
For a number of boxes I pulled the parts out, sharpied the original box number and description on the part box or bag itself, and organized the parts on shelves by box number. Looks like a Napa shelf.
Aluminum Panels. I numbered each panel and noted what is under or over on each panel. I am still working on marking the backsides and double checking it all before I pull panels. That is up next.
Patience. Which I am challenged with. It’s hard to not just jump in and start doing stuff. Getting organized, having stuff labeled, bagged, notes, and pictures taken, will help in the long run. I love the Navy Seal “slow is smooth and smooth is fast” saying. Slow down, take your time, and do it right. I need to remember that.
Stuff will hurt. Go figure. Squatting, lifting, bending, and working for many hours in the garage seems to use muscles not normally used. Thank god for advil. Can I call time in the garage “exercise”? That would be awesome.
Smile level = 100. Can not be beat. :D
Tom
It was 10 months from order to delivery. In between a lot of research, questions, stocking parts and tools. Delivery day was last weekend. I was able to separate, hang the body, complete the inventory, and organize the garage (again) this week. I appreciate all the help along the way.
Here are a few newbie observations.
Delivery day. Goes by fast. While u can do it alone, have a few people, and enjoy it. You need a person to check off each box as they come off the truck and on to the dolly. My friend Rich handled that. You need a camera person. My wife Pat took great pictures. The Stewart team works very hard and is a tough job. We provided snacks, water, and a handful of $. They earned it and both very nice.
The driver has a box check off list. When you’re done. Take a picture. Not every box # is delivered. I had box 1 and box 46. And a ton of boxes. One would think I had 46 boxes. Big truck goes down the road, I start organizing boxes, to discover I am missing 5-6 boxes or so I thought. I looked at the picture I took and there is no box 14 or 15 or the other three boxes on the check off list I was freaking for a few minutes.
Dolly. While handy. Not sure I would build again. I am using 1 bay in a two car garage. Once set, Jack stands take up less space, and lower on the ground. I was a dummy and made mine higher stacking two 4x4. Leaning over is harder. Raising it a little does not really help. I’ll likely lower it. 🤦
Body Buck. The buck worked well. I put a cargo net and the hood, trunk, and doors were too heavy. I put a few cross braces in, left the net on, and everything stores well.
Inventory. Inventory was ok and helped me understand where all the parts are. Especially the fasteners and the small stuff. The good thing is I am pretty complete on my order. I have a small POL list. I should be able to work on specific areas as I decide how best to go through the manual. I thought the box #'s would follow the manual. Not really. Stuff is all over the place and boxes hold dissimilar components.
I did a modified process. Some boxes I inventoried and put back on the shelf. I wrote in sharpie the major component on the outside of the box. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking by using the details from the packing list. Say "14842 Engine Bay Aluminum" is in box 10. I can search excel and find stuff quickly.
For a number of boxes I pulled the parts out, sharpied the original box number and description on the part box or bag itself, and organized the parts on shelves by box number. Looks like a Napa shelf.
Aluminum Panels. I numbered each panel and noted what is under or over on each panel. I am still working on marking the backsides and double checking it all before I pull panels. That is up next.
Patience. Which I am challenged with. It’s hard to not just jump in and start doing stuff. Getting organized, having stuff labeled, bagged, notes, and pictures taken, will help in the long run. I love the Navy Seal “slow is smooth and smooth is fast” saying. Slow down, take your time, and do it right. I need to remember that.
Stuff will hurt. Go figure. Squatting, lifting, bending, and working for many hours in the garage seems to use muscles not normally used. Thank god for advil. Can I call time in the garage “exercise”? That would be awesome.
Smile level = 100. Can not be beat. :D
Tom