How do you keep track of bolts?

[thereef]

I tore apart my motor a little too rambunctiously and have lost several bolts, nuts, washers (head bolt washers even! QQ) and I've had to order new hardware, such a PITA.

In the future, just want to know what system you guys use. I have started to bag & tag, but just wanted to know if anyone else had super clever organizational systems that they'd be willing to share

Hope everyone had a great weekend and it's starting to warm up where you live.

 

[19Eclipse90]

Either put them back where they came from (or so help me) or do something like this -- and yes, I realize not all the bolts are there:

 

[talonalex92]

That is definatly clever! I have a similar system for pushrods when taking engines apart that have them. I prefer the bag/tag but that doesn't always help when some bolts, oil pump/filter housing for example are different lengths.

 

[mchustle]

I put them where they go whenever possible, but if not really possible bag and tag usually works well. I must say the cardboard and drawing is genius.

 

[96' Eclipse GS]

Either put them back where they came from (or so help me) or do something like this:

+1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

That is by far the best idea/way of doing whatever it is your are doing and not losing, wrong place installed, and mistaking something up! I tag all my bolts, washer, etc. in sandwich bags. But you can't help the length as mention above, this is the best way possible.

 

[CrawlinZX14]

Personally I use a few different techniques. I will bag and tag ones I cannot put back into place after I remove them. Other times on things that smaller and I just need to organize them, I will use empty egg cartons to separate bolts in a short term. You can simply number them and write down what goes where in a notebook. I always use a notebook during builds to make notes of anything I would need to. Stripped holes, something that needs to be cleaned or anything like that. I do like the push thru cardboard thing tho. Only concern I have with that is keeping it all in place over longer durations and the risks if it falls over.

 

[cabot2g]

i put them back in place

Same here, when I cant I bag and tag or tape them together with masking tape and tag. Also have used egg crate to keep up with small parts.

 

[Glover]

The Cardboard Method is quite useful if it will be weeks or months before you'll be doing reassembly. Otherwise, coffee cans and sandwich bags.

 

[thereef]

Some really great ideas. I like the idea of keeping a notebook handy for jotting down notes rather than relying on my shoddy memory.

 

[daren_p]

Either put them back where they came from (or so help me) or do something like this -- and yes, I realize not all the bolts are there:

Thats is exactly what I do, I prefer to just put them back where they were removed from but if thats not an option, a cardboard template is what I do as well.

Memory isn't as good as it use to be & with many other projects on the go/time between working on the car, defently makes things much easier when putting back together.

 

[cabot2g]

Another tip I do is take of pics, not as much for bolts but general placement of parts if its going to be apart for awhile.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

I've been doing this so long that I can usually remember where they all go, but for things like push rods, or timing covers with 5 different length bolts, I often use the cardboard method pictured in post #2.

Saturns are easy because all the bolts on the car are virtually the same, other than two or three obvious different lengths.

On the most common cars I can spot an out of place bolt just by looking over the engine bay.

 

[thereef]

I've been doing this so long that I can usually remember where they all go.

I look forward to this day.

 

[tonyseagle]

I am suprised nobody has said that they just keep the bolts with the part that it was fastening.

I recently had a timing belt/balance shaft belt snap on me so that involved me damn near taking apart the whole engine....parts and bolts everywhere haha.

The joys of growing up playing with legos (And having brothers who would always break your creations...only to rebuild them from memory).

 

[Colt4G63 also]

I look forward to this day.

It's nothing to be exited about. I would rather be standing on a huge yacht with bikini babes saying "You can Dooo it!"

 

[tonyseagle]

it's nothing to be exited about. I would rather be standing on a huge yacht with bikini babes saying "you can dooo it!"

"I'm on a boat!"

 

[Bud92gsx]

I do the bag and tag meathod.But that cardbord idea wads amazing.

 

[TSITurbo95]

Bag and tag, or put them with the parts I take off. But Ive taken apart my motor soo many damn times, I about memorized where everything goes.

 

[livedsm4g63]

Bag and tag, or put them with the parts I take off. But Ive taken apart my motor soo many damn times, I about memorized where everything goes.

I usually bag and tag them as well. If something is missing I will find a random bolt to work in my stash. If its not important, WEIGHT SAVINGS! J/k

 

[SlowChild3]

If you bag them write on some masking tape or the nice bags with the white stuff on them. Lets call it paint. Lol

 

[talondave]

I just through them in to my bolt ben, i have literally tore apart 20+ of these motors, and have had mine apart 50 times. I can pretty much look at a bolt and know where it goes, or see a spot that needs a bolt and know what size.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

"I'm on a boat!"

I got my swim trunks
and my flippy floppies...

 

[BogusSVO]

If you send a block or head to a machine shop with a buch of nuts, bolts, sensors left in it, you may get them back in a box, if you get them back at all.


I remove a part, and place the bolts with it and take a pic of it....

 

[isantop]

Definitely go with the cardboard. It's quick to set up, and works super well. Plus it's reusable, and essential for things like Cam Journals and such that must go back exactly where they came from.

 

[Sir Joke]

19Eclipse90 definatly use this setup myself. everything moves so much quicker.