Organizing work on engine - how?

[Nervous]

Hey guys! I am in the process of disassembling 1MZ engine trying to figure out what is wrong with it. I already have unscrewed a lot of bolts and I afraid I'll have hard time later figuring which bolt is from where. How do you organize the process to avoid forgetting stuff like this?

[carsrus]

Ziploc baggies and label them. Another option is to remove the part and drop the bolt back in it or thread it in a bit in its original spot.

A magnetic tray also helps out.

[hill8570]

^+1

I go through a lot of the little ziplocs when I'm digging deep into unknown territory. A cheap digital camera (one you don't mind getting a bit of grease on) is useful for taking shots of "what it looked like before I spread it all over the garage".

[Chris Crash]

I used a big bucket for all the bolts, and I regretted not using little baggies that were labelled. I did, however, take pictures of EVERYTHING. Literally everything. I didn't need most of them, but the couple I did I was sure glad I had.

[Nervous]

Yes, I am taking pictures. Thanks for the idea with ziplocs. In the worst case - I have a second Camry with 1MZ engine in my garage

[Chris Crash]

If you really get in a crunch and find a random bolt, you'll probably remember where it goes. I did because I flipped a shit hahah.

[johnfrisco]

Videotape the whole thing--helps us and helps you.