Free template · No sign-up

Free project car build sheet template

Four sheets that keep a build under control: the parts list, the budget by area, the task checklist and a log of every mod. Print them for the garage wall, or download each one as a spreadsheet.

Get the build sheet iPhone app Android app

The build sheet

Printing gives you four landscape pages, one per sheet. Each sheet also downloads on its own as a CSV for Excel or Google Sheets. The budget sheet already has the Remaining and Total formulas filled in.

1. Parts list

Every part for the build, with where it came from, what it cost, and its status: need, ordered or installed.

Vehicle (year, make, model):

VIN:

Build goal:

Total budget:

Target finish date:

Part	Part number	Vendor	Status	Cost	Notes
Coilovers	BC-BR-RS	Summit Racing	Ordered	1095.00	Ride height set at 13.5 in front

Preview shows the first 6 rows. The printed sheet has 20. The grey row is an example and does not print.

Free template from trackara.app/project-car-build-sheet

2. Budget by area

Set a number for each area before you start, then track what you actually spend.

Area	Budget	Spent	Remaining
Engine
Drivetrain
Suspension and steering
Brakes
Wheels and tires
Body and paint
Interior
Electrical
Tools and consumables
Shop labor
Contingency
Total

Free template from trackara.app/project-car-build-sheet

3. Task checklist

Break the build into phases and jobs. Tick them off as they're done.

Task	Phase	Parts needed	Target date
Pull the engine	Teardown	Engine hoist, stand	2026-11-01

Preview shows the first 6 rows. The printed sheet has 20. The grey row is an example and does not print.

Free template from trackara.app/project-car-build-sheet

4. Mods log

What you changed, what it was before, and why. Future you will want to know.

Date	Mod	Before	After	Why / notes
2026-10-12	Rear sway bar	Stock 19 mm	22 mm, middle hole	Less understeer at the autocross

Preview shows the first 6 rows. The printed sheet has 15. The grey row is an example and does not print.

Free template from trackara.app/project-car-build-sheet

Use it in Google Sheets or Excel

The download is a plain CSV file, so it opens in anything that reads spreadsheets.

Google Sheets: open a new sheet, choose File, Import, Upload, and pick the downloaded file. Choose "Replace spreadsheet". Then File, Make a copy if you want a clean original.
Excel: double-click the file, or use File, Open. When you save, choose "Excel Workbook (.xlsx)" so your formatting and any formulas you add are kept.
Numbers (Mac): File, Open, then pick the CSV.

The first data row is an example so you can see the format. Delete it before you start.

Project car checklist: before you start

The build sheet tracks the work. This checklist is for the week before you buy parts.

Paperwork. Title in hand and in your name, VIN on the title matching the car, and a plan for registration and insurance while it's off the road.
Honest condition check. Rust in the floors, rockers and frame; a compression or leak-down test if the engine is staying; what already works and what doesn't.
A written goal. "Reliable weekend driver" and "track car" lead to very different parts lists. Write one line and put it at the top of the build sheet.
A budget with a contingency line. Fill in the budget sheet before you spend, and keep a line for the surprises you can't see yet.
Parts availability. Check that the parts you'll need are still made or easy to find for your car.
Space, tools and time. Where the car lives while it's apart, what tools you need to buy or borrow, and how many weekends you realistically have.
Phases. Split the work (teardown, mechanical, body, paint, interior, shakedown) and put the phases on the task sheet.

A build tracker that doesn't live on the garage wall

Spreadsheets get out of date the day you forget to update them. Trackara keeps parts, budget, tasks and diagnostics together for each project, on your phone.

Unlimited projects

Run as many builds and vehicles as you have. No limits on projects.

Budgets and expenses

Track budgeting, spending and inventory for each project, and see where the money went.

Task planner

Type what you're doing and Trackara turns it into a checklist with the steps, tools and parts.

OBD2 codes on the project

Scan with a Bluetooth OBD2 adapter and add the codes to the project you're working on.

Reminders

Schedule reminders so the build doesn't stall and the daily driver still gets its oil changes.

Works in the garage

Local-first and offline, on iPhone, iPad and Android.

More on planning a build: auto project planner and project car app.

Questions

What goes on a project car build sheet?

Four things: a parts list (part, part number, vendor, status, cost), a budget broken down by area, a task checklist grouped into phases, and a log of every modification with what it replaced and why. This template has one sheet for each.

How do I make a car build list in Excel or Google Sheets?

Download the CSV for each sheet on this page and open it in Excel, or import it into Google Sheets with File, Import, Upload. The budget sheet already includes formulas for Remaining and Total.

What should be on a project car checklist before I start?

Title and paperwork in order, an honest condition check (rust, compression), a one-line goal for the build, a budget with a contingency line, parts availability, and a plan for space, tools and time. Then split the work into phases.

Is the build sheet template free?

Yes. Print it or download it as often as you want. No account or email needed.

Is there a project car build tracker app?

Trackara is built for this. It keeps unlimited projects with budgets, tasks, inventory and expenses, adds OBD2 trouble codes to a project, and runs on iPhone, iPad and Android. It is free to download and free to try; continued full access needs a subscription.

Can I use this as an auto project planner?

Yes. Fill in the goal, budget and target date at the top of the parts sheet, then plan the phases on the task sheet. If you'd rather plan on your phone, Trackara's task planner turns a job description into a checklist.