FAQ??

[Steve L.]

Why is there not an FAQ on this site??? Particularily safety related items.
i.e. engine lift, body lift,and a few other common things like the best way to strip paint, type of paint for restoration.

Sure, the answer is "look up the archives" Been there, done that, It takes forever to do it that way, plus the search words don't work that great.

i.e. I tried engine lift and got all kinds of things that were kind of related but not really. It wasn't until I actually started doing it, then ran into a problem, got on this group with the specific problem and then I got a great response, but I wished that there was an FAQ that was sanctioned by this site.

While I'm at it, there should also be a place for exchanging parts as well preferably between registered members so that you know that the parts are as discribed and payment will be forthcoming.

Steve L
73 coupe since new

[Mike Yager]

Re: FAQ??

I suspect there are a couple of reasons for no FAQ. Who would keep it fresh and where to start? Given that C1 through C3 Vettes are covered here, the FAQ could dwarf an encyclopedia, making lookup a tedious exercise. There would be thousands of topics and someone would have to keep it up as well as write it. Who would write the detail for each answer? Also, many of the topics are probably already covered in publications available through NCRS or other places. These would include, but not be limited to The AIM and Noland Adam's book. I find The Restorer CD to be a valuable source of information.

As far as parts trading, this topic has had a lot of heated debate in the past. An on-line source would seem to be more convenient (and cheaper) than sending out publications periodically. It would also make searches easier. I think the reason is that many members either do not have on-line access or cannot/will not use it. In any event, it does not appear this will change any time soon.

[Ryan Clark]

Re: FAQ??

If you are interested in a parts section between owners, you might check out another corvette forum. www.corvetteforum.com. They have a C3 only section including discussion, Cars For Sale, and Parts For Sale sections.

I frequent both forums, posting to both. I believe there are several others who frequent both.

Ryan

[Michael W.]

Re: FAQ??

I nominate YOU to be charge of this formidable task. Thanks for stepping forward to volunteer.

What, you didn't volunteer? OK, paying someone to keep a comprehensive set of FAQs up to date shouldn't cost more than ummmmm $75K a year. divided by the 300 or so members that frequent this site makes........$250. a head. Let me know when you've sent your cheque in, I'll send mine too.

Point is that out of 15K or so members, there is just a handful of paid employees. The rest are VOLUNTEERS that get zip (in monetary terms) out of this but on the other hand spend lots of money to participate.

As your late President Kennedy once said "Ask not what your ......" well, you get the idea.

[Bob Babcock]

Re: FAQ??

Before y'all blow old Steve off completely, I think his comments may be shared by others. I try to use the archives and bought the CD, but they could be a little more user friendly. The board, archives and information are great and I am not complaining in the least, but maybe, just maybe, there is a way that doesn't require a full time person and a $250/person contribution to improve access to this great information. Perhaps there is a way of cataloging or separating solid axle issues from mid years from sharks, etc., or drive train from interior or paint. You could fill up a CD with questions about the color and codes on rally wheels. Heck, I don't know, but I do relate with Steve's difficulty retrieving info from the archives. Don't get me wrong, I love the archives. But just maybe there is a better idea somewhere.

p.s. I am not volunteering, nor do I believe you would give me the access codes if I did,hee hee.

[Scott 38530]

Re: FAQ??

As a newbie to another hobby's discussion board, I once made some thoughtful and (I thought) constructive suggestions to improve the site and was immediately shot down in flames by all respondents. Discouraged, I responded with humility and humor and resolved to restrain my enthusiasm in the future.

Steve's question regarded the posting of a limited set of issues, not everything in the archives. And having waded through the archives myself (to avoid all the flak when you don't) I can second Bob's comments. I would welcome the ability to enter a keyword one time to be able to search each successive archive, for one thing.

[Al C.]

Re: FAQ??

Enter the search term one time!!! Now you're talking!!
... Al '58 #378

[Mike Yager]

Response time would probably be an issue

I think the archives are split up for response time reasons. If you are frustrated now, think about doing multiple searches on the entire archive where each takes minutes to respond.

Searching the archives is not easy primarily because its free form text. There is no standard for how data is entered. Its a lot like searching the web. There is a bit of hit or miss and you have to be patient as well as persistent. Perhaps enforcing some type of standard for subject line entries would be helpful. Just having the year, generation and topic organized something like a repair manual would make seraches much easier (i.e., engine, transmission, interior, etc).

Any thoughts from the board moderator?

[Bill B.]

Re: Response time would probably be an issue

In my case, I have four different cars that span from 58 to 90 so it makes it nice to see all the issues that come up in one listing. I get to pick and choose without going to dedicated sections learning new things on each model easily--well, fairly easily. But, when I get frustrated looking for era specific I go to the corvetteforum. And, if it is really technical I the the crpl (suppose to be solid axle only i think). Standardization seems to be an issue for me--it is most helpful when the title starts with "C1 or C3" like it is suppose to. I do realize that getting so many people to standardize ain't gonna happen! Even if everyone complied this very moment--think of the zillion archives that aren't. How do we all become so anal on car correctness and not on information input. Maybe the post new topic screen could be redone with a menu that forces you to make a selcetion of "C1 or C3 or Misc or General" and another menu to narrow the subject ie. motor trans comprehensive whatever. One of those semi idiot proof things for idiots like me--nobody has to charm in on the last issue. I hope to establish a site over the next year which is unique to 58's. No forums--just color pictures of parts and areas and maybe some repair procedures with small narratives to help my community. Will he fail or succeed. Will see. Doe Moderators Actually read these things?

[Bill B.]

Re: Response time would probably be an issue

Okay, reread my previous post and I now know that I don't proof my postings? So, if a moderator does happen to see the very last question in it--don't take it personally.

[Bob Babcock]

Re: Response time would probably be an issue

Perhaps if there is a set of boxes to select when one posts a message, i.e. "C1" "chassis," when the post expires and is routed to the archives, it would be routed to a topical archive rather than chronological archive. Afterall, information relative to my nearly 50 year old Corvette hasn't changed much over time, so why are the archives in time driven folders? It is a data base management issue, right? I also have 5 Corvettes from 54 to 67. When I search for something in the archives, it is specific to a year and a problem. The better informed users don't have to suffer quite as much as us dumb ones! It is still a great service to members and I still love the board and archives....and the CD. Constructive comments, not criticism!

[John W.]

Re: Response time would probably be an issue *TL*

You guys all bring up good issues, some of which have been brought up before and some new thoughts.

Archives: The archives are broken into groups of about 10,000 because of response time, and the time the connection times out before the results are sent to the request sender. If out of that 10,000 messages all of the non-technical messages were deleted we could cut the number of archives in half.

If manpower was available to go through the archives one post or one thread at a time and determine that this post referred to 61-62 only it could be moved to an archives of only 61-62 issues. If manpower were available posts could be further divided by Chassis, Engine, Interior. The problem that I see with this is in the free flow of our discussions many posts just won't fit in that little cubby hole that we would like to be able to put them in.

Grouping posts by subject: I currently have the capability to force posters to choose among a set list of subjects. The problem then is that either the list of subjects to choose from is extremely long, or their topic just doesn't fit in one of those little cubby holes either. The subject selection is an on or off thing. It is not set up where you could select the first part of the subject and then elaborate on that theme in the second half of the subject line.

I really do appreciate your feedback. I want to make this site the best that we can with what we have for resources. I have started a couple of new projects that have gotten stalled because of time constraints. I hope to get some time to continue to work on them as the weather gets bad. I have a section started to list all of the different models, include a picture or two, and list some of the features that distinguish this model from the one before or after it. Input for this project is requested from you guys that have the various model years. Particularly for the ones that have good pictures of their cars. I am not try to compete with the Corvette Black Book or any other guide, just a way to take a quick look at the different years and see what changes there are.

The second area that I am looking at is a section of pictures from you guys of different years of cars during restoration. Pictures of engine compartments without the engine, chassis without body and other pictures that would help someone trying to do a project see clearly how it is supposed to look.

I am going to be implementing an upgrade to the Discussion Board within the next week or two. There will be a few cosmetic changes and some improvements to some of the other features. You will be able to change your own e-mail address for one thing.

Keep the ideas coming. This site is for you. I am just here to make it as good as I am able. I really don't get the time to cruise the other Corvette related sites to see what the competition is doing. I rely on feedback from you guys to keep me up to date.

John

[Patrick H.]

Re: Response time would probably be an issue

"If out of that 10,000 messages all of the non-technical messages were deleted we could cut the number of archives in half."

I believe that this option was removed about 15 months ago.

Patrick

[Bob Babcock]

Re: Response time would probably be an issue

You are doing a great job John and we all very much appreciate your efforts. Perhaps the old archives can remain "as is" and chronological, but future archives could be topical. For example, future archives could have groupings of similar years (years similar to those of team leaders) and subtopics that fit the judging sheets (plus a misc perhaps), i.e. 58-60 chassis, 53-55 interior, 56-57 mechanical. It could be two columns. One year grouping and one subject matter. I would think this is a logical and not overly extensive group of classifications that is consistent with the JG, judging sheets etc. It would probably be too much work to reclassify existing archives, but overtime the archives might be more user friendly.
Example of possible classification methodology:
Year models
53 - 55
56 - 57
58 - 60
61 - 62
63
64
65
66
67
68- 72
73 - 77
78 - 82
Topics:
Operations
Interior
Exterior
Mechanical
Chassis
Misc

Maybe this is too extensive, hmmmmmm. Combine a couple years?

[Mike Yager]

Re: Response time would probably be an issue

John:

Sounds good. Just let us know when you are ready for the information you need from us.