Tech Poll this pole will be open till Wednesday

[greg g]

Just posted to the suggestions section about a TECH SECTION mostly as a reference resource, where some one who does a tech procedure and documents it with pics and a write up would post it to a tech section for access and reference by others. Example there was some discussion about droped spindles, or repairing steering wheels or installing disc brakes, or swaping out a diffy. those posts could go to a tech section and stay there for the benefit of others attempting the same procedure. So our host asked for a poll so here we go

[greg g]

Well at one time he talked about having a couple two tree moderators. Maybe one of us olde fahrts could assist in the regard of moving the post to and maintaning the archive after it was set up. I am thinking of stuff like what you posted when Larry, Daryl and Daryl, (aka Don Richie and Billy) were down, and you ginned up the Parking brake stuff for Don's (er Larry's)new rear.

Just capture the post and the pics, name it and post it to a seperate section.

[Guest P15-D24]

Definitely will be adding some moderators moving forward. Greg G and Don C. have already expressed an interest. Just have to get throught the documentation to make sure I don't screw the privs stuff up.

[Guest Nile Limbaugh]

I have to agree with Norm. For no longer than I've been visiting here it amazes me that the same subjects keep popping up; 6 to 12 volt being just one that comes to mind.

[Chester Brzostowski]

I have to agree with Norm. For no longer than I've been visiting here it amazes me that the same subjects keep popping up; 6 to 12 volt being just one that comes to mind.

I think a tech section would be good and yes I do also review the reference material on the main site, but asking questions is human nature and even if we had the best online tech support section in existence people will always ask, even if the asking is nothing more then seeing if anything new has cropped up on the subject. I have managed a Tech Support organization for two well known international companies and no matter how good your documentation is the calls will continue to come in as long as answers are provided.

There is nothing wrong with this it is just the way things are. PS… I have been meaning to ask a few questions on the 6 to 12 volt conversion but will hold off at present.

Chet…

[40phil41]

After thinking further on this topic, I have concluded that the fewer 'compartments' the forum has the better. The old P15-D24 forum style worked so well because it was direct and simple to use. I frequent a Corvair forum where there are so many categories broken out that it takes forever to find and view the messages. For what it's worth, I vote for 'keep it simple'.

Phil

[blueskies]

I think a tech section would be great. However, I think it should be more of a "read only" section, and that the original posts should be on the main forum. If the moderators feel that they are worthy of the archive, then they can be moved or referenced from the new section. That way, all the activity would still happen in the original forum. I think the diversity of the posts that happen the main forum is what makes this place what it is. If it gets too compartmentalilzed, the traffic will scatter and it becomes more work to read.

Pete

[Normspeed]

One reason that questions popped up repeatedly on the old forum is, the refresh process made old messages a bit hard to scan and read, especially on dial up. I think this new forum will have a longer "memory" and it's easier to search for a keyword and go way back into the old messages quickly.

As for adding moderators, no offense meant to other members but I used to frequent a very nice forum that got totally messed up when some new moderators were added. They were nice guys, technically savvy, but they started messing with threads and posts and censoring stuff, locking threads that didn't agree with their way of thinking, interjecting their opinions into other folks' posts, etc. I never go to that forum any more. GTK has the perfect touch for moderating a forum. It's a rare talent. I'd rather keep things the way they are. Just my opinion, hope I didn't ruffle anyone's feathers.

[Allan Faust]

I think a tech section would be great.... another possibility is stickys to pick up recurring subjects such as brakes etc....

Allan

[Ed Griffin]

I'm so CONFUSED! Section or no section, moderators or no moderators, same ole questions good, same ole questons bad, polls with limited answers to check, new forum perks to learn. Yes this baby is new and as usual the kinks have to be worked out, not a problem. Best so far is that a lot of changes are being asked to the members here if we should or shouldnt. Worst is asking for too much. Gerald, this is your site and you will do with it what you may in the end. All I ask is please dont get like all the other forums with this format and spread your wings too wide. Slow changes are good over time and trial. Get ahead of yourself and your going to lose folks interest on the site as quick as they came. Like mentioned, I aso check one or two other sites like this but very little. Why? Because there is too much ground to cover in one visit. Remember the ole saying about first impressions?

One of the best things about the old sites forum was a person would ask a something and almost instantly they would get a responce. Now it's getting hard to keep up with if a new question has even been asked. I know I dont have my settings right but it is still going to be a problem if you spread the site too thin. I would say most who first come here are looking for answers. Make it too hard for a guest to locate an answer and they'll do what is normally done when told to go here then go there, they move on to a easier site to read. Keep in mind that not everyone is computer savvy. Maybe even their first time only because they have a new computer and want to look for Mopar related answers to their questions. Someone like this happens across a site thats too technical as far as getting around, their going to google some more. Simple is good yet sections pertaining to certain areas of the vehicles is also good. Main thing is to plan it out, add it slowly after careful thought instead of jumping in with both feet and trying to have everything all at once.

On another note. Is it really needed to list how many people have looked at a post? Whats it's purpose? All I've gotton from it is embarresment. Post a question, see that it's been read many many times and still not get any responce at all and then see how it feels. It would help not knowing you've had so many people read it and not try to help at all. It's just like the donations page. Sure it's good to see who's helped the site stay online with donations but is it so important that these folks have to be listed for each donation they made and why? A simple name is all you need and listed only once. To me your patting your own back or ranting I'm king of the hill with anything more than a simple list, if thats even needed.

One more note and this goes to Norm, the one, the only, original Norm. For someone who wasnt going to visit here with the new site and all, you sure got that Senior member ranking awful quickly. How long do you plan to keep saying " I'll be spending less time here" when you know you cant pull yourself away?

[Guest Dave Claussen]

Ed, Just a guess on my part, but maybe a lot of the folks who view a post that asks a specific question don't reply because they simply don't know the answer. A lot of us come here to learn from the few who are knowledgeable about the hobby. There's an old Chinese proverb that goes something like, "Better to keep mouth shut and look like a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." I personally don't take offense if no reply is forthcoming because many just don't check the forum that often. My .02 for what it's worth.

[Ed Griffin]

Dave, a good guess is better than no answer at all. It shows your trying to help anyhow. My "guess" is that I care and expect too much. If you made a genealogy post and someone mentions a site or what they tried for their brick wall, you would appreciate that just as well as a direct answer correct? Even false leads confirm where not to go in the future. So yeah, I do take offense sometimes when I see 50 or 100 plus people have read my post and have made no comment at all. This is the reason I brought up the number of posts read comment. What or who's purpose does it really serve?

[Normspeed]

Ed, I only reply if I think I have a good answer. For example, I never reply to fluid drive questions, never owned or worked on one. Same with V-8 engine/rear end swaps, or adding subframes. Never did one, I'd be guessing at how to do it.

---The other Norm

[greg g]

When I decided to pull the Plymouth out of mothballs 5 years ago, I did a web search for 1946 Plymouth. Several sites came up including the P15 D24 site. When I clicked the link, it took me to the Welcome page. I spent a lot of time reading all the sections of the site, and had a lot of questions answered. Then I happend upon the forum. I read it for about three months before I posted a comment, and became involved (addicted, dependant) with the give and take. I wonder how many people who are members of this and the Pilothouse portion are even aware of the other wealth of information on the other pages? I frequent other auto boards and when a question come up I often respond by imbedding the link to the forum, and also give folks the url address when meeting them at shows and cruises. So many folks recommended that way may not even know the other sections exist.

My intention was I guess not to diminish that information but rather highlight it by keeping those posts that illustrate with pics the outlined procedures, or in a couple recent instances to archive those new post that deal with some of the other stuff not covered, like Tim A's post regarding hooking up Don C's emergency brake cable on his transplanted rear end, and the recently posted brake adjusting gauge. So under Brake adjustments would be the 3 home made solutions that vary in technical difficulty, materials, and usage. Of is somebody does a front clip and send in good photos, or a link to sombody's site with a good front shock mount relocation, or a Disc brake conversion.

So I didn't mean to start a controversy, but it was a slow day on the forum, the football menu wasn't appealing and the NASCAR race is just now getting interesting so I did it..........

[Tim Frank]

I'll plead guilty to rehashing the 12V-6V debate, but I was intending to solicit opinions and experiences relating to "whether to" not "how to".

There was some good stuff in that thread that I had not seen before.

when I get into the execution of this step in the project I will refer first to the archives and other on-line how-to sources.

[BobT-47P15]

I just stay logged in. That eliminates -- having to log in each time. Far as I can tell, it doesn't hurt anything by doing that. I don't usually attempt to answer or comment on certain questions (like fluid drive) since I have no real knowledge about them.

I do occasionally see fairly simple questions asked, which are seemingly ignored. They may get read, but no one responds. Maybe everyone is tired of answering that certain question at that moment. So I occasionally jump in and try to evoke a reply even though I may not know the answer. Especially if the one asking is a pretty new participant. Hate for them to become disheartened right off the bat.

All in all this group is more than generous with their time and answers....taking on the same questions from various newcomers. The guy that just purchased his first old MoPar normally has a few questions since they sometimes have different features than a Ferd or Shivvy. Just my "dos pesos" worth.

[Niel Hoback]

I confess to not answering most questions for several reasons. There are things I know the answers to, but I also know that there are much better qualified people to do the responding. A lot of times my answer is the result of trial and error and I cannot always say what the right thing to do is, sometimes I just get lucky.

Another reason I don't answer some questions is because I know that the way I do things is not the best, but only the cheapest. This isn't right for everyone because doing it right is the best if you can afford it.

It boils down to this, my answer is good for me, but not always good for you, so it is best for me to keep quiet sometimes.

Lincoln said "It is best to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt".

Twain said, "Never pass up a good opportunity to keep quiet".

I would rather learn from everyone else than steer someone wrong.