Fred W B
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 12:15 PM |
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Is it just me?
I have only recently started posting here, although I had followed the site for maybe a year or more before then. I am finding this forum very helpful
and informative, with some real practical and knowledgeable advice given.
I see complaints sometimes from the "regulars" about newbys asking questions about issues that have been gone over time and time again.
Problem is, when you are coming from a long way back, it takes for ever to go through even a little of the history. Maybe I don't have the
fastest internet connection, but many people are surely in the same boat.
It's almost as if the current "active" population have to consider themselves as the current custodians of the knowledge, and have
to pass it on to the newcomers, by referring people to relevant places, or posting links to relevant threads. This is how knowledge was passed on in
ancient times before any thing was written down!
I know that the "search" button is there, but it still brings up pages and pages you have to trawl through. What would help a lot though,
I think, is if people used a much fuller description in the titles of posts.
It seems such a shame that all this useful info cannot be properly catalogued in some easily referenced way. ChrisW (doing a fantastistic job IMHO),
if you could distill all this info into a book, I am sure you would have another Haynes best seller on your hands. - "How to REALLY build a
sports car".
I was reminded of the above when I spent some time looking around www.gt40s.com over the weekend.
About that site, is it just me, but it seems light on real useful advice, unless you want to know how to pay someone else big US bucks to build a
replica 40, or restore a real one? It does have some detail on lovely restorations on original 60's sports racers, and photo's on some of
the most incredible garages. And how about what some people are paying to bring used Audi 016 AZZ transaxles to the USA from Europe. I paid R 500 for
mine, say 45 pounds! Some of the tech advice I read seem a bit suspect, and once I found a thread on painting the "Goodyear" on your tire
sidewalls I gave up!
Cheers
Fred WB
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Hellfire
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 12:36 PM |
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Up to just - any questions I can answer I don't mind answering. I don't have any preference to whether your newbie or not 
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Dave Ashurst
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 01:09 PM |
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quote:
What would help a lot though, I think, is if people used a much fuller description in the titles of posts.
Like this one?
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Glan Noye
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 01:17 PM |
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I agree with your opinion on the GT40 site,sadly lacking in wit, invention or new ideas! 
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Fred W B
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 01:45 PM |
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Fair Enough dave,
What I mean for example is
"Fitting XXX brakes to ZZZ front uprights?"
instead of
Brakes??????????
as a title
But you knew that..........
Cheers
Fred WB
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shortie
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 02:18 PM |
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It's a good point Fred, I have found the guys on here to be very very helpful but I reckon it would help with searches if we all try to be a bit
more specific with our titles, it wouldn't hurt.
Rich.
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DarrenW
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 02:41 PM |
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I have noticed that if it is a regularly repeated question where the latest author made no attempt to search, then advice is usually to search
first.
However if the person has made even a small effort but it doesnt clearly help the author then several people bend over backwards to help.
I guess there are two learning points;
1. Accurate descriptions to assist acrchiving and future searches,
2. A bit of research first to facilitate a fuller answer.
3. (yes i did say 2 points but never mind) Be as accurate as poss in the question to help get an accurate answer.
I have top say I sing this sites praises. We all deserve a pat on the back. Top job. It always amazes me that people who are really complete strangers
will go a long way out of their ways to help others. I love that.
Well done everyone.
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Mr G
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 04:07 PM |
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EXHIBIT 'A' M'lud 
Cheers
G
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Dave Ashurst
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 06:01 PM |
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quote:
But you knew that..........
Yes of course, sorry, I couldn't resist it.
Your point is well made.
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stephen_gusterson
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 07:24 PM |
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if it wasnt for people asking repetitive questions, everything would have been covered yonks ago, no one would bother to be 'regulars' and
it would get a bit dead and boring.
atb
steve
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 09:00 PM |
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I agree with doing a search first, but as the combined knowlege increases, the common answers change.
When I was planning my cooling system, the Mk1 micra rad was the one to have, ideal size and sufficiently efficient to cool my pinto. If you were to
ask the same question now, the answer would probably be the Mk2 polo rad. If we all did a search and didn't ask repetitive questions, we would
all be using micra rads! AND THERE WOULD BE A HELL OF A LOT LESS FORUM TO SEARCH IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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JoelP
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 09:08 PM |
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yup, the collective knowledge is always being updated, refined and expanded.
for example, recent discussion of diffs - if you search back to the beginning there is lots of uncertainty about which cars have what, what codes are
what, differences and similarities etc. however nowadays there is much more info available - indeed, i have most of it stored away up top now, cos
diffs are one area of interest to me.
maybe if we set up a wikipaedia, and all just filled in the blanks as we had time - it would be quite easy for us all to proof read each others work,
to ensure continued accuracy.
ps, there was a thread some time ago about this, and a trial run was set up - seems to have died an early death though.
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greggors84
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 09:16 PM |
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Its good when someone asks a question that you asked yourself a while ago. Means you can answer it and feel that little bit more intelligent!
When I first joined the forum, someone had a go at me for asking a question, when infact i had done a seach but couldnt find the answer. Just made me
think he was a bit of an idiot!
Chris
The Magnificent 7!
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JoelP
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| posted on 21/2/05 at 09:21 PM |
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ive only ever been annoyed at a question a few times, usually when its worded so badly that it isnt really a question - but at the same time, no
actually gives a toss if im annoyed or not, and visa versa, afterall we're all here as equals, so thats two reasons to fire away!
i usually love questions, especially the ones like greggors says, that you asked yourself in the beginning - feels like the knowledge is going round
another cycle.
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shortie
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| posted on 24/2/05 at 03:41 PM |
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I agree, it's nice to be able to help people and repay what the forum has done for you and it's a fair point that things change over time
so a search won't always give the latest answer.
Rich.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 24/2/05 at 03:46 PM |
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Someone offered to set up a wiki a while ago, that could be linked from this site. Dunno what became of that idea...
David
FYI: a wiki is a sort of encyclopaedia written by the users. Very flexible and easy to use - downside is that it usually needs moderators to remove
incorrect or malicious stuff.
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stephen_gusterson
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| posted on 24/2/05 at 07:49 PM |
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ok then
whats the best way to pivot wishbone bushes?
clamped tight, or allowed to rotate on the bolt.
dont think ive seen that one before .....
atb
steve
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Peteff
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| posted on 24/2/05 at 10:01 PM |
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It's best not to use bushes at all, just fill them with a medium fat cheese then push a pencil through the middle. Always ready to help, keep
'em coming.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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stephen_gusterson
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| posted on 24/2/05 at 11:06 PM |
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no - low fat. always seems more rubbery to me!
atb
steve
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DarrenW
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 11:52 AM |
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Surely lightly toasted Halloumi is the best!
I think one of our problems on this site is that we are all budding engineers (some make a living from being so as well). If my command of the English
language can be used as a guidestick - engineers are good at knowing what they want in their heads but not so good at writing it down. Ive had several
conversations in my time that have been overseen by non-engineers where afterwards they have said "WTF was that all about". To us it was
perfectly clear, concise and we all knew perfectly what to do next. To the outsiders they didnt understand a word. Maybe this is why some of the
questions etc end up with strange answers going off at a tangent.
I have to say without this site my build would not have progressed as well. It is fantastic and the commerardery (spelling?) and support is 2nd to
none. Its nice to see the seasoned regulars open to some new ideas and re-opening old threads. After all none of us ever stop learning do we?
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