Proposal for New Suptopics on the F-Chat Forum

+1

I think its a great idea!

 

I rather like the concept also. And perhaps, it would reduce the "hey you idiot, ever heard of search" responses. A little FAQ if you will.

 

+10000

MODs, as a paying customer (thinking of upgrading to Rossa) I was going to suggest the same thing after I have had some of the same experiences as above. I do almost all of my own mechanic work and my Ferrari is the first car I have EVER REALLY worked on. I need lots of help from these guys here.

I take the recommendation one step further. You might want to provide a temple for each project submission so all the pertinent points are posted or purposely omitted. For example:

Project Statement
Time Req
Tools needed
F-Parts needed
Other parts (to include part# and vender used)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Danger points (to yourself or the car)
Final thoughts

Just a further suggestion to an already great one. This would multiply the already tons of "value added" provided to F-Car owners on this site.

Looking forward to it.

 

Great idea, would make the search portion very easy.

Art

 

another +1

Good idea newbie

 

As a non-fcar owner, I would even like to see this.

+1

 

Andrew,

Sure as He11 could have used the "What NOT to do" when I removed my shift lever and changed the bushing three weekends ago............. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

MODs, Rob?? Respectfully - You listening?? I know I have have not been a paying member here long, but this site is Great and could be even better. I, no We, believe there is a GREAT idea here. V/r, Mark

 

Andrew, I think thats a great idea! I'm in the same boat! I'll use the "search" function with every key word and combination I can think of and still not get quite what I'm looking for. I think for a new QV.owner like myself it would be EXTREMELY helpful.

 

I agree that it is often difficult to find a particular thread about repairs or maintenance. I don't know how the mechanics of adding thse sub forums would work, or if it's even feasible. I'll bring this thread to Rob's attention tomorrow.

I do wish I understood the search function better so that I could find stuff when I need to.

DM

 

Fantastic idea!

 

I like the idea.

 

as a 308qv owner myself there's alot I think I can do on my car but I don't want to goof it up but if there's a thread out there showing my how to,what if,or even this is the easyist way to do this by doing that you can get to this point and do this,boy won't that be fun...........lol

 

All are great ideas...

 

A comprehensive FAQ in general is a great idea for many Ferrari-related topics, not just maintenance. It requires someone to oversee, however, even if it built by a community in a wiki-like manner. I recall several threads relating to mechanical work (i.e. how to resurface, or not, a 360 flywheel) that sort-of ended unresolved.

Come back Brian...

 

could it be divided up by models,like 308's,328, and so forth eitherwise the whole thread will be clutted with all the models and then we have to search for our model but its still a good idea

 

Andrew, All,

Here is what I was thinking. It is a little winded but please bear with me.

Break the proposed "How To" subtopic down as follows: Model, Year, How to Fix...., or use Parts Book Ref. TAV Title & Number (for ease of following along).

Here is my proposal on how this would work. There are 2 methods: The "Thread Method" and the "Post Method."

1. Thread Method (Currently most widely used right now and incorporates Andrew's ideas above).
a) A person starts a thread describing a fix or asking a "How To" just like we do right now.
b) Banter between OP and others on how it is going, questions, answers, etc., etc. make the thread "real time and alive" and keeps F-Chat pretty much the way it is right now.
c) At some point the OP or another F-Chatter (preferred) nominates the thread for inclusion in the "How To" sub forum.
d) Mod/Admin reviews recommendation and renders a preliminary decision. It is quite Ok for there to be eight, How to Fix Your 308 Windows," tutorials provided the methods used to fix the windows differ significantly from each other as determined by the MOD/Admin.
e) Mod/Admin allows the OP (or selects from a list of Volunteers *) to download the entire thread for editing, cleaning up the unnecessary "WoWs!!!," "Cools," etc., and putting it into the decided upon "How To" template.
f) Mob/Admin gets back the finished product from the OP or Volunteer and reviews for error, safety considerations ignored, etc. At least two Admins/Consultants or above MUST agree it is Ok and now worthy of posting. If not, it gets sent back to the writer for corrections, etc.
g) New "How To" is now posted.

* - Note: This provision is there so that when a Mod/Consultant/Admin who sees the utility of including a thread into the "How To" but the OP is not interested in making the editorial effort involved, a Volunteer F-Chatter could be found that has the requisite editorial skills and abilities to turn someone else's thread into a worthy addition. We have lots of people with the necessary skills around here. Significantly lessens the chances of good things going "down the drain." If asked, I would do it.



2. Post Method (Not really used on F-Chat .... yet).
a) A person checks the "How To" and sees nothing on the topic of interest or discovers a better way of doing something.
b) They nominate the proposed idea as in 1.c) above.
c) Mod/Admin reviews nomination and renders a preliminary decision. It is quite Ok for there to be eight.... (See 1.d) above.
d) Originator downloads the "How To" template and fills it out.
e) Mob/Admin gets the finished product from the originator and reviews for error, safety considerations ignored, etc. At least two Mods/ Admins/Consultants or above MUST agree it is now worthy of posting.
f) New "How To" is now posted.


These are merely suggestions but I think we are onto soomething here. I think it would work pretty well, as there are checks and balances throughout in both cases to keep this from getting outta hand. The 18th suggestor of fixing 308 windows may just have to have a tough skin as their suggestion is just not significantly different enough for inclusion. I am working an idea on how a small but significant change in say only steps 27, 29-35 of a previous 78 step fix post, might work. Ain't there yet.


My major assumption was the guys who run and monitor this great site, already have enough to do. I wanted to add as little to their plate as possible and still get quality products for all to Learn and Enjoy. We users need to take care of our own, so-to-speak, as many do here already, and shoulder the majority of the effort to make this happen.

Tell me what you think.

Mark

P.S. I will rework and repost the proposed "How To" template 2-morrow. A few other significant items came to mind.

 

In concept, I like the idea of designated and possibly-moderated tech subforums...new 308 owner and past 330 2+2 owner here, with lots of specific questions and initial experiences regarding the former, and five years of ownership experience, both greasy-handed and exhilarating, to contribute on the latter.

Five years ago Rob listened when a few Vintage-oriented folks...including my humble self...who weren't much active on Fchat suggested Vintage forums. He originally set up the Vintage forum that exists now, plus a Vintage Tech forum. The regular Vintage forum has been a big success, and IMO has contributed very much in revamping Fchat's old image as a limited, 308 era-forward board to that of the internet's leading and most-comprehensive Ferrari board.

The Vintage Tech forum died pretty quickly, but in retrospect that idea was premature. It took the regular Vintage forum alone a year or so of slow growth to pick up the momentum that's made it what it is presently.

What am I getting at?

Pro: Perhaps this is the right time to build on established strengths and implement the idea of separate, topic-organized tech-related forums for all models.

Con: Fchat allround is a clear, well organized board, and there's already plenty of ongoing dialogue, albeit un-organized, in regard to tech matters on most model/era forums.

As well, there are already many separate forums on Fchat, and this could be at first glance near-overwhelming for new people, until they find their niche.

Personally: I can go to the 308/Mondial forum and pick up the trail on what I need with a search, as well as ask direct questions...same goes for the Vintage forum. But then I'm a unique user, as we all are...what works for me could be very lacking or over the top for another.

 

Mark, I think either is an excellent approach w.a strong bias towards the former. New to F ownership and researching how to do many things now I am finding the SEARCH function only limitedly helpful and wishing there were such a Tech section broken down as the OP suggests. Ducati.ms has a tech forum structured as 'Thread Method' and it works very well; having mods approve (and lock) the stickied thread maintains the integrity of that technical instruction.

The caveat w.post method is, aside from familiarization w.frequent posters here who become recognized as EF Hutton types ('when EF Hutton speaks people listen'), there's really nothing to credential posters' information. Someone could wax savvy and not know WTH he's talking about and cause problems for someone following the well-intentioned but bad advice ("Yeah, you want to install an oil bypass valve to keep hot oil from your cylinders so they don't overheat and rob you of horsepower").

Either way this is sorely needed IMO. A list such as posted by the OP is a great start and certainly a minimum of what should go up as DIY guides. It would reduce to a fraction, I think, the resource draw - and tenured member annoyance - that SEARCHES demand by people - like me - looking for how to do things.

Happy to help in any way that I can (-A Few Good Men reference)

 

ducowti,

Yes, we do have some "EF Hutton" types here (I hope to be one on this forum someday) and could capitolize on their knowledge better I think.

After hitting send and walking back from recycling some beer, I got hit in the head........ "Peer Review!" Crap. Oh well. And another P to my PPPPPPPPPPS (Post, Post, Post.....Script.) in this post. Hate it when that happens.

As to ".....credential posters' information....." it is hard to do unless we have a real trained and certified Ferrrari mechanic look it over. There may be one or two here but that would be a heck of a lot to ask. Perhaps prior to making each "How To" tutorial permanent, they should be temp posted and labled as such for undergoing 30 or 60 days of peer (us users) review after the two MOD/Consultant/Admin review. We also may catch errors others miss or can clarify the procedure or claims (like your "Oil by-pass valve" example by asking the OP questions (keeping more in line with Andrew's further suggestion above). When that Peer Review time period is over the Mods/Consultants/Admin take a final look and change the status to permanent or tell the OP to "Fix it or we trash it."

F-Chat would also have to have a "How To- Disclaimer" about how all the "fixes" are reviewed several times for functionality, suitability, safety, results, etc., prior to permanet posting but F-Chat nor the OP can be held responsible for any results good or bad by someone using these techniques.

Now we need to download all our posts, edit, and get this total proposal cleaned up (I'll do this unless someone else wants to) for a final Peer Review prior to Andrew (originally his idea after all) giving it to Rob. If we give him a "turn-key" package (sans programming), he will be more inclined to add this Forum to F-Chat.

Further suggestions?

Mark