Seperate how to articles with pictures, maybe we all can contribute!? to 914 info. section Options

[Gint]

I guess my thoughts on this were that the threads in the "Classic" section
could be candidates for creating a real "Technical Article" under
the [914 Info]->[Technical Information]->[Technical Articles] page.

The structure on the site is already there, it is just a matter of using it.
To me one of the great mysteries of the site is why the technical
article section is so underutilized in favor of classic threads.

Some of the classic threads are of a conversational style or
perhaps even of a historical blog type style but some are
definitely intended to be a technical "how to" or "step by step" type article.

Just quickly scanning through the list of classic threads, there are at least
5 or 6 that would be really easy to make into great technical articles.

I mean how many times do we see questions about how to hook up power
for a fuel pump when running carbs? To me it would seem easier to
find if this were in a technical article rather than in a thread even if
it is a classic thread.

If its a matter of time, well, I have plenty and can help there.
I'd be happy to work with the admins to convert some of the more
"how to" or "step by step" threads into articles.

I'm not suggesting that the original threads be removed, just that
we begin to start to use the technical article section a bit more.


Just my thoughts.

--- bill

Bill, that is pretty much the consensus of the admin team and the intent for the technical articles area of the site. It's just that no one has taken the time to do it. And anyone can do it.

[Sam Charters]

I believe this a great thing for new and old members. I am sure the older members have all seen Georges book (Tech Tips 700), I am also sure most newer members have not.
Back in the appendixes he deals with many repairs, what was nicely done in each case was he starts out with;
Tools required,
Supplies and parts required,
and then numbers the steps.
This may be a format that some may find useful.

[SGB]

I guess I can't search very well either, b/c I usually get 8 pages of responses or nothing at all. If I graze down into the threads I will often find the answer, but I will also find threads that just fell away from non-response. I would love it if the gold was filtered out of some of the LONG threads about dizzy set ups or flare installs or clutch cable problems or...
I would not try to cover alot in any article- "ignition" is too big, but "spark plug choices" would pop up in a search I think.
Leave the converstaional threads as they stand, just make reader's digest condensations of the best sellers. It should NOT be an admin function, but voluntary sort of wikipedia style.

[orange914]

It's up to you.

Make a clean thread, with undertandable tittle, lots of pictures... and wait for votes ...

BTW, despite votes my last tutorial was not transfered to the classics (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...mp;hl=headrests

this is a beuatiful example of the "article/repair" that could be pasted to a section for others to research/learn before tacking on the project. nice step by step and pictures (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[orange914]

I have observed over the years that this issue comes up occasionally and it appears as if the majority of members seem to think it's some sort of admin responsibility to write articles of the type this thread is discussing. Anyone... including yourself, can write such an article and submit it. But in 4 years, not many people have taken the initiative to do so.

It's your site, your garage...

a big thank you and pat on the back to all the admin. and there efforts on this site. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) i dont want this to sound or appear to be a load to them. i am willing to be a part of the solution to improving this site in any capacity i'm able. maybe admin can imput a list of things needed from us-914world members (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif) -, to establish the section. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
mike

[orange914]

If its a matter of time, well, I have plenty and can help there.
I'd be happy to work with the admins to convert some of the more
"how to" or "step by step" threads into articles.

Fantastic! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

i'll do what i can, let me know

[orthobiz]

Lots of good ideas on this topic. I guess I never fully explored the 914 Info link that's hiding RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE IN PLAIN SIGHT!!!

I will also try the advanced search options in the future. I try to search normally before posing a question and have been successful at times. Other times, I see a lot of posts that are seemingly unrelated to the query.

Anyway, I appreciate everything the site administrators do and I am willing to contribute more meaningful stuff once I get my car! In the meantime, I will continue to learn about the car by absorbing everything the site and its members has to offer.

Paul

[McMark]

#1 lesson in searching: Put a + in front of each word. (i.e. +brake +master +cylinder)

If you search for 'brake master cylinder' you will get any thread that has the word brake in it. (i.e. If I push this too hard, will it brake?)

Adding a + before the word makes it manditory.

[Gint]

OK gang, you asked for it, you got it. I posted Eric Shea's Sail Panel Vinyl Installation Step-by-Step in the Technical Articles section of the site. I used Eric's doc first to refamiliarize myself with the processes involved to get these articles posted and Eric's doc was 90% complete.

Where are my volunteers? Look at the articles posted and try to duplicate the style for your chosen tech article subject and let me know when you have something ready.

Let's get this going!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[McMark]

There are a lot of good articles in the classics forum that need to be copied and formatted for the Technical Articles section. We need people to do that, as well as create new articles.

Here's a quick template for formatting the pages:

CODE

<h2>This is the title of the article</h2>
<br>
This is the introduction to the article describing what we will cover here, how long it should take, how hard it is, etc.<br>
<br>
<b>Step 1: name of step</b><br>
<br>
This is the first step/section.<br>
<img src="THIS IS THE URL FOR AN IMAGE"><br>
<br>

<b>Step 2: name of step</b><br>
<br>
This is the second step/section. Copy and paste for each step.  Feel free to delete the <IMG> line if there is no image, or to add multiple <IMG> lines if you want.<br>
<img src="THIS IS THE URL FOR AN IMAGE"><br>
<img src="THIS IS THE URL FOR AN IMAGE"><br>
<img src="THIS IS THE URL FOR AN IMAGE"><br>
<br>

<COMPILED>Info compiled by WHOEVER POSTED THE INFO.</COMPILED>

[orange914]

OK gang, you asked for it, you got it. I posted Eric Shea's Sail Panel Vinyl Installation Step-by-Step in the Technical Articles section of the site. I used Eric's doc first to refamiliarize myself with the processes involved to get these articles posted and Eric's doc was 90% complete.

Where are my volunteers? Look at the articles posted and try to duplicate the html style for your chosen tech article subject and let me know when you have something ready.

Let's get this going!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

i'll input an article. my son and i are presently in the middle of doing a fuel line replacement along with relocation of fuel pump. taking lots of pictures. i may be a little while but we do have to geter' done by west coast ramble. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[Gint]

Cool. We already have a fuel line replacement article, but if you concentrate on the fuel pump relocation that would be a great addition.

[orange914]

Cool. We already have a fuel line replacement article, but if you concentrate on the fuel pump relocation that would be a great addition.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)

[orange914]

what do "you all" think abput a section where we can post perminate articles with pictures of various repairs or upgrades we've done to our 914's. kind of a step by step repair manuel for others to research before attacking a repair we've never done before. i'm going to be doing the fuel line conversion for example and plan to document it. in the 914 info. there are a couple that are helpful. maybe add to it somehow? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif)

heres the link to what you need to know to get this rolling (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif)

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=70088

[Gint]

Check out Rob Watson's Dash Top Vinyl Installation article. Rob did a great job on it.

Thanks Rob!

[fiid]

I think it would be really cool to keep these kinds of technical articles in a Wiki type format (like Wikipedia). Randy set one up on the roadglue site when we were all being like lets have 9 websites.

I'm interested in maintaining/putting together a few articles. If someone wants to dole them out - feel free to throw one or two my way.

[Gint]

Hey Fiid!

We'd prefer to keep the look and feel of the articles that you see posted in the Tech Articles section today.

Feel free to go through the http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showforum=5 Lapuwali Classic Thread Forum, pick a thread and create a tech article. This is a low key operation. You can convert a classic thread or create a totally new tech article, but the choice is yours.

[ConeDodger]

I am not sure if it is a feature of the Invision software but it might be nice to have a "printable view" button so people can print and go to the garage...

[Gint]

Alllllllrrrighty then....

It's been over a month. Two people have submitted tech articles in that time. So you could say that this tech article drive has definitely been more successful than past efforts. But that's not really saying much. Although the past efforts resulted in zero tangible results, this effort resulted in 5 or 6 articles. Better'n nuttin...

Anybody else? Anything in the works?

914world Techical Articles page

[orange914]

I'm interested in maintaining/putting together a few articles. If someone wants to dole them out - feel free to throw one or two my way.

i feel kinda bad becouse i started this post and have yet to finish the articles i want to ad. we are acually in the middle of sway bar install, fuel line conversion and fuel pump relocate. its been tied up as we had to move my parents, put thier house up for sale and my sis was just diagnosed with breast cancer. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
gint i will take you up on the offer to help out as soon as i can get you info. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif) i'm glad there is interest i think this will help out all us teeners on our classics
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)