911 Tech Forum

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Side note.

I found last week that a google search is actually easier to mine the Pelican forums than the built in search.

Every thread is indexed and seems to return better filtered results on phrase searches.

Also easier to follow multiple threads in individual browser tabs.

Thats how I do my search anymore. It's just easier to find a lot of threads all in one place.

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Thats how I do my search anymore. It's just easier to find a lot of threads all in one place.

This has saved me from so many embarrassing questions.

[911 Rod]

I feel that the majority of newbies are not enthusiasts like we are/were.
This is the reason the old guys get their backs up. These guys don't search or have a clue what they want or need. Probably won't fix it themselves anyway.
FB is the worst with so many "how can I make my car faster" posts.

[javadog]

Us old guys hate the new guys when they use the word frunk.

That’s it, we’re done.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I found last week that a google search is actually easier to mine the Pelican forums than the built in search.

Use Google Advance, right?

Put the 911 tech forum URL into the search field and then type what you are looking for.

It can actually search on numbers and photos.

https://www.google.com/advanced_search

Tech forum URL: Drop the X's.
XXforums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forumXX

[cabmandone]

^^^
I just call Bob when I need the good info.

[fintstone]

It is a real challenge to post there compared to what it once was. As noted, there are hundreds of threads on the same issue. I looked at one regarding a turn signal problem recently. My question (do the backup lights work?) was somewhat ignored and the person was quickly directed to just replace the turn signal stalk assembly (no troubleshooting whatsoever). Eventually, I convinced the person that he was wasting his money by replacing a part with no troubleshooting and he did what I asked and fixed his car pretty quickly. 20 years ago, I posted a lot in the technical area, but never just guessed. I traced diagrams and mostly discussed problems/jobs I had done/was familiar with. I often go back to my old posts and use info from them to help people...but wonder why they did not just find them in a search themselves. Maybe there are just too many on the same thing. I see this in PARF where I usually go back to an earlier thread and add to it vice starting a new thread on the same topic every day. Some days there are 3 or 4 threads going on the same thing with different titles and the same arguments (and often incorrect assumptions) are being reargued the same for the 10th time.

[javadog]

Easy access to the Internet has ruined a lot of the knowledge base by polluting it with crap. I suspect a majority of the replies to any given question are from people that have read about something similar and are just passing on what they read, not what they know. Lots of wrong answers to questions.

Few people take the time to understand a system and troubleshoot it properly, throwing parts at it is the usual solution.

Sooner or later the noise drowns out the good information. Eventually the people that know the answers to the questions get tired of arguing about them with the keyboard mechanics.

[GH85Carrera]

The hardest part of using information from the internet is sifting out the BAD advice from the good and knowledgeable advice. The AC threads had a guy that was just a thorn in the sides of the good advice. I feel sorry for anyone that followed his advice. Even when long time professionals told him he was simply wrong, he persisted, and he had zero background in AC work as a pro. He had once worked on his Lexus AC system and that is not much like a 911 system.

[ted]

Today it lacks the racey builds common before the cars became collectable.
I don't mind if every summer it gets flooded with air conditioning questions.
Mirage 911 RSR+ project pics.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The hardest part of using information from the internet is sifting out the BAD advice from the good and knowledgeable advice. The AC threads had a guy that was just a thorn in the sides of the good advice. I feel sorry for anyone that followed his advice. Even when long time professionals told him he was simply wrong, he persisted, and he had zero background in AC work as a pro. He had once worked on his Lexus AC system and that is not much like a 911 system.

LOL. Started to mention that one....

[javadog]

Originally Posted by fintstone

LOL. Started to mention that one....

I, too, remember that…

[speeder]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Side note.

I found last week that a google search is actually easier to mine the Pelican forums than the built in search.

Every thread is indexed and seems to return better filtered results on phrase searches.

Also easier to follow multiple threads in individual browser tabs.

This this THIS. ^^^^

I cannot emphasize it enough, I’ve never had any luck with forum search functions, either here or elsewhere. Even when I’m searching for something that I know is there, (because I put it there), using various terms, etc. I’m completely open to the idea that I’m no good at it but it just doesn’t work for me. Ever.

When I google 2010 Mercedes code P-whatever, I get instant hits on various forums with the exact information that I need, plus YouTube videos. I always get Pelican results, if they are here.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by javadog

PCA was the repository of all useful technical information in the years before things like the Internet. There were annual technical seminars in several parts of the country, the most notable of them being the Warbonnet ones in Oklahoma. All of the big name Porsche gurus in the US, along with some from overseas, showed up and a good time was had by all.

Panorama magazine kept us abreast of new developments.

I miss those days.

There truly were “good old days” when it comes to Porsches. The cars, the people, almost everything. Even 20 years ago, when anyone with a job could own a cool 911 and take it out to the track and spend the day with guys like Jack Olsen, Tyson Schmidt and MMarsh.

I’ve always said that if you want to have a good cry, look in the back of an issue of Panorama from the ‘70s or early ‘80s. The classifieds consist of ads for things like 2.2 911S cars and Speedsters owned by enthusiasts making private party sales with all records, mint condition with Konis, etc. Asking $6500. Sigh….

[red 928]

Questions still stand:
which wax is better
which oil should I use
what happened to my dipstick

[javadog]

The oil question has been going on forever. I once had a friend that was among the original members that founded PCA. It was a really small organization then and after he died, his widow sold off some of his Porsche stuff that he didn’t want. I ran across notes he took at some of the early meetings and which oil to use was among the most frequently discussed topics.

[GH85Carrera]

When Chuck Stoddard would start any talk he always just did a question and answer. Before the first questions was asked he would write OIL and the top and talk about that. It was always the number one question in the era of air cooled cars. Tires was another standard topic.

[javadog]

The great thing about PCA is they would document those question and answer sessions and publish them in their magazine and later, in their books. I wore out every issue of upfixing and had the whole set.

Did you ever see Chuck’s 917? That had to be the most original 917 I’ve ever laid eyes on.

I once thought about buying a replica 2.8 RSR that a friend of mine had built. He spent a ton of money on it; it had a lot of the correct parts including a proper 2.8l engine and factory steel RSR flares all the way around. I wasn’t happy with a few of the things and was running the numbers to see what it would take to finish it to my liking. One of the parts I was looking at was a torsion bar tube, because the RSR used a different one to accommodate its different trailing arms. I called up Stoddards’s and he had one in stock…. Those were different times, for sure.

[stevej37]

Might be time for me to sell my 'cool collar'. The bidding starts at $100....amazing results!

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by javadog

The great thing about PCA is they would document those question and answer sessions and publish them in their magazine and later, in their books. I wore out every issue of upfixing and had the whole set.

Did you ever see Chuck’s 917? That had to be the most original 917 I’ve ever laid eyes on.

I once thought about buying a replica 2.8 RSR that a friend of mine had built. He spent a ton of money on it; it had a lot of the correct parts including a proper 2.8l engine and factory steel RSR flares all the way around. I wasn’t happy with a few of the things and was running the numbers to see what it would take to finish it to my liking. One of the parts I was looking at was a torsion bar tube, because the RSR used a different one to accommodate its different trailing arms. I called up Stoddards’s and he had one in stock…. Those were different times, for sure.

I watched Chuck in his 917 and Duncan Powers in his 908 driving on the track and safe speeds. Both cars sounded great. They would hammer down on the straights and take it easy in the corners. Chuck had an amazing 914 6 GT.