Wayne, I'm still interested in helping out. Today wasn't a good day to really talk too much about it and I was still on "holiday mode". I have some bidness to deal with tomorrow and have a project winding up at the end of this and through next week, but that's only during the day.

When I have a bit of time tomorrow afternoon, I'll re-read this thread and look at the compiled Rennlist link in more depth, but that's one heck of a compilation as it is!

Dave

Yup, today was fun, no time for biz talk. I need to move ahead and make the outline for you guys anyways...

-Wayne

Wayne

I've go no real or professional expertise on Porsche, but I do do a lot of editing (mainly legislation) and am happy to volunteer proof-reading and editing time.

Cheers

Hi there Wayne, I probably can't be all that helpful with the technical stuff, but if you are looking for volunteers to proof read and edit stuff for '74-'89 911's I would be more than willing to help...

Dennis

WOW! Ian this is fantastic. Good work.

Ian that is a nice link. I have something similar but I did all mine in the bookmarks of my browser.

I don't think it is nearly as extensive as yours however.

Thanks for posting it.

Wayne, you have email.

I had a long discussion with one of my former students about this issue. This is an interesting issue that encompasses everything from “on-line publishing” to “forum interaction”. Perhaps Wayne’s project can lead the way in the continuum between open forums and closed (to public editing) websites.

The best WE can do is to post all the details of how we would like to see a system work.

My perception is we are talking about something like what is in the “Technical Info Center” article with an attached forum thread. There would be an ongoing group of volunteers and ‘experts’ to review material (some from the thread) and edit the article. I agree about the ‘link’ issue raised above.

For active subjects, this would work great. What happens when interest wanes or links disappear? Would that leave the info ‘cast in stone’ forever but important links unavailable? I suppose that would be up to the forum manager. What other choices?

What is the interaction between the Library of Congress and others and all forums? This is a serious 21st century information issue.

Best,
Grady

Hi Wayne,
You might be able to join forces with someone on Rennlist that's already started something similar. He seems to have the knowledge and determination, maybe not on quite the same scale, but it's already started. I've got no affiliation, but it seems like it's got potential. I don't know what the implications of conflict of interest in remaining "allegiance free" to any particular company. http://www.pcarworkshop.com from the rennlist post: http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/showthread.php?t=413687&highlight=wikipedia
Seems like a great and much needed resource though, whoever develops it!

Ultimately, one might have a rotatable diagram of the car, with the ability to move thru different layers of structure and then point to something, which would bring up the part in the catalog as well as maintenance & repair information.

Ultimately...

The first job for your new hire would be to search and find every post by Grady & Warren. Document those and you are a long way there.

Here's my 2 cents about what ever form this takes.

I find that for the beginner which includes me that often small meaningful details are left out or left to chance since the expert that wrote the tech knows the procedure backwards and forwards and forgets that most of his audience is the "beginner". i.e., when installing the shifter cup bushing only use a very light coat of grease, too much will deform the bushing when installing, or when disconnecting the shifter coupler at the tunnel, disconnect the alan set screw rather than the clamp so you don't lose your shift adjustment...

I would rather see the definitive post on each of the major repairs, engine removal, brakes, bleeding , CV joints and axles be re-visited and fill in the missing nuances and procedures. Have one person re-write the tech tip with that in mind, then have the panel review and approve it. That vetted article could be posted a top of the other links that have been previously written and would support the vetted tech tip.

As they say, the "Devil is in the Detail". Often one small detail can make the difference in time and money for the DIY member.

I'm late to this discussion and therefore I don't know if this has been discussed previously but...

I'm a software developer for an internet portal and in this thread 2 things struck me:
1 - You will have a problem structuring your data in a hierarchical manner. Newbies have to think and organize their minds the same way as you.
2 - You seem to want a list of links to existing threads and not a whole re-write of threads in a structured documents.

Taking these into account, maybe what you want is a Tags service: basically a bookmark storage where you associate keywords with the link. Only the meaningful keywords to that thread should be used reducing the problem of too many hits on a search. The most famous service online currently is Delicious ( http://del.icio.us/ ), even though they hit too hard on the social-interaction-crack-pipe-thingy.

It might be simplifying things a bit, but i use a similar system (my employer's home-brewed project) and it helps a LOT to manage/maintain a database of knowledge based on links.