Great input - Will respond to a couple just so that viewers get some information before we assemble something formal - and as you mentioned many will never read it once its done anyway
, Not so much as a response to you but for all others reading the post now and in the future
I have some experience with websites and making them more intuitive for those who choose to not read instructions....me included!
As someone with less than a year on this site, the 3 mentioned above seem to be a good starting point.
1. Where do I post? Always wonder if I'll get it right or if Jeff will move it Recent example was Metuchen driveshaft post. Should it go in Driveline, Metuchen cars or 64 1/2 - 66? I rolled the dice and figured that because other driveshaft posts were in 64 1/2 - 66, that's where I would put it.
I have to ask myself the same thing every time I see a post, since I would like to be as consistent as possible. As mentioned in a number of threads. IF the detail relates to multiple years (example 66-70) then it goes in the individual item areas
Example: A couple of days ago asked about a 67 390 Holley detail. In reading the question it related not to a 67 specific detail but one that spread across all Holley use 67-70 in Mustang applications. For that reason I didn't move it to the 67-68 Section but left it in the Drivetrain sections.
In a different example: Someone posts a question about paint marks on a 66 289 automatic driveline and posts it in the Drivetrain section. Once the post is read and the focus is clear (not just going by the thread title) I move it to the 65-66 Section since the focus is very specific and answers will be useful to those looking for the exact same information.
2. How do I find the information I need - search a lot, search some more and then ask.
Yes search engines are a tricky thing- What words to use? And on and on. Like most its likely best to start out with allot of related words then search. Then remove a word or two and research. Sometimes if I remember the author I used their screen name and only one or two words for the first search. Few words produces a bigger "net" but the author narrows it down to a small one again
3. Why include plant and build date? - This is learning 101...I have learned more here over the past 10 months than in the previous 30 years....granted my focus was on kids majority of those years. For example, pictures showing the difference between a SJ and Metuchen radiator tank or part changes during production....Hipo motor mounts come to mind...should help to drive the point home.
For anyone that has been on some of the major Mustang forums the asking for specific details before answering questions is a fairly common practice that some of us introduced almost 30 years on the early dial up (before the internet) bulletin boards. People new to the forums rarely realize the importance and the impact of these details in forming the best answer to a question unless that spend allot of time lurking or reading past posts that demonstrate their importance.
Yes some examples for every one of the subjects covered in this lesson/sticky is a must.
Can see it now.
Can see members responding to a first post and rather than asking when and where the car was built just post a link to the lesson/sticky and a "read number #3" for example
Again good ideas - and thanks for the input.
