65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!

Announcements => Announcements => Topic started by: Loren At 65GS on February 11, 2013, 09:59:06 AM

Title: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Loren At 65GS on February 11, 2013, 09:59:06 AM
In the last few months, we have brought up making some changes to the site.
I and other administrators are looking for input from forum members as to what may make our community better.

So, any ideas out there?

   Thanks,
    Loren
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Robk on February 11, 2013, 04:24:30 PM
Hi Loren,

Just a thought...   If this is already available somewhere else, my apologies.   One feature we might add, if possible, would be a chart which owners could fill in which lists their accessories/features down one side in with their individual build codes (from theier plate or even build sheet if they have it) down the other side (or some other system with the same goal in mind).   The registry has many of the features listed but little data on the codes that are included in the car's plate.   Correct me if i am wrong but I believe that some of these codes remain a mystery and it seems like we now have enough members that we may be able to figure the "mystery codes" out by the process of elimination.   This chart might also prove useful for people restoring cars back to original in understanding what their car came with.   While it may not definitively tell us what a code means for sure it could certainly eliminate some things it doesn't mean.  It would also i.d. some of the codes which are "known" by the experts but unknown by guys like me.  Even if it did not give us an absolute answer on what an unknown code means it might give us a pretty good idea on what it means if every car that has that code on it's plate has a certain common feature. 

I know when i first bought my car one of my first question was whether the 4spd was original.  I posted my  build codes on V8 and (I believe) Walt was kind enough to tell me that my car contained the code for a 4spd.  Since that time on occasion i have seen posts regarding the meaning of certain codes and there has been some discussion about  the fact that not all of the codes have been identified.  Maybe we could solve that issue.

Just an idea
Rob
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Mark Ascher on February 12, 2013, 09:44:13 AM
Something I'd like to see is to have the forum more usable on a smartphone. It is near impossible to use on that small screen. There is app called Tapatalk that I use for other forums, and it really works well. Might be something to check into.

Gotta be some more ideas out there...

Mark
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: WkillGS on February 12, 2013, 11:06:59 AM
I agree with Rob.... a cowl plate decoder would be nice. I don't recall seeing a comprehensive list posted. Perhaps we could have a separate page with info like order sheets, options, prices, color and trim, and codes.

Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Brian on February 12, 2013, 12:15:06 PM
I will be glad to help put together a cowl plate decoder with the information I have.  I have collected up some of what was on this and other sites and put in one big list. 
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Loren At 65GS on February 12, 2013, 12:52:23 PM
Some good ideas, thanks. Let's hear more.
Obviously they can not happen immediately. But when it comes time for some programing changes, that would be the time to implement them.
The idea of deciphering the cowl tag codes has been long needed. As well there is need to make some changes to the registry itself. John Egle has brought up some ideas on that.

  Thanks,
  Loren
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: mdkd on February 12, 2013, 01:36:58 PM
All

Are some of the cowl tag codes unique by build location or date?

Perhaps we will need something like a spread sheet if they are.

mdkd
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Loren At 65GS on February 12, 2013, 01:54:23 PM
Yes, they are not all the same assembly plant to assembly plant.

This is one of the mysteries.
  Loren
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Weldar on February 12, 2013, 07:34:43 PM
Some good ideas, thanks. Let's hear more.
Obviously they can not happen immediately. But when it comes time for some programing changes, that would be the time to implement them.
The idea of deciphering the cowl tag codes has been long needed. As well there is need to make some changes to the registry itself. John Egle has brought up some ideas on that.

  Thanks,
  Loren

Loren - I think the site is in fairly decent shape, but I guess there is always room for tweaks. I spend a lot of time viewing the Gallery section to help me see how various things look or how they are built (sometimes just drooling). With so many pics in there it can be cumbersome to get around in. Maybe some additional sorting could help. Also, at times it would be nice to understand who posted the pics, although maybe there is a way to determine that already and I have not figured it out yet. Maybe you could make a separate section to capture suggestions so there are discreet posts rather than having them all buried in this post string. Anyway, I like our little site and appreciate you and the others that keep it going.

Dwaine
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: dl7265 on February 13, 2013, 09:09:02 PM
Id like to second Mark with the tapatalk . Much easier for us that work long hours without computer acess.
Thanks !
DL
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Loren At 65GS on February 14, 2013, 10:24:10 AM
Thanks for the insights.
I'll have to look into what it will require,$, to change/ add some things to our community.
  Loren
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: jmos4 on February 14, 2013, 11:17:37 AM
Hi all,

Lots on neat ideas to improve a few things, one thing not sure what would be involved, but make the manual sections/electronic garage, smart PDF's so you could search them for a specific word or phrase as may make looking up things a little easier to find or even if they were grouped by section of the repair manual would help speed up going thru it

Regards,

Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Chris on February 14, 2013, 04:25:31 PM
All

Are some of the cowl tag codes unique by build location or date?

Perhaps we will need something like a spread sheet if they are.

mdkd

This is what you had in mind?   :idea1:

I made this about three years ago and never go around to publishing it to the site because some of the codes are still in question and we don't have breakdowns for the California tag.

Hopefully this stimulates some ideas.

Chris
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: mdkd on February 14, 2013, 10:08:08 PM
Chris

WOW Nice layout.

I had been thinking more along the lines of X & Y axis to accommodate differences between plants.

This has a real big advantage with visual location on the tag.

To handle other plants like Fremont we could just add additional tag layouts or ???

Milton
mdkd
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: nut465gs on February 15, 2013, 10:56:33 AM
Guys,

My focus on any changes would pertain primarily to the online Registry. Here is a brief list of things that are most important to keep the Registry relevant and user friendly.

1) The cars should be listed chronologically by VIN. This would make it easy to see at a glance if a GS has already been registered by a prior owner.

2) A chronological list of past owners associated with that VIN. This would help establish a paper trail of the car's history.

3) The ability of the administrators to edit individual entries. This would include; resizing posted photos, updating new ownership, adding new photos, changing or adding new information or comments.

4) Having one administrator responsible for making entries not associated with any one particular owner. For instance, those GSs for sale on Ebay, auto auctions, GSs seen at car shows, and entries from deceased GSs. The entry would have an * to indicate that it was an administrator entry and could be updated once a current owner has surfaced. The RIPs would contain info of whether it's in a salvage yard or been crushed.

5) Having a Registry "tool" so that viewers can enter search criteria of their choosing. For example; plug in these values: convertible, red, black interior, 4-speed. It would then tell how many entries meet that criteria.

I think the most important changes are reorganizing by VIN and having the ability to make updates to entries. What I would like to have established is a Registry data base that will be relevant for many years to come. The VIN is the key.

John
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Loren At 65GS on February 15, 2013, 11:40:46 AM
Chris,
  I like that layout. It makes it simple to read and understand. Simple is good.
As it's been noted before, the different plants had different coding. I'm hoping that we will be able to collect enough data, as time goes by, to be able to decipher all tags for '64-'66.
  John has some good ideas for the registry as well. It will just need to be determined about the $ involved to make things happen.
  All good ideas,
  Thanks , Loren
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Robk on February 15, 2013, 12:36:04 PM
Wow, Chris.  That's really cool.

It would be great to find a way to compare the cars with the mystery codes to see what oddball features they have in common. 

John makes several good points also.  With regard to editing, I can't seem to figure out how to edit even my own car's entry.   It has been incorrectly listed as "radio delete" since i got it.  So it would be good if owner's could edit the entry for their own car also.


Rob
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Mister T on February 16, 2013, 10:53:17 AM
I like the idea of having a list of prior owners associated with VIN #'s. If that should not happen, how about giving administrators the ability to change or edit the owners name in the current registry?? I own a car previously listed by Mark Lob, but have not re-registered it under my name so as to lessen any confusion.

One more thing about the 4S code. Over on V8, Chris Pollak (politely :icon_biggrin:) chastised me over that. His position was that 4S has not been positively confirmed as GS trim. :dontknow: Not sure if he was just yanking my chain or not, therefore I chose the high road, and backed off my claim.
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: dsags on February 24, 2013, 07:02:21 AM
A listing of known good parts suppliers and their specialties would be helpful for all of us and new members like 65 Special Convertible. A few comments about each would be nice too, but NO  :violent5: .
One thing I have trouble with is sending PM's. Maybe it's the browser I use, Mozilla Firefox, but it always makes me type in the name of the person I am sending it to even when it is just a reply.
Like all the other ideas presented. Always good to have a to do list  :laughing7:
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Loren At 65GS on February 24, 2013, 08:44:27 AM
   :thumbsup:
A listing of known good parts suppliers and their specialties would be helpful for all of us and new members like 65 Special Convertible. A few comments about each would be nice too, but NO  :violent5: .
One thing I have trouble with is sending PM's. Maybe it's the browser I use, Mozilla Firefox, but it always makes me type in the name of the person I am sending it to even when it is just a reply.
Like all the other ideas presented. Always good to have a to do list  :laughing7:

Dan,  I don't get it, I read your reply to 65 Special Convertible first,  I had the same thought. Something about great minds?lol
To me, it makes good sense to have a specific header that contains sources/part numbers for parts. It doesn't exactly need to endorse a vendor, but more of a "what and where to find it" premise.
I know that some of the info is already in different threads. I'm thinking of a more specific header spot to keep it at.

As for the pm thing, I'm not sure. I think it may be the browser, I've not had a problem like that. 

Good idea to me,
  Loren
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Mark Ascher on February 24, 2013, 09:21:32 AM
   :thumbsup:
A listing of known good parts suppliers and their specialties would be helpful for all of us and new members like 65 Special Convertible. A few comments about each would be nice too, but NO  :violent5: .
One thing I have trouble with is sending PM's. Maybe it's the browser I use, Mozilla Firefox, but it always makes me type in the name of the person I am sending it to even when it is just a reply.
Like all the other ideas presented. Always good to have a to do list  :laughing7:

Dan,  I don't get it, I read your reply to 65 Special Convertible first,  I had the same thought. Something about great minds?lol
To me, it makes good sense to have a specific header that contains sources/part numbers for parts. It doesn't exactly need to endorse a vendor, but more of a "what and where to find it" premise.
I know that some of the info is already in different threads. I'm thinking of a more specific header spot to keep it at.

As for the pm thing, I'm not sure. I think it may be the browser, I've not had a problem like that. 

Good idea to me,
  Loren

This idea has been in my mind for a long time too, and I know Brian & I have had email conversations about it several times in the past. I know I could give it a good jump start. Definitely NO FLAMES.

Mark

Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: dsags on February 24, 2013, 12:22:49 PM
Loren,

Where the listing or source is kept is not important to me but it would be convenient to have it in one place like the Electronic Garage. Oh yeah, I nominate Mark and Brian to compile the information. Do I hear a second ?
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Mark Ascher on February 24, 2013, 08:06:41 PM
Ummm, gee Dan, thanks - I think.... :help:
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Loren At 65GS on February 24, 2013, 08:36:34 PM
Dan,
Like Mark has a lot of extra time on his hands? Work, family and a GS to finish before July. Looks like a full dance card to me. :dontknow:
  Loren
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: dsags on February 24, 2013, 09:11:25 PM
Loren,

That does NOT sound like a second.  :protest:

On some other sites I have seen a 'links' section that could possibly be used here. Then it would be fairly straight forward to list a vendor such as Cars in NJ as a full service vendor and provide a link to their website or Convertible Top Specialists, etc The difficult part is gathering the information on specific to GS items like front wheel cylinders or appropriate item numbers such as Moog part numbers. Would take a while to sort out though. More of a group effort.
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Loren At 65GS on February 24, 2013, 09:44:45 PM
  :rocker:
Are you a groupie, Dan?
  Loren
   
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Loren At 65GS on February 25, 2013, 09:58:30 AM
Dan,
 My last post was just to be humorous, guess it missed the mark.

The link thing you pointed to, I wonder if those are sponsors. My concern with sponsors being that anyone can" buy advertising ".
I think it would be good to see a listing that reflects real life. In that I mean one of us in this community has already found a good quality part and a vendor to obtain it from.
Just need to figure out how best to gather, sort through and make a list. Your idea of placement in the electronic garage , after some thought, makes sense to me.

  Loren
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Mark Ascher on March 11, 2013, 10:16:47 PM
Loren, I'm going to start piecing information together. It's going to take some time though.
I'll get a start and let you know how it's going.

Mark
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: mdkd on March 12, 2013, 09:33:27 AM
Mark

I am wondering if a date would be helpfull to judge how old a recommendation is.

I think I would start with the newest entry for my own searches.

I have used the search function a lot in the Forum for this kind of information and it has been very helpfull.

Thanks for the help.

Milton (MDKD)
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: Loren At 65GS on March 12, 2013, 09:37:51 AM
Milt,
  Yes, the search feature is a wondrous thing and comes in very handy.

  Loren
Title: Re: Ch-ch-changes
Post by: BuickGS65 on April 05, 2013, 12:58:28 PM
Loren, I'm going to start piecing information together. It's going to take some time though.
I'll get a start and let you know how it's going.

Mark

I'd like to help.  Please let me know if there is anything I can do.  Thanks.