Author Topic: Ch-ch-changes  (Read 7862 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Loren At 65GS

  • Administrator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 3267
  • Senior Administrator
    • 65 GS dot com
Ch-ch-changes
« 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
65 GS hardtop BCA Senior
 65 GS thin pillar coupe
 65 Skylark coupe v-6
 65 GS hardtop restoration project
 65 Sport Wagon
 70 GS 455 htp / original engine
 94 Roadmaster wagon
 96 Roadmaster wagon- parts car
 63 Riviera

 BCA 14371
 BCA 65 Gran Sport Division

Offline Robk

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 283
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #1 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
65 Gran Sport Convertible 4 Speed

Offline Mark Ascher

  • Administrator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 1615
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #2 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
65 GS HT 4 Speed - BCA Senior 2015; AACA Senior Grand National 2021
66 Impala 396/TH400/12 Bolt "Project Rodent Remediation" - Almost Done
69 Bel Air 2 Door Sedan "Project Junior Stock" - In Process
19 Chev Silverado Pickem Up (daily driver)

Offline WkillGS

  • Administrator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 1992
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #3 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.

Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline Brian

  • Global Moderator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 1096
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #4 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. 
'64 Skylark 2dr ht 4 speed, 300-4
'65 GS ht, 4 speed,2-4s,AC,PS,PB,PW,Pseat,Tilt
'66 Skylark 2dr ht 300-2 automatic
'78 Yamaha DT 400 2 stroke
'88 Ford F-150 4x4 (used to be 4x2)
'89 Ford F-350 4x4
'03 Honda Accord Coupe V6 6-speed manual (daily driver)

Offline Loren At 65GS

  • Administrator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 3267
  • Senior Administrator
    • 65 GS dot com
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #5 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
65 GS hardtop BCA Senior
 65 GS thin pillar coupe
 65 Skylark coupe v-6
 65 GS hardtop restoration project
 65 Sport Wagon
 70 GS 455 htp / original engine
 94 Roadmaster wagon
 96 Roadmaster wagon- parts car
 63 Riviera

 BCA 14371
 BCA 65 Gran Sport Division

Offline mdkd

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 538
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #6 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
65 White GS HT My Pride & Joy
31 in Registry 2022 BCA Gold
65 Red White GS Convert 99 in Registry
SOLD to a good home in Ohio
65 Black GS HT - SOLD to a good home local
Several 64-65 non GS HT & Convert Sold
64 Special 4dr parents bought new not 4 sale

Offline Loren At 65GS

  • Administrator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 3267
  • Senior Administrator
    • 65 GS dot com
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #7 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
65 GS hardtop BCA Senior
 65 GS thin pillar coupe
 65 Skylark coupe v-6
 65 GS hardtop restoration project
 65 Sport Wagon
 70 GS 455 htp / original engine
 94 Roadmaster wagon
 96 Roadmaster wagon- parts car
 63 Riviera

 BCA 14371
 BCA 65 Gran Sport Division

Offline Weldar

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 271
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #8 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
65 Skylark GS HT Auto - Under restoration
65 Skylark GS HT 4sp - Driver
2 x 65 Skylarks for parts

"If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready" - Les K.
"The closer to the wellhead the better" - Oilfield Oldtimer

Offline dl7265

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 146
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #9 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

Offline Loren At 65GS

  • Administrator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 3267
  • Senior Administrator
    • 65 GS dot com
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #10 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
65 GS hardtop BCA Senior
 65 GS thin pillar coupe
 65 Skylark coupe v-6
 65 GS hardtop restoration project
 65 Sport Wagon
 70 GS 455 htp / original engine
 94 Roadmaster wagon
 96 Roadmaster wagon- parts car
 63 Riviera

 BCA 14371
 BCA 65 Gran Sport Division

Offline jmos4

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 364
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #11 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,

Jim

1965 Skylark post car (65 GS frame 401/4-speed, 2x4's)
1964 Skylark (future 430 stick)
1965 Special 4 door 300 4speed
1964 Special 2 door (future, GS 401 3 speed stick)

Offline Chris

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 934
  • "Fast With Class"
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #12 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
-= A Howitzer with Windshield Wipers =-

 1965 GS Coupe
 1983 Porsche 911 SC
 2000 Porsche 911
 2011 Lamborghini LP550-2

Offline mdkd

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 538
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #13 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
65 White GS HT My Pride & Joy
31 in Registry 2022 BCA Gold
65 Red White GS Convert 99 in Registry
SOLD to a good home in Ohio
65 Black GS HT - SOLD to a good home local
Several 64-65 non GS HT & Convert Sold
64 Special 4dr parents bought new not 4 sale

Offline nut465gs

  • Administrator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 529
Re: Ch-ch-changes
« Reply #14 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