Other forums that don't suck

[Martin]

I'm at the point where I have almost all the parts except for the engine and gearbox. I've got nothing else to read or do - no more vendor web sites to explore, nothing to contribute to the build questions (my stuff is still a few months away from being shipped to the UK).

My garage is clean, but body buck is built...

What other forums / web sites do others frequent that are a good source of information that aren't full of the usual internet trash talking, abusive members?

Martin

edit - just to be clear, this forum is a good one!

[riptide motorsport]

ffcars and trifive.com

[skullandbones]

Try "ClubCobra". As far as I can tell it, too, is somewhat civil compared to the ones you describe. So is your accessment of other forums personal and first hand or is it just from what you have been hearing about them? I'm curious as I don't want to get involved with the wrong ones and find out the hard way. So far the only thing that has bothered me on this forum is the ubiquitous comment, "that's already been discussed if you want to know about this go to .............. forum". It's a discussion forum, I thought. But that has gotten better, too. Most of the time here you get all the info you need without too much editorialism. Good luck on the other forums you try. WEK.

[RonSchofield]

Hey,

If you are bored, try reading my build blog from the beginning. That will take you a few months. I'm on my sixth year of building. ;)

http://www.mycoupe.ca/modules/wordpress/?p=5

[Martin]

Try "ClubCobra". As far as I can tell it, too, is somewhat civil compared to the ones you describe. So is your accessment of other forums personal and first hand or is it just from what you have been hearing about them? I'm curious as I don't want to get involved with the wrong ones and find out the hard way. So far the only thing that has bothered me on this forum is the ubiquitous comment, "that's already been discussed if you want to know about this go to .............. forum". It's a discussion forum, I thought. But that has gotten better, too. Most of the time here you get all the info you need without too much editorialism. Good luck on the other forums you try. WEK.

My opinion comes from other forums/sites I've used over the past 20 years on the internet. When I was younger I just ignored it all - now I'm a bit older, a bit grumpier so I have less patience for it.

I've been on ffcars for about 4 years now. It's another good site. I use jalopnik occasionally, but not enough to know if it is a good site or not.

Martin

[DARKPT]

Ron is only half kidding with his suggestion. Build blogs are a rich source of good information that will help you with your build. Lots of folks have links tucked in their signature block.

Another suggestion: Are there any skills that you think you need to improve prior to starting the build? Electrical, engine plumbing, bodywork/paint... Now might be a good idea to gain some confidence that could come in handy.

[Martin]

That's a good read.

I'm up to December 2008.

I might start another thread of "good reading".

Martin




Hey,

If you are bored, try reading my build blog from the beginning. That will take you a few months. I'm on my sixth year of building. ;)

http://www.mycoupe.ca/modules/wordpress/?p=5

[Martin]

Ron is only half kidding with his suggestion. Build blogs are a rich source of good information that will help you with your build. Lots of folks have links tucked in their signature block.

Another suggestion: Are there any skills that you think you need to improve prior to starting the build? Electrical, engine plumbing, bodywork/paint... Now might be a good idea to gain some confidence that could come in handy.

That's actually funny for all the wrong reasons. I have *NO* skills that I need to improve - because I have NO skills to begin with.

My dad taught me to weld when I was young, but I haven't done any for 25 years. My grand father was a carpenter so I kind of picked things up along the way and have done a lot more woodworking than I ever have with metal.

Martin

[DARKPT]

I'm a longtime woodworker, too. I had to put all of those tools away and buy plenty of new ones for our FFR project.

Too bad Morgan doesn't make kits, eh? :)

[edwardb]

I started on FFcars.com several years ago. Found the Mk3 roller I purchased on the classifieds there. That forum still remains probably the best source of information for these builds, in my opinion, mainly because of the amount of history and volume. This forum is much newer, so doesn't have the history. Plus, at least so far, doesn't seem to have the traffic. But it's well organized and moderated, and is on the right path. Both of these forums are pretty civil, and when they're not the threads get shut down pretty quickly. I'm fine with that.

I look at clubcobra and have made an occasional post there. It's also relatively civil, although maybe not as much as FFCars or this one. It is all replica brands, and to be totally honest sometimes not too respectful toward the FFR crowd compared to some of the other brands. But I don't let it bother me and certainly don't try to debate it.

I don't subscribe to any, but I've also found some of the Mustang and SBF forums useful for specific questions. Google does a pretty good job of finding them when you cite specific part numbers, questions, etc.

[edwardb]

So far the only thing that has bothered me on this forum is the ubiquitous comment, "that's already been discussed if you want to know about this go to .............. forum". It's a discussion forum, I thought. But that has gotten better, too. Most of the time here you get all the info you need without too much editorialism.

Interesting points...

I'm one of those who thinks you should do a search on a specific topic or question before starting a thread. Many times what you're looking for has already been discussed (sometimes a lot) and the quickest and most efficient thing is to review that information vs. asking for people to post it all again. Having said that I try to avoid (and I think most others do to) responding only with "do a search." I try to give a summary answer and some links, if available, to dig deeper.

Regarding information you need, editorial comments, etc., I think it's important to remember on this forum (or most others for that matter) generally there are no qualifications needed to respond other than a computer. In most cases, the discussions really are only each person's opinion (including what I'm typing right now!) and you have to judge for yourself whether it's right for your situation. Good discussion and seeing a lot of interesting and new ideas and perspectives are a fun part of this hobby. While there are some absolutes, many aspects of these builds are what's right for you given your budget, skill, opinion, life experiences, what you're going to use the car for, etc. I've received and seen a lot of great advice and information, but occasionally not so much, again in my opinion. The challenge is to get enough experience and knowledge to know the difference.

[RonSchofield]

That's a good read.

I'm up to December 2008.

I might start another thread of "good reading".

Martin

Martin,

Thanks. It has been some work to document the build, but I want evidence of why I went insane.. :p

Ron

[skullandbones]

Interesting points...

I'm one of those who thinks you should do a search on a specific topic or question before starting a thread. Many times what you're looking for has already been discussed (sometimes a lot) and the quickest and most efficient thing is to review that information vs. asking for people to post it all again. Having said that I try to avoid (and I think most others do to) responding only with "do a search." I try to give a summary answer and some links, if available, to dig deeper.

Regarding information you need, editorial comments, etc., I think it's important to remember on this forum (or most others for that matter) generally there are no qualifications needed to respond other than a computer. In most cases, the discussions really are only each person's opinion (including what I'm typing right now!) and you have to judge for yourself whether it's right for your situation. Good discussion and seeing a lot of interesting and new ideas and perspectives are a fun part of this hobby. While there are some absolutes, many aspects of these builds are what's right for you given your budget, skill, opinion, life experiences, what you're going to use the car for, etc. I've received and seen a lot of great advice and information, but occasionally not so much, again in my opinion. The challenge is to get enough experience and knowledge to know the difference.

I must apologize because I didn't state it correctly about editorialism. Actually, that is necessary to a certain extent or it would be a rather boring conversation with "just the facts, please". But what I really meant was the agendas that some want to impose on others. Maybe its their passion in life or whatever. But if they really want to defend a position to the death, the blogs are a better formate for that. It's out of the general traffic but still can be seen and heard if one wants to go there.

As far as searches go, I don't know if the mechanics of the site have gotten better or if I just learned it better but at first I couldn't find anything and quite frankly it just frustrated me to the point I quit trying. Now it seems better. But I usually go on a general web search for info if I'm really stumped and then come back for the forum question. After all is said and done, I still think this is one of the better forums. I hope it continues to grow and prosper. Thanks, WEK.