I'm building an Encyclopedia for Gear-heads

"DIYautoFTW" (diyautoftw)
06/12/2014 at 07:19 • Filed to: None

Hi everyone,

You may know me from my E28 M5 review or my story about driving a Mustang through Arizona. I wanted to tell you all about my labor of love, an encyclopedia for gear-heads. It solves a problem I've had as an auto engineer and at home working on my car, which is the best data and procedures in the world aren't helpful if you can't find them when you need them.

The internet has changed what it is like to be a gear-head. If its 2AM and you want to talk to someone in Norway who autocrosses an AMC Gremlin, there is probably forum for that. If some poor kid videotapes himself almost blowing up his garage trying to start his engine swapped car, the whole world knows in minutes. However, although pretty much every piece of data and procedure needed for working on your car is out there, it is a huge pain to find specific information when you need it. This is because a vast majority of automotive websites are built around sharing news or building communities and fostering discussion; not information storage and retrieval. I've heard from countless people that spend the first 20 minutes of their wrenching time clicking through multiple sites, sifting through conflicting information trying to find what they need.

We are working to build the library to help the automotive community thrive. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! has organized vehicle pages for every car, with DIYs, build threads, data tables, vintage advertisements, road trip stories, pretty much anything you would need preserved and stored within three clicks of the homepage. All articles are donated by their authors and credited to them and the original site it was posted on. In version 2.0 of the site users will be able to edit data tables and upload photos and wiring diagrams, and there will be lists of sites and forums that serve particular vehicles. Instead of all this wonderful content floundering in the far corners of the internet, waiting for its photo links to break and become useless, it will be preserved and easily accessible to all.

As you'd expect this endeavor is laughably ambitious and labor intensive. The past 3 years have been spent doing research, talking to fellow enthusiasts, and building version 1.0 of the site. The response has been overwhelmingly positive with over 400 gear-heads donating thousands of articles to the project. It is now at the point where we are ready to take what we've learned and totally redesign the site, as well as hire some full time help with the labor intensive work of expanding the library. To build this resource to its full potential I'm coming to the community for help.

Below is a link to our Kickstarter project. We have some kick ass prizes for donors as you can see in the photos. Please take a minute to watch our video, you won't be impressed by my acting (I am an engineer after all) but the nice shots of Detroit and some neat cars make up for it. And if you are about making automotive information more accessible please make a donation, every little bit helps. Thanks to all those who have supported us recently and since the beginning of the project.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Thanks!

Steve

DISCUSSION (51)

505Turbeaux > DIYautoFTW
06/12/2014 at 07:32

notably absent are Alfas and Peugeots, the only 2 cars I am ever looking for information for!

DIYautoFTW > 505Turbeaux
06/12/2014 at 07:35

Don't worry, version 2.0 of the site will have many more vehicles, including those two brands. I figure you can't have a DIY auto site without Alfa :)

webmonkees > DIYautoFTW
06/12/2014 at 07:36

Kinja'd!!!

In one of my former ambitions, I worked at an aftermarket body parts place..

doing just the body panels for just the current batch 1980-current of cars.

That's 40,000 parts right there. Lotsa stuff to keep track of. The weird thing was predictive ordering. S10 fenders was always a safe bet.

The market kind of dropped a bit after somebody sued because the body shops were charging OEM price for a cheap Taiwan stamping of the fender.

But I digress..

I look forward to completing the statistics form for my cars.

505Turbeaux > DIYautoFTW
06/12/2014 at 07:37

lol very very true.

Lemonhead > DIYautoFTW
06/12/2014 at 08:03

Love the idea - Wikipedia for Automotive, and I will be pledging support. However, I have to say, your presentation in the video is kind of a downer. The inflection in your voice at the end of every sentence is down and you don't seem excited about the project. If you aren't excited about it, others are going to have a hard time (not everyone, but enough).

I would hate for your great idea to wither - I've seen plenty of good ideas die because of how they were presented (both mine and others). So, please reshoot the video and either be upbeat (even your facial expressions are blank) or find a buddy who can present the hell out of it and use them.

I hope you take this in the spirit in which it was intended - I want you to succeed.

Stupidru > DIYautoFTW
06/12/2014 at 08:22

I want that Longhorn. Where can I get one?

DIYautoFTW > Lemonhead
06/12/2014 at 08:45

thanks for pledging to support us! I totally understand what you mean, my voice is naturally monotone (it's actually a running joke with some of my friends) and I was enunciating more than usual. Plus we were in an open library so we didn't want to disturb everybody. I've been thinking of finding a spokesman for future videos since I'm not much of a public speaker. I'm hoping the idea and all the work we put into it so far will move people to pledge. Thanks for the criticism, I've been taking a lot of notes since this started.

DIYautoFTW > webmonkees
06/12/2014 at 08:49

awesome, thanks! The new version of the site will allow people to fill in the forms as well as add new fields so we should have a pretty deep well of info. Some people have suggested including part numbers in the database but I've heard past people working with part numbers got in trouble with the OEMs so I have to look into that some more.

DIYautoFTW > Stupidru
06/12/2014 at 08:49

Click the link above, we have those two versions and some other cool rewards.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > DIYautoFTW
06/12/2014 at 08:51

Kinja'd!!!

This is incredible...

Jonathan Harper > Lemonhead
06/12/2014 at 08:53

Agree.

DIYautoFTW > Lemonhead
06/12/2014 at 09:59

If you have a minute send me an email at diyautoftw@gmail.com. It sounds like you have some experience with these projects and I want to learn as much as I can. Thanks!

Sam > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 12:35

Ready for the FP invasion? I'm on board. Also, $50 from me.

tpw_rules > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 12:37

How are you planning to treat workshop manuals? I purchased a DVD with my Saab 9-3 (03-07) manual and the interactive diagnostic/repair/information database software. Is that something that should be linked or described for somebody else to purchase or something we can work on uploading? In this specific example, the software doesn't work with anything past 32-bit XP. It does, however, contain several gigabytes of information and is exactly what the dealer has to work with.

TheDon > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 12:48

Looks like your Mercedes Benz W123 section is lacking. I might have to change that. I have quite a few tutorials I have made that I could upload as well as a ton of work I am doing to my '78 240D

tpw_rules > tpw_rules
06/13/2014 at 12:53

Another note: in our little Saab community, these DVDs are The Source for information on late-model cars. If you don't have it, somebody will be willing to copy it from the program for you. This is the kind of thing I find shaky about this. The shop manuals of a modern car are really a better reference than any of us can put together, so I'm not sure how definitive this can really be. Unless those resources can be uploaded and converted (legally), I think this is only ever going to be a first order resource.

wildbill > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 13:04

you need a video like the one for solar roadways. Unlike that, this is actually a project worthy of investment.

Diesel > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 13:09

The first rule of Oppo is not to talk about Oppo!

Captain_Spadaro > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 13:14

YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT!

Yeah I got nothin'. I hope it succeeds.

Rob > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 13:25

Bravo.

This is worthy of many kilobucks.

Tony Soprano > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 13:27

Theres already a pretty comprehensive wiki for cars though.

DIYautoFTW > TheDon
06/13/2014 at 13:36

Awesome! We would love to add your tutorials to the library. There are many empty pages as this has been an after hours project and we've had to target specific cars up to this point. If the campaign is successful we will have a lot more hours in a day to really flesh it out, as well as giving users the ability to fill in the data tables. You can either email links to your tutorials to diyautoftw@gmail.com or post them to our Mercedes forum and we will migrate them to the appropriate vehicle page. Thank a lot and I'm looking forward to seeing them!

DIYautoFTW > Sam
06/13/2014 at 13:36

awesome! Thanks so much for supporting us!

DIYautoFTW > tpw_rules
06/13/2014 at 13:38

we've tried to avoid shop manuals as there are probably legal issues copying them. At the moment we are sticking to enthusiast written procedures but it's something I'll look into. Thanks for the comment!

DIYautoFTW > Captain_Spadaro
06/13/2014 at 13:42

Haha, thanks man!

DIYautoFTW > Rob
06/13/2014 at 13:43

thanks! Glad you like it.

sketchcat > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 13:44

NO automotive library is complete with the BASICS:

http://www.rmcet.com/lib/E-Books/Me…

http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Wiley…

because SCIENCE!

PCD > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 13:45

Cool

DIYautoFTW > Tony Soprano
06/13/2014 at 13:45

Do you mean Wikipedia? They have a lot of info but nothing as far as DIYs or build threads, also we intend to have much more hard data.

Uak42 > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 14:04

Steve, I think this is a wonderful idea and I have also pulled alot of online content into offline content, just to make sure its there 3 yrs later when I needed it.

Do you need any web/sql support or so, or is it purely money needed to run it?

Reborn Pyrrhic > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 14:19

Can you expand beyond US-only brands and models? That is the only way you'll be come the Wikipedia of cars. Also, you will need different spec pages for different trim models.

chromecarz00 > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 14:27

I'd be willing to help if interested - if you want we can talk offline and discuss

coz312 > tpw_rules
06/13/2014 at 15:03

That 32-bit XP limitation is why I haven't tried to access a WIS for my '99 9-3 that I've owned for over a year now.

real127 > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 15:22

How much, approximately, do you think the 8-point buck trophy would weigh? Because I think I really really need one and I need to think about mounting hardware.

DIYautoFTW > real127
06/13/2014 at 15:41

I can weigh it and let you know, when I hung it for the pics only one nail hit a stud so the other was a little tenuous. Definitely need something beefy.

DIYautoFTW > Reborn Pyrrhic
06/13/2014 at 15:44

That is our plan for the new version of the site. We have about 20 brands now but want to greatly expand it. I've also been thinking of how to differentiate between different trim levels as some DIYs work across all trims while others are trim specific. We may have to do a special tag for articles that only work on certain trims. The good thing is version 2.0 is a blank slate so I've been talking all suggestions on how to improve it. Thanks for the comment!

DIYautoFTW > Uak42
06/13/2014 at 15:48

Thanks a lot! I may need support fairly soon. If the kickstarter is successful I'll be hiring someone to make version 2.0 of the site as well as somebody to help build and curate it. Send me an email at diyautoftw@gmail.com because hopefully I'll be looking for help soon.

Reborn Pyrrhic > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 16:06

I am pressing the Facebook Connect link on your site's top center and nothing is happening, no link, just an image.

Reborn Pyrrhic > 505Turbeaux
06/13/2014 at 16:06

Are you a member of http://www.505turbo.com/ ?

tpw_rules > coz312
06/13/2014 at 17:56

Get a VM or a cheap-ass laptop off Ebay. It's most definitely worth it. I've been sort of poking around on converting it to a web system. It's all HTML files, but the graphics format is some weird CAD one that's going to be a bit of an issue to deal with.

Aston Martin Vespertine > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 18:58

I wish you all the best but let me share my experience with this type of project. In my younger, more nonchalant days (I still take my days moderately nonchalant though), I had a similar vision - a Wikipedia for everything automotive. Naivete and a lack of website making skills made me to try and realize my vision through Wikicars. I managed to rise through the ranks but apathy from the site's parent company (Internet fucking Brands) pretty much screwed all of that. Lack of basic support (like updating the site to the latest version of Mediawiki software) made the project vulnerable to attacks. Eventually, it became a shithole of spam. Try as I might to combat the invasion, it was ultimately a losing battle. Me and a few other contributors eventually decided to abandon ship out of frustration and form a new site called Autopedia. That didn't go anywhere either because lack of manpower. You have a much larger contributor base so I have high hopes for your project but, as for me, never again. To have too much of my time and effort go to waste is too traumatizing. I decided to get a life instead.

I sincerely hope you succeed where I've failed. A one-stop repository of knowledge for all petrolheads has been needed for a very long time.

mazdaspeed2 > DIYautoFTW
06/13/2014 at 19:31

I have wished there was something like this for such a long time! I am poor, so I could only give you $10, but best of luck!

DIYautoFTW > Reborn Pyrrhic
06/13/2014 at 21:18

I'll check it out, the Facebook stuff has been buggy lately. Thanks for letting me know.

DIYautoFTW > mazdaspeed2
06/13/2014 at 22:11

Thank a lot man, every dollar helps. Hope you will be using the site someday soon.

DIYautoFTW > sketchcat
06/13/2014 at 22:14

Wow that's sweet. I remember books like that in school, I'll be finding a place to put that for sure. For Science!

DIYautoFTW > Aston Martin Vespertine
06/13/2014 at 22:22

Thanks Aldrich. Sorry to hear those projects went south. It can definitely be a slog since there is so much to do. I'm hoping it can turn into something that will be useful for the community. I'd be interested in hearing how things went, I can probably learn a few things from what happened. send me an email if you have time. Diyautoftw@gmail.com Thanks for the encouragement.

Margatroid > DIYautoFTW
06/14/2014 at 07:22

I came to post the same sort of thing! The internet is truly global, and you site may pique the interest of a Skyline owner in Canada or a Holden owner in the UK - I know that managing the various international variations of cars is extra work, but it will make for a truly comprehensive compendium of knowledge.

DIYautoFTW > real127
06/14/2014 at 12:56

Bathroom scale says 13 pounds but I'm guessing its closer to 15 or 18. Some heavier duty picture hangars should do the trick.

505Turbeaux > Reborn Pyrrhic
06/16/2014 at 07:31

oh yeah, from long ago. Also the Peugeot-L Yahoo mail group which is surprisingly strong

DIYautoFTW > TheDon
04/21/2016 at 18:36

Hey, Wanted to let you know we have the new version of the site done and will be launching it next week. If you want to take a look at it we are letting some people check it out before it goes public. Send me an email at diyautoftw@gmail.com and I’ll get you the link. Looking forward to seeing your 240!

DIYautoFTW > webmonkees
04/21/2016 at 18:57

Hey webmonkees,

wanted to let you know we are launching the new version of the site next Thursday. If you want to check it out before let me know, we are letting a few people see it before it launches. Send me an email if you are interested at diyautoftw@gmail.com