Y Izzit?

[700rpm]

Why is it a guy will spend $10-$18k for a car and not spend $55 for the Restoration Guides, $35 for The Les Andrews red book, and $40 for a copy of the Ford Service Bulletins, which together would answer 92.7% of his questions and confusions about his new acquisition?

I'm not complaining, because there is also a lot of information to be gained here from knowledgeable and experienced A guys, and even after 55 years in the hobby I learn things, but not everything can be fully explained on this site. It just seems curious to me that people don't avail themselves of these resources.

[C26Pinelake]

Many of the people in our hobby did not pay $10-18,000 for their cars as you suggest. They either inherited their cars or bought them for 5K off Craigslist. Just in case you don't know it, there is a high number of unemployed persons in the United States. These unemployed, veterans and pensioners are useing their money to pay rent, mortgages, buy groceries, clothing and medicine. Not everyone reaches old age with a company pension. The average Social Security is $1400 per month. Also many young men are trying to raise a family and pay for education costs. To suggest that everyone has a few hundred dollars to spend in a frivilous manner is ludicrous. Take time to look around you and do a reality check. Life is not a bed of roses for a large number of people in our hobby. So to these people I say ask your questions and don't be embarrassed because you can't afford the luxuries in life! Most Barners will be happy to answer your questions and are not upset that you either can't afford or choose not to spend your money on the aforementioned books. Wayne

[updraught]

How do I load them onto my phone?

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Why should they, when they can ask on a message board? It's much easier then buying and reading. Plus aren't books old school, out dated?

[PatrickGrant]

Just bought 3 of Les's books from Eric Wagner because I'm afraid of people and lions !

[RUNNERBUN]

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Originally Posted by 700rpm

Why is it a guy will spend $10-$18k for a car and not spend $55 for the Restoration Guides, $35 for The Les Andrews red book, and $40 for a copy of the Ford Service Bulletins:

Those three books will set you back at least $260 Aust. dollars plus postage to buy here in Australia, is one very good reason.
I have no doubt that they will be most useful to own and a great source of information but the resource of great knowledge here on the Barn can and will solve problems that a book cannot, as personal help from those that have experienced the same problem is invaluable. Ask a question here and you can get many different possible solutions offered.
What does annoy me is when a question is asked and a reply to the OP is buy the book. Why bother answering if you can't offer help. Is that not what this forum is about.
JMHO

[Hoogah]

Originally Posted by 700rpm

Why is it a guy will spend $10-$18k for a car and not spend $55 for the Restoration Guides, $35 for The Les Andrews red book, and $40 for a copy of the Ford Service Bulletins, which together would answer 92.7% of his questions and confusions about his new acquisition?

I'm not complaining, because there is also a lot of information to be gained here from knowledgeable and experienced A guys, and even after 55 years in the hobby I learn things, but not everything can be fully explained on this site. It just seems curious to me that people don't avail themselves of these resources.

Ray,

We're people. People like to interact. Different people learn in different ways, or in a combination of ways. Some people are also lazy and prefer a quick fix rather than try to understand stuff from first principles. People don't always act rationally.

You strike me as a knowledgable guy. I suspect you already know all of this.

I'm a relatively new Model A owner, but I don't have a mechanical background nor am I confident in tackling new mechanical or electrical problems. I've bought both Les Andrews books, I consult various online info sources, and am about to purchase the revised Restoration Guidelines, but I don't imagine they will stop me from seeking out opinions and experience here! Adults learn in a range of ways, myself included. It's all grist to the mill!

I'll turn your question back on you. Given the frustrations you expressed in your original post, why are YOU such an active FordBarn member?

[Manager]

Just an example I was fixing my exhaust manifold to pipe leak the other day. Searched it on here and found 6 opinions and ideas and took the best info out off all of them . No book could give you 6 real life up to date cases to get info from. Not to mention if an error is made in a book it could be years and buy the next edition till you find out the hard way. I don't have the Andrew or whoever he is books because it's obvious from the posts about the errors in them that you are better off without them.Far better real life up to date last 7.3% info here.The first 92.7% is probably common sence anyway.

[bnchief]

I have the books and have read them and have overlooked some things in them or some things in the books can be wrong such as torque etc in Les's book also sometimes a little more detail. I ask and read the books because there are a lot of helpful, people here who know a lot and an extra idea has helped me a lot along the way.

[pooch]

Old farts who are tired of the same old questions.

They forget they were newbies once.

[2manycars]

Originally Posted by pooch

Old farts who are tired of the same old questions.

They forget they were newbies once.

That is why some of the knowledgeable people have left, or seldom post. Most of the new people questions have indeed been asked and answered many times, and could be easily found in the search option. People take the path of least resistance.

[31 Model A]

Having books on hand is all well and good but..................what about people who do not have the mechanical ability, the place, the tools or in some cases, the time to do mechanical work? Do Formula 1 drivers do the work or do they do the driving......drivers do what the do best and the mechanics do what they do best by KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING the mechanics of an automobile?

I bought the books as recommended by forum members, Complete Service Bulletins, Model A Ford Mechanics Handbook Vol 1, Complete Model "A" Ford Restoration Manual and they have been informative, the very minuet times I've had them open, one I've never used because I'll have to buy the book that explains everything that's inside, I think those books are titled "For Dummies".

If you are mechanically inclined, have the space, have all the tools and have the time, get the books....if you don't, join a Model A forum, a Model A Club and find a mechanic who does, then you do what you do best, enjoy DRIVING your Model A.

[eagle]

One thing that would make the forum easier and better would be if the posters would enter an ACCURATE title line. Look at the subjects going right now. Some you can very clearly determine the subject, some you cannot. Example. "Y izzit" how is it possible to get from that title any pertinent info about the post?

[TerryO]

I'm not complaining, because there is also a lot of information to be gained here from knowledgeable and experienced A guys, and even after 55 years in the hobby I learn things, but not everything can be fully explained on this site. It just seems curious to me that people don't avail themselves of these resources.

Like you said everything can't be fully explained here but on the other hand everything can't be explained in the book either. At least here you can ask for more details if necessary and I have yet had a book answer back when I say "can you explain that in more detail?" I don't usually have to ask questions here because others have already asked and I just read until I find the answer.

TOB

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by eagle

One thing that would make the forum easier and better would be if the posters would enter an ACCURATE title line. Look at the subjects going right now. Some you can very clearly determine the subject, some you cannot. Example. "Y izzit" how is it possible to get from that title any pertinent info about the post?

You are right but some guys try to be " cool " ! But they are not. Sometimes cool and foolish have the same meaning! Wayne

[davehc]

Taking a line from post #3 , " old school , out dated " , heck that's what I like about this car / hobby / and forum . Sorry , just my two cents .

[Licensed to kill]

Being one that has none of the books mentioned I can answer for myself at least. I have several books that i have bought for specific projects and they all boarder on useless. What I find is that, for the most part, these kinds of books are great at covering all of the obvious stuff that anyone that knows the open end of a wrench from the box end could easily figure out, but when it comes to the obscure or not so obvious stuff, they either overlook it all together or, if they touch on it, they breeze over it leaving out critical details necessary to completing the job correctly. I also agree with the poster that suggested that people like to interact. If I read something in a book and don't quite understand what they are saying, it's difficult to ask the author for some clarification. Not so much on a forum.

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by 700rpm

Why is it a guy will spend $10-$18k for a car and not spend $55 for the Restoration Guides, $35 for The Les Andrews red book, and $40 for a copy of the Ford Service Bulletins, which together would answer 92.7% of his questions and confusions about his new acquisition?

I'm not complaining, because there is also a lot of information to be gained here from knowledgeable and experienced A guys, and even after 55 years in the hobby I learn things, but not everything can be fully explained on this site. It just seems curious to me that people don't avail themselves of these resources.

I find it rather ironic that you are critical that Barners don't spend a couple hundred dollars whereas you recently made your yearly post on how you can save a few pennies on antifreeze! Is this not somewhat hypocritical? I think so. Wayne

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Chuck Sea/Tac

Why should they, when they can ask on a message board? It's much easier then buying and reading. Plus aren't books old school, out dated?

I don't know about easier but it is cheaper. I have those books and more.

[Dick Steinkamp]

Originally Posted by RUNNERBUN

What does annoy me is when a question is asked and a reply to the OP is buy the book. Why bother answering if you can't offer help. Is that not what this forum is about.
JMHO

X2

Second most common non answer is "Do a search".

Its perfectly OK NOT to answer a question if it bothers you that you know the answer and the poster doesn't. No need to make the poster feel small.