After a long winter (and for some of you, perhaps a few years of it) of wrenching, welding and knuckle busting hard work, it’s now time to update your Gallery page. Peggy says that she now has some time to put them in there. So this is your chance to update pictures and especially the text to your page. Remember, the more you tell us about what you've gotten done, tried, added, taken off -- the better it will be for who are searching the internet to find you! Perhaps their only hope or encouragement for what THEY are trying to do, too.
We already have seen some very nice progress on a few trucks, but we would like to keep it all up to date. Reading the forums daily, I know that there are a few new ones around too (over a 1000 since last year). So wait for that rainy day and get something together for the Bolt and the other 11,000 boys and girls that want see to it too.
Also we could use some Tech Tips. About what? Whatever you doctored on your vehicle of which you think that you did a half decent job. Something that is specific to your model, engine or suspension or something of general value. What ever you found out about your problem can help others to prevent to take the first wrong step. We don’t expect literature, just a few guide lines, warnings, and the don’ts -- to help another Bolter out or give him the courage to start on his truck with this subject. If you can add a few pictures even better, because we like pictures and sometimes 1 arrow can say more than a page of text. If you've got a great tech tip but DON'T have the pictures, ask in the forums if someone has something that will work (we've done that, to make a Tech Tip make sense -- especially for some of our novices out there). The pictures help out a lot.
What I personally would be interested in is a “safe” way to undo simple dents and cracks in my “used to be” fenders. They are a
work of art right now, but I think I would like them a bit more like the originals before I apply some paint. Is there a way to prevent the metal from stretching too much and if it happens, can you shrink it? What tools to buy and what should I look for. I know every dent is different, but how do I start and what should I definitely not do.
The advantage of a Tech Tip is that you can print it and take it over to the shop and check it out with your truck and all relevant data handy. Some of us aren’t that experienced with working on a truck. We just love them and have to learn lots to keep it in a usable state, preferably road worthy. I have “helped” a few guys with their Tech Tip, just to see if I could get it, knowing for sure that when I can understand it, anyone can. You’re often so familiar with the problem that you take big steps to explain it and I slow you down
Peggy is a great help with the layout, finding the right pictures and she can glue it together in proper English until it looks like a Tech Tip.
Even if you have an addition on a Tech Tip or a different way to get to the result, we are interested and will help you to get it in there.
The last resistance I can think of; you’re not too sure about it and you don’t want your name under it. We can arrange that too. It’s always a team effort, but our team of 11,000+ Bolters is getting a bit too big to do it all by heart. What you think is logic, the next guy sees as pure Greek, so even “simple” things have their value. Help a (future) Bolter and share advice in a Tech Tip; you are the last guys with hands on experience on the older models, what if your grandkid or great grandkid wants a truck like Gramps had. I know you guys(and ladies) won't let the art of "Stove Bolting" get extinct, you like your Bolt too much.
Thanks for your time and if you need a hand, I'm a fast two finger typer, with no real English education, but I'll make time to get it in the Bolt.
Regards
Richard
