This is a call for volunteers to help write the Group's Ownership, Maintenance & Repairs Manual. This will be the definitive guide to all things Pagoda.
The value of this undertaking is significant. For starters, having access to the collective experience and knowledge of this group in this new way will benefit all of us from day one:
- it will make the information now oftentimes 'buried' in thousands and thousands of posts much more accessible
- photos will be added throughout the text
- the text will be quality-reviewed before publication
The Manual will 'live on' for future owners (years and years from now) and will be a valuable resource also to service and parts suppliers. When the "first-base" version is finished, it can be translated into different languages. It can be printed to be available in the workshop and garage etc.
The Manual will be created as follows:step 1 - going through the old Yahoo! posts, copy-pasting the most relevant and authoritative information and sorting this into word documents by topic. Over the past two years, I have gone through most (excluding the 5 and 6 thousand series) of the old Yahoo! posts and done this task :? . I now have 23 separate word documents by major topic (see list below), consisting of 436 pages of text that, within the documents, is further sorted by minor topic. The text is very similar to the Technical Articles that are on the homepage: in fact, the Technical Articles consist of the first 2,700 of the 11,700 Yahoo! posts that I digested in total. In short, it is the relevant discussions on questions and answers contributed over the years, sorted by topic.
step 2 - volunteers each take one or several chapters to:
(1) convert the current text into a 'normal' step-by-step guide;
(2) then, by searching THIS site, add any information that is not already included
step 3 - adding photos, quality review, table of contents and index, etc etc etc
Publication:Since the main purpose of the W113 Pagoda SL Group "is to facilitate the sharing of information and to encourage communication among enthusiasts related to the Mercedes W113 cars. The Club seeks to assist with the care, repair, restoration, collection, and preservation of these classic cars" the current vision of the Board of the Group is to:
- make the Manual as accessible as possible. This includes publication on this website without any access limitations
- we will publish a printed version as well for use in the workshop, ease of reading, benefit owners without internet access etc etc.
Continous Improvement:The "first base" version will only be the start. The Board plans on publishing the Manual on a so-called "WIKI" web platform: this allows all members to continually update the texts with better insight, more tips, corrections as e.g. part numbers change, etc etc etc. We need the "first base" version to get the WIKI formula started. Once that is done, we can ALL be involved in making the Manual even "more perfect"
. Periodically (maybe once every two years or so), we will issue updated printed versions off the WIKI live-version.
Listing of major topics (between brackets are the number of word document pages):brakes (14)
buying your pagoda (13)
chassis and body (43)
cooling and A/C systems (14)
data card (7)
driveshaft and rear axle (11)
electrical and instruments (32)
engine (63)
exhaust system (7)
fuel delivery system (24)
fuel injection system (35)
how to own an SL (16)
ignition system (23)
interior (34)
lights (9)
regular maintenance (18)
history and facts (3)
steering (5)
suspension (14)
technical general (4)
soft and hard top (15)
transmission and clutch (16)
wheels and tires (16)
So what's in it for the "first base" volunteers, you ask?- eternal glory and fame (your name will be published as co-author)
- in-depth knowledge on one or more topics you always wanted to know more about, but were afraid to ask (either that, or you are already an expert but are motivated by rewards nos. 1 & 3:)
- the satisfaction of knowing you are helping fellow-enthusiasts make the most out of owning their Pagoda
- not a single penny: as this whole group is a true labor of love, you will not be entitled to any copyright, royalty or any other monetary reward! The only compensation you can expect is a free printed copy of the Manual when done. Maybe we can get your copy autographed by the true authorities like Joe Alexander and Dan Caron, but that's about it [:0]
Timeframe?Realistically we are shooting for this time next year for publication. This means that, in order to allow some time for step 3 etc., the volunteers should be finished no later than early 2005. In other words, you will have all winter!
So what's your next move?If you would like to be involved as one of the volunteers (meaning you will take at least one of the chapters listed below and perform step 2), please send me an email or indicate your choice in a reply to this mail, and I will be in touch with you to take things further.
my email address: cees@klumper.demon.nl
Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic
