C3 TIM & JG Manual Updates

[Wes G.]

Good Evening,
Quick question!
Is there a list of the revisions that were made to the following TIM & JG manuals which could be accessed by NCRS members?

• 70-71 (4^th to 5^th edition)
• 68-69 (5^th to 6^th edition)

Thanks,
Wes
NCRS # 33239

[Gary B.]

Re: C3 TIM & JG Manual Updates

Short answer is no. It's a lot of work making the changes, let alone making a list of changes along with it. Sorry...

Currently, the most current editions is:
5th Edition 68-69 TIM&JG
6th Edition 70-72 TIM&JG

A small group of us are working on an update to the 68-68 TIM&JG, 6th Edition. No promise date.... When it's done, it's done.

When the 5th Edition was published, we, I made a lot of mistakes. As we judge more of these cars, we see patterns, collect more data and learn more. Other members also find mistakes, errors, new information is gathered and just omissions we don't talk about in the manual. Like the rear transmission mounting bracket. I have accumulated that information over the last three-years and have started updating the Chassis section first. We have made probably over a 100 changes, for all the above reasons. Added probably 20-pictures and swapped out for better pictures. I have probably spent over a 150-hours so far just on the Chassis section. When you add a picture at the front of the section, everything on-forward gets scramble up. If you add a paragraph in the middle someplace, everything beyond get scrambled up. Pictures, text, etc. Lot of work just formatting.

Anyways. Sorry for no list.

Gary Bosselman

[David K.]

Re: C3 TIM & JG Manual Updates

Gary,Thanks for all the hard work. The membership appreciates it.Dave King

[Tom R.]

Re: C3 TIM & JG Manual Updates

Wes
Just to second Gary's response, understand that those were major revisions and take on several changes in addition to the technical that Gary describes to produce these modern day versions. I'm quite aware of Gary and his team's work having taken on the 73/74 and now the 75/77 TIMJG revisions. It becomes quite a collaborative and dynamic process and a team does not always have access to vehicles that best represent running production changes due to the limited survey pool of vehicles. Conclusions drawn from a major revision are tested once the revision goes to print and distribution. Suddenly, new information surfaces that alters what was once concluded. Its easier if readers/restorers ask specific questions in regards to an item.

As mentioned several considerations or elements go into a revision. Consider the technical element of revision for a major upgrade such as refining those component descriptions as a result of the informal survey of assemble methods. I mean a revision may be limited to a pool of two dozen vehicles...which, I suspect Gary would agree is a generous sample pool. But out of a 30,000 build cycle is miniscule...and then new information surfaces because the description reflects early production but the survey pool was limited to mid and late production serial numbers. It becomes nearly impossible to track simple changes.

Then there is the seeking of quality, high-resolution, color photos to depict unique assembly features that are used to illustrate newly gained technical information. The reproduction process for colored printed manuals is a challenge with capturing both detail and color replication quality. Suddenly, a technical writer must become a color-photo reproduction specialist.

All this comes together in the formatting of the document while working to keep it concise, in a condensed format. The technical writer, color-photo reproduction specialist also takes on the task of word smith using modern word processing technology to create a truly unique document, ready for print and distribution.

Finally, there is a review, proofing process that selected team members take on that is tedious and is not limited to checking for technical correctness. This includes, reading back over a section, confirming that photo numbers and captions reconcile with the text; that the table of contents best reflects the major chapters in each sections; and that page numbers over a 300-page manual pagineate correctly. These word files are HUGE...I mean huge and it becomes nearly impossible to combine all five sections into a single document. Before going to the printer, a Word document is exported into a PDF document for printing...files of this size tend to shift, or their images which are fixed on a page can shift. Thus checking page numbers is a manual process. Finally, the print-ready documents are checked to ensure each reflects the intent of the coordinator.

This narrative is lengthy but attempts to briefly, believe it or not, describe the process or steps in a major revision and that precludes the creation of a separate document that chronicles each change in the manual. Admittedly, this would be wonderful and quite instructive. I would be curious how often a document of this nature is sought by members but personally have no idea.

Hope this is helpful.

[Reba W.]

Re: C3 TIM & JG Manual Updates

Thank you, Tom, for trying to explain the process to those not involved. I have been on several revision teams, and it is time consuming. We are all volunteers; many have day jobs and families that need attention. Is it any wonder a revision takes time?

[Mike E.]

Re: C3 TIM & JG Manual Updates

Gary is the best! I have worked with him on three revisions, and he does a great job. I chaired two revisions, the first during pre-PC days, and what a nightmare, so I have great respect for what Gary and his teams are doing.

[Bill S.]

Re: C3 TIM & JG Manual Updates

Any update on the 4th Edition of the 78-79 Judging guide? TIA

[Wes G.]

Re: C3 TIM & JG Manual Updates

Big thank you to Gary & Tom for your in depth reply and insight as to all the thankless work that goes into bringing these "priceless" manuals to fruition.
The latest versions of these manuals with all the added photos have proven to be a 'life line' for someone like me who
lives in a relatively remote area North of the Montana border.
Wes

[Dick W.]

Re: C3 TIM & JG Manual Updates

The latest versions of these manuals with all the added photos have proven to be a 'life line' for someone like me who
lives in a relatively remote area North of the Montana border.
Wes

And not so long ago the powers to be fought the inclusion of color photos. When we were working on an earlier version of the '68'-'69 manual I included color in the draft versions that were distributed to the revision team members. I was told in no uncertain terms to retrieve and destroy those copies. Ya, right, and cows fly.