The MoparWiki Project

The MoparWiki Project (www.moparwiki.com) is a project not affiliated with any Mopar board or Community (meaning it is open to all of them without bias) with the goal of putting together the biggest and best Mopar database of knowledge.

A Wiki is a collaboration of knowledge by many people -- to put together a complete and seasoned article or a topic. That's to say that anyone can add to it, or edit incorrect information out of it. One person might have a chart of production numbers by year and budy type that he can add. Another might have the year by year drive-train availability. Whatever information you have -- you can add, or add to.

If you have ever been to WikiPedia -- then you know the MoparWIki -- as it uses the exact same software to run it. The administrator and editors (which we need more of) can revert back to previous revisions in case of vandalism -- and ban that IP address from returning to the site.

Those members registered and logged in can see edit links next to each category of an article -- and can click that link to edit. Those not logged in -- cannot.

This project just started, and is a work in progress. While there is still a lot of work to do on the administrative side -- the MoparWiki can accept contributions of knowledge.

These are two examples of topics further along than most with becoming seasoned. They're far from complete -- but are on the way

http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=MagnumXE
http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Diplomat

This is the category listing of Mopar Cars so far:
http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Category:Cars

More applicable to this forum, would be the A-Body cars:
http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Dart
http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Demon
http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Dart_Sport
http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Duster
http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Valiant
http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Swinger
http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Scamp


Now if you have never contributed your knowledge to a Wiki before -- it takes a little knowledge of the Editing lanuage for lists, hyperlinks, categories, etc. This might sound complicated -- but it really isn't. Once you register and log in -- you will see the edit links. Go to a more seasoned topic and click the Edit link -- and you'll get the idea. (Click your Browser's back as to not save garbage). Detailed instruction on editing can be found on the editing pages. Don't let the Wiki editing lanuage scare you -- it is very simple if you invest five minutes. http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Help:Contents

And here's the best part, if members of this site make a significant contribution to an A Body article -- they can include a link to this site in the External Links section of that topic. While you can find how to do that in the edit link above -- I'll roll you a bone and tell you that the code is:

[http://www.forabodiesonly.com For A Bodies Only] (Single open bracket, the link, a space, the title, single close bracket)

Insert that in the External Links section only of A Body cars only. Don't Spam the wiki with that link in body styles other than the A Body -- as that is not this site's focus.

Finally -- I see that one of my heroes (I'm a Nostalgia Super Stock Racer -- see below) Bill the Maverick Golden has posted here. There are a couple of articles regarding him that someone might tell him about. Might as well get the information from the horse's mouth.

http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Bill_Golden
http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Magnum_Illusion
http://www.moparwiki.com/mkportal/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Lil_Red_Wagon


My Drag racing
www.bigredram.com

http://www.oldhippie.com/photos/data/507/41908a.jpg (http://www.oldhippie.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=4433)

I think this has potential to become an "authorative" source if information is submitted.

However, I think the choice of categorizing vehicles by model name will tend to cause confusion to readers, and many duplicate entries of information that pertains to various sub-models, eg. Magnum GT, XE.

Instead I think that the top-level entry should be the body standard (eg. A, B, E-body), that is commonly used by enthusiasts with regard to similarities in construction, parts interchangeability, and model identification.

This would allow the reader to follow a natural time progression (by year) for each platform, with branches for new model introduction, and further branches for specific trim levels, options etc. model year introduction and the various options.

The benefit of this, is that when someone makes an entry on the availability of an option (eg. Kelsey Hayes calipers), it would be easier to follow the usage of this on a "timeline", as opposed to having to hyperlink all over the place. Although hyperlinks are useful, the less the better.

JMO

Good luck on your project.

Grant

Model can be linked to each other within the topic.

People looking for the site will be using search engines and most will be wanting very specific information. They won't want to weed through everything you ever wanted to know about an A-Body 1960-1976 -- when they're looking for production numbers for a 1971 Demon.

We need the information first -- and then we can add the cross reference links and more categories for the topic. You can have as many categories as you want the topic to fall into. The topic on Superbird could be in topics for Plymouth, B-Body, Aero Car, NASCAR, and Drag racing.

We need the topics to get information contributions -- and then we as editors can set up more and more cross referencing.

I hope that the members of this site will take a little time to contribute information on the models listed above. Please also include references. If you got some of your information out of Mopar Muscle Oct 2003, pages 48-54 -- then list that as a reference.

As you are reading magazines that has a specific fact on a particular car model of interest -- then add that information.You can use books, charts,and magazines for their facts -- if you don't plagiarize by copying it word for word -- and you list it as a reference source.

I think I agree with OneofMany. The beauty is, Oneofmany can go in and change the information, it's open for everyone to do that.

The problem is, getting your head around such a re-organization.

If it's not organized right, it will fail to fulfill it's dream, that's all. Like many other sites, it will just wither and sit there, like an old Mopar behind a barn. :)

Oh ya, I'd rather see such a database on the wikipedia site, without all the advertising. Actually, it already exists!

Here's stuff on Barracuda.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Barracuda

you forgot the 68 superbee

Dave (isn't it?),
As with any ambitious undertaking of this magnitude, it has to start somewhere and evolve throughout its development. I, for one, am excited about the potential for a project such as this. My son and I got into MOPARs with the rebuilding of his '74 Dart Sport a few years ago for his first car. We are now working on his '74 Gold Duster project. We started out knowing absolutely nothing and had to start from scratch with all our research.

One stop shopping for MOPAR data and information is intriguing. I will support this endeavor as much as I can.

Good luck,
Jerry (fellow Texian)

Hear ya bigK.. I know links abound that allow users to jump from place to place are doable, but that is considered a poorer methodolgy. You need to streamline your data entry. In database design, you want to "normalize your data" to prevent as many duplicate entries as possible. There is no point in having multiple entries on basic, general entries. This increases the chance for errors, and unless someone knows that the 67 cuda 383 and the 70 swinger 340 share the same xxxx, they will probably not "find" the information they are seeking, or make the neccessary mental connections between the two vehicles in the example.

Organization should be from generalized to detailed.

Grant

Oh ya, I'd rather see such a database on the wikipedia site, without all the advertising. Actually, it already exists!

Here's stuff on Barracuda.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Barracuda

all of the advertising? There is less advertising on that page than this one. If you want to go to a generic wiki and not one that specializes in Mopars --- that is you prerogative. I on the other hand intend to see this one get built. Many will be like you and not only chose to not participate -- but slam the intention. Fortunately, there are a lot of true Mopar guy that will actually do something proactive to help -- rather than comedown with all of the negative lip service.

The world has leaders who are proactive, followers that pitch in when they see enough others do so, those who rather do nothing at all, and those who rather criticize most everything than do the other three. So if you are willing to help build a Mopar Specialty database of knowledge, we'd love to have you participate. Not much I can do about the grumpy old men that stand in the street shaking their fist at people they think are going over 15mph -- except ignore them and their negativity.

The more info resources out there the better. There will always be differences of opinions on which way is better, but the more people putting it out there the better for all of us that are looking for it. Like choosing a brand for a carb, cam, intake, etc......everyone has their preference. When looking for data, some people would still rather look it up in manuals while others would rather jump on their computer. In any case I hope it works out because it will just help further our hobby and love for mopars. Hope it all turns out well.

There was a saying when I was growing up in Hawaii..."Da Kahuna going take care us" :toothy10: