It's so dead in here...

[DualQuadDave]

I really like this forum and try to comment/inform as much as I can contribute to, but it really seems dead in here lately. Is it me or am I missing something? Did everybody vacate to facebook/instagram?

[slimjim]

define 'lately'. I know with photo bucket screwing everyone it is a little less motivating to update threads, only the committed will maintain old ones.

[dhutton]

It is even deader on the other site imho. Big builders have stopped posting and this photobucket deal has just driven these sites farther down. I guess social media is replacing them but you can't get good build info and tech on those sites.

Don

[Josh@Ridetech]

define 'lately'. I know with photo bucket screwing everyone it is a little less motivating to update threads, only the committed will maintain old ones.

We all love seeing build pictures!

[gator68428]

Still getting dozens of project updates per day almost. The project threads are the bread and butter of this site. Not something I see as much on other forums. Still going decently strong if you ask me. Maybe it'll pick back up in the fall and once people work out the picture posting issue. Yes these semi-dated forum formats are more cumbersome to use than social media--but still the best for this type of thing, where detailed write-ups and back and forth are necessary.

[parsonsj]

The site is usually slower in the late summer. Lots of vacations, stalled builds, or just too fricken hot! It should pick up again in the fall. I'll have some new stuff then anyway.

[Larry Callahan]

I am working on a Photbucket replacement. IT should be up and running soon. Once we test it I'll figure out a way for all the members to use it.

[andrewb70]

The site is usually slower in the late summer. Lots of vacations, stalled builds, or just too fricken hot! It should pick up again in the fall. I'll have some new stuff then anyway.

^^^This....

If people do a search, you will find similar threads, almost every year, around the same time. There are perceptions that social media is taking over, but that is not really the case. Forums and social media are related, but they serve different purposes. It's kind of like everyone thinking that LS swaps are common....when in reality, they are not...

Andrew

[Craig@Bowler]

This is just my perspective, but along with the summer slowdown there hasn't been as many major changes in the way we build these cars lately. From 2005-2012ish was a new era in information and products being provided for this Pro-Touring crowd: LS swaps, New suspension designs, new transmissions, etc. That's when these forums come alive. Any time a new technology is being adapted we are eager to discuss, but since most of it isn't as new as it once was the initial excitement has dwindled and its just a maintaining of sorts. There will always be a certain level of participants that will need some help and guidance, but until the next big thing drops I think we are where we are. That's why the build threads see so much traction, it's the perfect place to see how all these parts can be put to use and a great way to gain perspective and inspiration.

[Ben@SpeedTech]

Yeah, I've seen the cycle too, there are times like summer when we get busy or distracted by life and then things pick up again. I'm committed to posting for Speedtech twice a week so that won't stop, and I am going to be launching phase 3 of the Pumkinator build and the rebuild of my son's Coppertop real soon so those will have regular updates coming too.

As mentioned elsewhere I have switched Speedtech's and my personal photo host to Imgur. To me it seemed a little quirky at first but once you figure out the pattern of creating albums, uploading photos and copying links for hosting on forums it's really easy to navigate, and FREE.

Someone suggested to add "~original" at the end of the Photobucket address after the .jpg and your photos will reappear. I tried this and it worked, but they also suggested it's only a matter of time before Photobucket finds that loop hole and shuts it down. It'll be good to use for now so you can see what pics you posted in your build thread, then you can go back and replace them with pics from a new host. Example:

Larry- If you had a viable photo host program I'd pay a few bucks a month to use it if it made the ads go away. :D

[Interceptor5588]

Anywhere there's winter, I would bet most people spend summers enjoying the fruits of their labour -- driving their rides. I don't usually touch a thing on my car all summer, I have the other 8 months to work on it.

Either that, or with the kids off school they are off vacationing.

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

For me personally, I haven't been doing much on my 71 Firebird because I got a little crazy with spending for a bit... need to let my credit cards cool off unfortunately. Responsibility wins this round unfortunately. Last thing I bought was my Hurst Powertrain T-56 last NOVEMBER. Sad, really.

I've just been doing cheaper work (i.e. body work) on my 63 Thunderbird Restomod in the meantime, at least that's just more time consuming, and less $$$$.

I'll hopefully get back into the Firebird later this year. I've got most everything to get it on the road, just realizing I need to buy $5k+ in brakes as my last purchase has had me at a standstill. Taking a new job with a $5k pay cut didn't help either. But I did that with the expectation of more opportunities and $$ down the road.

[minendrews68]

Sometimes life gets in the way during the summer. (as does hot weather!). I'll still be here, I'm here once or twice a day. It's just a lull like everything else has hopefully it will pass and we can get on with things..

[raustinss]

I think the next big thing in this hobby will be more wide spread use of "active" suspensions ....also the cost needs to come down to help this

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

I think the next big thing in this hobby will be more wide spread use of "active" suspensions ....also the cost needs to come down to help this

I'll wait a few years for it to come down. It's cool stuff, but way too expensive to be a thought in my head. I was at the Polaris Dealer Meeting last week where they unveiled their new "Dynamix" system for their RZR's. Pretty cool stuff. 3 settings: firm, sport, and soft I believe. You have a display in their control panel that shows the shock settings, and the effects when you turn either way, or give it gas, or brake. Would be cool to go one step further in the hotrod world to add steering input, as well as stop/start sensors. But then again... big $$$$$.

[MikeJ67]

For sure. It's 100+ out here this week, but it's not stopping me from getting out in the heat and trying (very hard) to get this darn '67 Camaro project back on the road in the next 1-2 days and have it at Hot August Nights since 1. it's already paid for. and 2. The wife is crawling all over me for being lazy the first 30-45 days of this project. =)
It started out SO simple. I was just going to swap the top end of my numbers matching 327. Once I started and found several nasty things the PO did to the car, I just HAD to fix things right. NOW I'm $$ deep in a total engine rebuild, all new pro touring suspension (waiting to go in) along with a 4 wheel big brake system from CPP (also waiting to go in) and now, reassembling the car with the new motor/trans set up and hoping if fires up very soon.
Not to mention going away for 3 days to an out of town soccer tournament for the grand daughter. Boy, I'm not sure that's a good idea right now, but we'll see what happens.

[DualQuadDave]

All good points. Yeah, the Photobucket scam is probably a big contributor. I have a couple of projects I want to start posting including my Trailblazer SS and 64 Riviera PT build, just have not had the time lately. Forgot it was summer too, it's always hot in SoFlo, lol

[NOT A TA]

I think the Pbucket thing will really hurt forums long term a lot more than just the initial response. I know I stopped updating my build threads and need to catch up, however my future posts will be shorter and less informative because I know all the pics in a 7-8 year thread will disappear after the end of 2018 when Pbucket shuts off those of us who had accounts previous to the new terms but are unwilling to pay the new $400.00 yearly fee. So why spend a lot of time explaining when it's gonna be worthless without the pics in 1.5 years. Photobucket made people realize that all of the time and effort they put into sharing their build could be wiped out instantly and the other photo hosting services could do similar things.

Traffic has slowed on pretty much every forum I visit over the past couple years, some that were once very busy are now almost dead. I don't think it's related to any one thing in particular it's probably a combination of things mentioned above like social media, lack of big new innovations, age group getting older, photo hosting issues, too many forums?, attrition with less young hobbyists coming in, etc. Another thing is that many people see the incredible high end builds and think "why should I bother sharing my budget build?". I'm sure there's some who feel it's kinda embarrassing to be posting about a car they're building when someone else is showing a car of the same model with a front subframe/front suspension that cost more than the total budget of the first car so they just don't even start a build thread here.

Forum traffic slowing has also noticeably affected the advertising that pays for the forums. Looks like there's about 1/2 the number of advertisers here than there was at one point. That concerns me because a forum is a business and needs an income even if the owner's willing to run the forum non profit. If there's not enough advertisers the forums will disappear like magazines did and only a few of the strongest will survive. I've noticed some of the smaller model specific and niche forums have hardly any advertisers left at all, wouldn't surprise me a bit to see some of them shutting down.

[BMR Sales]

Photobucket hurts, especially in the Build Threads. I've gone to another source to Host pictures and it works well, but how long will that last. I've updated my Camaro Build on most sites, but it is time consuming and I didn't keep all the pictures in a private file. Larry at LatG is setting up a Photo Hosting site - it will interesting to see if that is the answer.

I am on at least 10 Forums and I only know one that their traffic is up. Social Media - some people use it, but their is no depth to the discussion. With SM, what is Hot today is Cold tomorrow. Facebook seems to be grabbing most of the people, but then again I know people who quit FB during the last Election. I think the economy is still skewed - people are working, but are they making the same money? Heck 9 years ago I had company supplied Health Insurance and now I pay $70 a week. That cuts into my play fund.

Advertisers - serious issue here! Nobody like pop-ups, so many people have programs like adblockerplus ( I do). Then Advertisers don't get seen, their sales don't go up, they might need to cut something from a budget and guess what?

I certainly don't have the answers, but I believe in the Forums.

T.C.

[slimjim]

Social media is growing substantially, I am involved with it, but I'll be damned if I want to get technical there, the forums will always be around for the like-minded technical people, and I think lat-g and PT will adapt well.