Rstaylor. Look at the date of last activity on the thread you comment on. If it was last commented on 2011, or in this case 2009, chances are 100% that there will not be "any updates". Try to keep an eye on the bottom of the previous reply, and you'll know just how dead the thread you're replying to is.
Some guidelines for you to follow:
6 mo to a yr old = revive able. Typical @tannerc91gt thread. The Guy's probably still out there, but might not have anything going on, or he may have just bought a corvette.
1 yr + = Dead. You can ask for updates, but you won't get any. That guy has moved on, finished the project, sold the car etc. then you can ck in periodically and watch the revived thread go from the top of the forum, to the bottom in one day, and then slip back to its resting place......at the bottom of the ocean.