Growing as a forum!

[1986F150Six]

It is interesting to me to see the changing dynamics of this relatively new forum of Bullnose enthusiasts. All of us had a chance to tell a little about ourselves when being introduced. Some said more than others and most was mechanical or vehicle experience. Perhaps if we knew more about what makes us tick, we could better relate and be able to connect when helping each other.

I will take a chance and see how many others follow suit.

I am David. I own a 1986 F150 after having previously owned a 1984 F150 and a 1978 F100. All were powered by 300/4.9L six cylinder engines.

I am 64 years young, still working, and plan to for several more years. I am blessed with a wonderful and beautiful wife and 3 children, all grown.

I do laboratory work as my occupation.

I know more about vehicles in my head than in my fingers. I do love working on the truck and am gifted with a good memory and a desire to help others by finding parts they are searching for.

I love the Lord and very thankful for my family, friends and all else that I have.

I hope I did not bore you!

[Gary Lewis]

Good idea, David.

I'm almost 71 years "young", and have been retired from my career in Information Technology for about 12 years. (I don't really know all that much about IT. I just had people working for me who had people working for them that knew what they were doing.)

As for my trucks, I have the ones in my signature at present plus a '69 Super Bee and a '50 Chevy pickup. But I've had a '72 F250, another '81 F150, two '82 F150's, and another '85 F150. And then there was Huck, the half-truck, a 1990 F250. However, I learned that some trucks aren't worth reviving, so I parted out one of the 82's, the other '85, and Huck. I've been into Ford trucks for 7 or 8 years, but grew up a Chevy guy and then changed to Mopars in '69 when I bought a Bee new.

As for family, my wonderful wife (Janey) and I have two children - a daughter who lives in Nicaragua with her husband and twins, and a son who lives in Florida with his wife and daughter. So we get to travel to see them. And, we also travel to explore.

And, like David, I love the Lord and am very involved in our church. In fact, come and visit this Sunday as I have the sermon.

 

[85lebaront2]

Good idea, David.

I'm almost 71 years "young", and have been retired from my career in Information Technology for about 12 years. (I don't really know all that much about IT. I just had people working for me who had people working for them that knew what they were doing.)

As for my trucks, I have the ones in my signature at present plus a '69 Super Bee and a '50 Chevy pickup. But I've had a '72 F250, another '81 F150, two '82 F150's, and another '85 F150. And then there was Huck, the half-truck, a 1990 F250. However, I learned that some trucks aren't worth reviving, so I parted out one of the 82's, the other '85, and Huck. I've been into Ford trucks for 7 or 8 years, but grew up a Chevy guy and then changed to Mopars in '69 when I bought a Bee new.

As for family, my wonderful wife (Janey) and I have two children - a daughter who lives in Nicaragua with her husband and twins, and a son who lives in Florida with his wife and daughter. So we get to travel to see them. And, we also travel to explore.

And, like David, I love the Lord and am very involved in our church. In fact, come and visit this Sunday as I have the sermon.

Well, I just hit 72 about 2 weeks ago, I am a retired "lab rat" from Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding. I have been working on various types of machinery since about the age of 14 and have owned a number of different vehicles, Ford, Chevy, Pontiac, Buick, Lincoln, Packard, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Mercury, Shelby American. Oldsmobile and Subaru. All of my trucks have been Fords.

I have built or modified a number of cars and trucks over the years, from my first car, a 1964 Falcon with a 260 V8 and 3 speed all the way up to my current projects, Darth Vader, my 1986 F350 and my 1986 Chrysler Lebaron convertible.

I used to own a carburetor shop, and have probably worked on at least one example of every carburetor made from Autolite to Zenith including a rare Autolite inline four barrel. I started dabbling with turbochargers on my late father's 1966 Corsa 180 hp, followed by a 1963 Jetfire, now a 2.2L intercooled Chrysler.

My first foray into injected engines was a Rochester Ram Jet dribble system off a 283 Corvette engine that I had acquired and wanted to try to adapt to my 260, then a Bosch D-Jetronic on a 1971 M-B 250C.

I have converted my truck from a carbureted engine and C6 transmission to MAF/SEFI and E4OD. I have also added a few updates like a later cargo/brake light, all 4 doors power windows and locks, remote keyless entry with the number pad on the door, automatic day/night mirror with compass and automatic headlamps and the LCM controlled interior lights. In the works, electronic automatic climate control.

 

[Gary Lewis]

Well, I just hit 72 about 2 weeks ago, I am a retired "lab rat" from Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding. I have been working on various types of machinery since about the age of 14 and have owned a number of different vehicles, Ford, Chevy, Pontiac, Buick, Lincoln, Packard, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Mercury, Shelby American. Oldsmobile and Subaru. All of my trucks have been Fords.

I have built or modified a number of cars and trucks over the years, from my first car, a 1964 Falcon with a 260 V8 and 3 speed all the way up to my current projects, Darth Vader, my 1986 F350 and my 1986 Chrysler Lebaron convertible.

I used to own a carburetor shop, and have probably worked on at least one example of every carburetor made from Autolite to Zenith including a rare Autolite inline four barrel. I started dabbling with turbochargers on my late father's 1966 Corsa 180 hp, followed by a 1963 Jetfire, now a 2.2L intercooled Chrysler.

My first foray into injected engines was a Rochester Ram Jet dribble system off a 283 Corvette engine that I had acquired and wanted to try to adapt to my 260, then a Bosch D-Jetronic on a 1971 M-B 250C.

I have converted my truck from a carbureted engine and C6 transmission to MAF/SEFI and E4OD. I have also added a few updates like a later cargo/brake light, all 4 doors power windows and locks, remote keyless entry with the number pad on the door, automatic day/night mirror with compass and automatic headlamps and the LCM controlled interior lights. In the works, electronic automatic climate control.

The "old man" of the forum! (Said by someone who is 1.5% younger.)

Ask Bill what color the coolant leaks were on his Corsa. And about the injection system on the Jetfire.

[Whisler]

The "old man" of the forum! (Said by someone who is 1.5% younger.)

Ask Bill what color the coolant leaks were on his Corsa. And about the injection system on the Jetfire.

Age wise I top Bill by almost 4 years as I will be 76 in June. I've been messing with cars since I was old enough to drive.

Can't say that I know a lot but I've had a few interesting cars (at least to me); '53 Studebaker Champion, '56 Studebaker Golden Hawk,'57 Studebaker Silver Hawk, (see a trend here?), '64 Austin Healey 300 Mk2, '78 Mercury Monarch (6 cylinder with 4 on the floor) & Chrysler LeBaron turbo.

Trucks have all been Fords but one. 1986 F-150 300-6, 1984 F-150 4X4 and current Frankenstein 1989 f-250 4X4 with carbed 351 (from the '84). The only non-Ford truck was a Dodge Rampage if you can really call it a truck.

I love the Lord also and have preached a few sermons over the last 10 years, (my kids claim I have been preaching a lot longer than that), both at my church and at historical re-enactments. Historical re-enacting and shooting are my other hobbies.

[Gsmblue]

Great idea!

I am 41 years old and work as a business development manager for a Space and Defense imaging company.

I have a degree in Astrophysics but always wanted to be a mechanic. I used to race go karts (3rd and 6th in UK sprint finals) and raced RC cars for years, i still have 8 of them..

I have been married to a lovely British lady for 10 years. Last year she screamed at me “stop building bikes, we have 12!” So i went on a hunt for an old Ford and found Eunice. I kept looking for a Bronco and found Espy recently. I love working on these trucks. Sprucing them up and keeping them going!

We have an Airstream that is our home from home.. it takes some upkeep!

We don’t have any children, but our Husky Luka is our boy.

We volunteer at various horse rescues local to us and I am on thr board of directors for one of them.

I realy enjoy hanging out on this forum and hopefully one day i can help someone with a problem.

[Rembrant]

Great idea!

I am 41 years old and work as a business development manager for a Space and Defense imaging company.

I have a degree in Astrophysics but always wanted to be a mechanic. I used to race go karts (3rd and 6th in UK sprint finals) and raced RC cars for years, i still have 8 of them..

I have been married to a lovely British lady for 10 years. Last year she screamed at me “stop building bikes, we have 12!” So i went on a hunt for an old Ford and found Eunice. I kept looking for a Bronco and found Espy recently. I love working on these trucks. Sprucing them up and keeping them going!

We have an Airstream that is our home from home.. it takes some upkeep!

We don’t have any children, but our Husky Luka is our boy.

We volunteer at various horse rescues local to us and I am on thr board of directors for one of them.

I realy enjoy hanging out on this forum and hopefully one day i can help someone with a problem.

I guess I'll chime in as another representative of the Gen-X crowd;).

I'm 46, and my lovely bride has been with me for 21 years (married for 19). No children, but we do have two Basset Hounds named Henry and Blackie. We've had hounds for 20 years, and the very first one was named Rembrant (with no "D"). He arrived in our life right around the same time internet forums and message boards were becoming a thing, so he became my defacto forum name.

I grew up around Fords. My mother bought a brand new bright red Pinto in 1980 (the last year they made them I believe?) and that was the car I learned to drive stick in, in or around 1987. Also in the driveway at the time was a 1978 F150 4x4 with a 400/4spd, which was later replaced in 1988 with a new F250 4x4 with a 302/5.0 and 5spd. After the 1980 Pinto, I moved into a 1985 2dr Ford Escort, and from there I went into a 1984 Ford Ranger with 4cyl and 4spd.

In the early 1990's, I bought the truck pictured below. A 1980 F100 Custom Flareside. It was originally a 300/6 truck, but the previous owner had swapped in a 351/2bbl and 4spd with the bull low first gear. The truck had a very nice newly installed wood floor in the bed. Truck was dark blue, with runs in the paint, a red bench seat, and no passenger side mirror.

That truck worked really well, but for some reason or another it ate starters every six months or so. I ran that thing for a couple years, and heavily abused it;).

Anyway, 25 years later that old Bullnose was the only vehicle in my past that I had a craving to own again. It was an itch that had to be scratched. I was in the mood for a V8, and I wanted something of a weekend mild hot rod, so an old Bullnose was the only choice.

So I found this old optionless stripper plain Jane '84 Flareside and here I am.

[FuzzFace2]

I guess I'll chime in as another representative of the Gen-X crowd;).

I'm 46, and my lovely bride has been with me for 21 years (married for 19). No children, but we do have two Basset Hounds named Henry and Blackie. We've had hounds for 20 years, and the very first one was named Rembrant (with no "D"). He arrived in our life right around the same time internet forums and message boards were becoming a thing, so he became my defacto forum name.

I grew up around Fords. My mother bought a brand new bright red Pinto in 1980 (the last year they made them I believe?) and that was the car I learned to drive stick in, in or around 1987. Also in the driveway at the time was a 1978 F150 4x4 with a 400/4spd, which was later replaced in 1988 with a new F250 4x4 with a 302/5.0 and 5spd. After the 1980 Pinto, I moved into a 1985 2dr Ford Escort, and from there I went into a 1984 Ford Ranger with 4cyl and 4spd.

In the early 1990's, I bought the truck pictured below. A 1980 F100 Custom Flareside. It was originally a 300/6 truck, but the previous owner had swapped in a 351/2bbl and 4spd with the bull low first gear. The truck had a very nice newly installed wood floor in the bed. Truck was dark blue, with runs in the paint, a red bench seat, and no passenger side mirror.

That truck worked really well, but for some reason or another it ate starters every six months or so. I ran that thing for a couple years, and heavily abused it;).

Anyway, 25 years later that old Bullnose was the only vehicle in my past that I had a craving to own again. It was an itch that had to be scratched. I was in the mood for a V8, and I wanted something of a weekend mild hot rod, so an old Bullnose was the only choice.

So I found this old optionless stripper plain Jane '84 Flareside and here I am.

My name is David, I turned 58 back in April. My wife, Mary and I have been married for 19 years now.

I do have a grown son from another marriage.

Wife and I also foster dogs and we are a foster failure x2 as we have 2 dogs we did not give up.

We also have 3 cats, 2 we brought down with us when we moved from CT to NC and the other that found us as it turned up on our door step.

My dad was a body and fender man and taught my brother & I the trade before high school. I went to a state tech school to learn the mechanical side of working on cars & trucks.

I did a little go kart racing before high school.

Had a shop with dad a few years out of school. During that time I built a Datsun 510 for road racing & auto cross, only took it auto crossing.

Also built a Toyota LC for racing off road, no not just running thru the woods RACING with other trucks on the track at same time.

A little later in life built an AMC Javelin for ¼ mile drag racing and restored a AMC Gremlin that I drag raced till the Javelin was done.

I am also restoring a 2nd Javelin for the street, my other project that is on hold till the truck is done.

I have also pulled a lot of different trailers from pop up campers to travel trailer to different size car trailers for racing. One of them a 35 foot 2 car trailer used to haul cars to auctions and 4x4's to off road races.

After the shop with dad I did 15 years at a hospital doing HVAC work, the last 10 as the foreman. Then I did 15 years in I.T. as help desk and desk side / break fix support person.

This time in my life I drive trailer trucks, LP gas in the winter to bulk plants and bulk cement to mixing plants in the summer.

Plan is to do this till something better comes by or I retire.

Just call me jack of all trades, master of none LOL

I try and help when and where I can, that is how I am.

Dave G.

 

[Gsmblue]

I guess I'll chime in as another representative of the Gen-X crowd;).

I'm 46, and my lovely bride has been with me for 21 years (married for 19). No children, but we do have two Basset Hounds named Henry and Blackie. We've had hounds for 20 years, and the very first one was named Rembrant (with no "D"). He arrived in our life right around the same time internet forums and message boards were becoming a thing, so he became my defacto forum name.

I grew up around Fords. My mother bought a brand new bright red Pinto in 1980 (the last year they made them I believe?) and that was the car I learned to drive stick in, in or around 1987. Also in the driveway at the time was a 1978 F150 4x4 with a 400/4spd, which was later replaced in 1988 with a new F250 4x4 with a 302/5.0 and 5spd. After the 1980 Pinto, I moved into a 1985 2dr Ford Escort, and from there I went into a 1984 Ford Ranger with 4cyl and 4spd.

In the early 1990's, I bought the truck pictured below. A 1980 F100 Custom Flareside. It was originally a 300/6 truck, but the previous owner had swapped in a 351/2bbl and 4spd with the bull low first gear. The truck had a very nice newly installed wood floor in the bed. Truck was dark blue, with runs in the paint, a red bench seat, and no passenger side mirror.

That truck worked really well, but for some reason or another it ate starters every six months or so. I ran that thing for a couple years, and heavily abused it;).

Anyway, 25 years later that old Bullnose was the only vehicle in my past that I had a craving to own again. It was an itch that had to be scratched. I was in the mood for a V8, and I wanted something of a weekend mild hot rod, so an old Bullnose was the only choice.

So I found this old optionless stripper plain Jane '84 Flareside and here I am.

GenX!

This thread is great, I hope others take a moment to give a little more info on their offline lives!

[Jochen1964]

GenX!

This thread is great, I hope others take a moment to give a little more info on their offline lives!

Gents, happy to contribute and share some of my real life. I just turned 54, married and we have two sons age 25 and 21, the younger one still leaving with us over here in Germany, close to the Dutch border.

Business wise I am a mechanical engineer and a graduated in Operations. I work in the European Supply Chain of Johnson & Johnson for the last 10 years and before that I spent 16 years at MARS Inc. in Supply Chain and HR.

Back at the age of 15 I started my engine mobility with 50 cubic centimeters engine driven kind of small motorcycles and realizing my passion for bolts and nuts. That is when I started a professional career in that field and it served me as great bedrock for everything I did over the last 35 yrs. This was mainly around leading people and change in the area of manufacturing, logistics, planning and customer service. Even spend 6 years in Human Relations, as an engineer that was quite a challenging transition.

Cars: I had a lot f them and almost all European brands represented, starting with a small Autobianchi, Opel (GM), Mercedes, Audi, Citroen, etc. Motorbikes: starting of with a Yamaha (affordability), then stopped it for the family and came back five years ago with a Moto Guzzi and since 3 yrs the BMW R nine T. Likely she will get old with me, she simply fits my needs.

Getting to the truck: My cousin married an American cowboy, who actually was one of the first Western horse trainers here in Europe back in the 80´s. I spent every weekend and holiday for three years with him and he influenced me heavily. He had a Silverado pick up, sgl cab and short bed that time.

When I wasn´t driving a company car I also drove pick ups though European sizes, ie. the FORD Ranger.

No I am back in a period where I don´t drive a lot any more and I always wanted to drive a decent sized pick up, hence the 8 cylinder, 5 ltr bullnose I have since 4 weeks. Next to putting a smile on my face when driving it also provides many opportunities to re-vitalize my engineering skills.

My wife calls it another mid life crisis, not sure since this will very likely last longer then the others before :-).

Next to family, job, motorbike and truck I enjoy outdoors, either by hiking, on horse back or on the bicycle, I do my own fire logs and I enjoy having friends around me for good food, good wine and good talks. Especially with a nice BBQ or some campfire cooking and story telling at the fire as a close out.

That a short summary of why I actually ended up in this forum and what I enjoy when not chatting around here.