Just wondering what y'all do besides hang out in this community?

binuya · #1 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 11:40 PM

Ok, this sort of thread has likely been done before, but since I'm a newbie, and I've seen quite a few other newbies lately I thought it would be kinda' cool to see what you do for your 'day job'. Especially curious as to what some of the gurus do. Also curious as to why you chose to go with the 7.3.

As for me, I'm a tinkerer and a hot rodder by nature. Love to take stuff apart and put back together so it's 'better'. Restored quite a few '60's era hot rods, i.e. 65 GTO, 65 'Cuda, 65 'Stang, 61,62,63 'Bulletbirds (True Ford lovers will know these), and a couple others. I currently have a 66 Convertible Fury III in the garage, but after sitting for 10 years my three kids take priority, so some day! But now my passion (sickness) is my Superduty. (Thanks a lot y'all)

By trade I am an executive chef. My name is Alvin Binuya. I have for the past 30 years, been in the restaurant business in some of Seattle's finest dining destinations. After sadly closing my own restaurant a couple months ago, (made it to 4 years, Madoka Pan Pacific Restaurant), I am back at a restaurant I opened 20 years ago, Ponti Seafood Grill. Needless to say, the quality of the food is great, and so is the fryer oil, which feeds another passion (sickness) of mine which is making biodiesel.

I chose the 7.3 because first of all, I wanted a diesel truck which could comfortably fit my family of five. Secondly, it needed to accomodate my desire to make biodiesel, which the 7.3 does very well on. I feel that the Superduty 7.3 is kind of like the hot rod of the late '60's pre-emissions era. All about durability and power.

So, enough digressing. Who are you?

duck fan · #2 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 11:54 PM

So for a living I own an eyeglass/sunglass store near Santa Cruz, CA. I have 7 kids from the ages of 5-16. Besides the 7.3 Ex, I have a 96 Mazda Miata that doubles as a daily driver and autocross car, and 3 Volvos (one of which actually runs).

I chose the 7.3 because of the reliability. I was raised in a Ford family. Even my imports are Ford related. Ford owns Volvo and at least at one point owned 49% of Mazda. The Miata was supposed to be my mod project but the PMS took hold and I have more $ in mods on my truck than I spent total on mods and purchase of the Miata.

weekendwarriorfsw32 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 12:01 AM

Well right now I am a Junior at SRVHS. I also love to tinker with motor's. I also am into Motor cross and of course Diesels. We chose the 7.3 cause at the time it was the only diesel SUV on the market and because all my dad has ever owned is diesels.

roostercrows · #4 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 01:10 AM

Im a construction boilermaker tradesman, WHOLLEY CRAP 7 kids!!.
I live in Ontario Canada, 7 KIDS?!! wow!! I enjoy the outdoors, biking hiking 4wheeling 7 KIDS!! live in the country witha small plot of land have a wife and 2 small girls, which I consider to be a hand full, Icould not imagine 7!! WOW (good for you though duck fan, I really think that is awesome, kids are amazing!)

I needed a long lasting awesome tow vehicle and I got it!!!

jkidd_39 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 01:23 AM

I got to the University of Missouri-Rolla for business.

I am VP of C.E. Heibult & Sons Exc. We dismantle power-plants and electronic switchgear. We also specialize in Hazmat removal (PCB's)

I have 3 7.3 trucks and don't really plan on getting any other brand of diesel pick ups. We chose the 7.3 b/c of it's reliability. I put 70-90k a year on my truck

4inchlovin · #6 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 01:27 AM

I like these threads....

I am 25 years old. I am the manager of a program called Monterey Bay Horsemanship & Therapeutic Center. I have been there since I was 15. I have HAD muscle cars and big 4x4's and love both of those worlds. So when I decided I wanted something newer that could be alot of fun and still get decent MPG. Plus pull a horse trailer and make me some extra $$$ a diesel truck was #1 on the list. I went with Ford because on a whole it is better then the competition. (Drivetrain, interior, drivability). Also my Grandfather was a top Engineer for Ford Aerospace. I have had my truck for 2 years now and have started my own diesel enthusiast club here in Santa Cruz which a few of our members here are members of.

STROKIN'IT7.3 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 01:31 AM

I'm a sophmore business admin major at a small little college in Bridgewater VA. I was brought up working on diesels in my dad's shop (he owns a dumptruck company). I hope to one day own a business like Swamp's or Riffraff but would be equally as happy just having some part in this growing industry. I love tinkering and currently am restoring (with the help of my dad) a '31 Model A 78-B widebed truck which accompanies our collection of 31 model A fordor, 64 nova SS, 67 nova post car, and a 40 mercury sedan.

I chose the 7.3 because of availability. My dad was looking for a truck and we ran across this current one. The price seemed right and he purchased it to pull a camper that we never bought. The truck became mine when he decided it was too big for him to drive (little did he know what it would turn in to).

weekendwarriorfsw32 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4inchlovin

I like these threads....

I am 25 years old. I am the manager of a program called Monterey Bay Horsemanship & Therapeutic Center. I have been there since I was 15. I have HAD muscle cars and big 4x4's and love both of those worlds. So when I decided I wanted something newer that could be alot of fun and still get decent MPG. Plus pull a horse trailer and make me some extra $$$ a diesel truck was #1 on the list. I went with Ford because on a whole it is better then the competition. (Drivetrain, interior, drivability). Also my Grandfather was a top Engineer for Ford Aerospace. I have had my truck for 2 years now and have started my own diesel enthusiast club here in Santa Cruz which a few of our members here are members of.

Like cool kids like me!

Giuseppe1425 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 02:08 AM

I'm a 22 year old senior Mechanical Engineer student at Ole Miss. I've worked on cars ever since I was able to drive and never really worked on diesels until recently.
I chose the 7.3 because my BMW that I put entirely too much money into was rear ended. Though I was awarded enough money to fix it, their insurance refused to pay any more to get it repaired to my standards because of the custom painjob. I wanted to change up my driving a bit to help avoid tickets and I had a friend in high school who had a 7.3 on 44" tires with a massive lift and I thought it was awesome. So I started looking for diesels and the 7.3 was in my price range and I've always wanted one. If I made more money right now I'd be spending it on my truck so it is kinda good I'm a broke college student (donations gladly accepted

)

mxracer3276 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 07:21 AM

I am a 20 year old Fitness Instructor at Lakehurst Naval Base. What i do is physically train the navy, almost as their drill instructor. Then I also own my own business doing custom home renovations, i.e, custom kitchens, bathrooms, basements, etc... I have an associates degree in exercise science and will one day finish the BA but now is just not the right time.

I chose to get a 7.3 because i knew a pretty good mechanic that told me if i am looking for a diesel to go with a 7.3 and it will not let you down. Sure enough 2 years later, i am happier then ever. Especially thanks to FTE!!!

HD Rider · #11 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 08:33 AM

44 years old and drive semi for UPS. I'm also into trail riding and Harley's.

My wife wanted a camper so we went shopping for a truck to pull it with. The 7.3 met our specs and was priced right. I'm still making mods to improve mpg.

Smokin' · #12 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 08:54 AM

I am a 27-year-old Graphic Designer/Marketing Coordinator for a small fraternal insurance company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I have gotten pretty burned out at my job (the office environment) so I am going to be making a career change in the next year or so that is more fitting of my personality. I have a Bachelor's degree in Technical Journalism, Specialized Communication with a minor in History. I am unmarried and have no children. Heck, I am still a kid myself.

.

I grew up in a household where wrenching was the #1 form of entertainment. Harleys, hotrods, 4x4's, you name it. Instead of watching television, I was in the garage helping disassemble a Fat Boy. I fell in love with diesels after my dad bought a 12v Cummins. I purchased my 7.3 in 2005 (my first diesel) and I have been learning everything I can about it ever since. As a Chevy/Dodge household, my family was reluctant to accept my 7.3...that is, until I towed a few of them home, after which everyone seemed to get along with my truck a little better.

My truck has towed a lot of quad trailers in the past, but now I'm just down to 1 ATV so these day's she's mostly a funmobile.

Once you go black(smoke), you never go back.

kirkharrod · #13 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 09:03 AM

I am really impressed by the young guys on here. When I was 20, I couldn't even turn a wrench!

I am 42, and a Network Security Engineer for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I spend most of my Saturdays in a wrestling gym, watching my 14 year old son compete. I also have a 12 year old daughter who plays softball. I spend most of my own spare time in the gym and playing in a rock band. Been in the same band for 18 years

I bought my 7.3 because it is the best engine to convert for burning WVO!

RedBoat · #14 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 09:14 AM

48 years old, Sr. Electrical Designer specializing in electrical controls. For the past 30 years I have done drawings showing how to wire presets additive injectors etc, for major oil company marketing terminals. Marketing terminals are the guys that control getting gasoline and diesel from the storage tanks loaded into trucks that deliver it to the gas stations.

I have 2 kids, 1-girl 6 and 1-boy 18. My dad was a heavy equipment mechanic that worked on Cat tractors for 35 years. One year he was riding with me in my F-150 and it was struggling pulling my boat up and down the hills in Austin, Tx. and he casually mentioned that a diesel would never have a problem with "Towing Duty". I was a die hard Ford man and after a little research on the FTE diesel forum I decided on the 7.3 F-250.

So ya'll are completely responsible for my sickness!

Bluebronco85 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 09:28 AM

i'm 24 been married for 3 years and have a little 2yo boy i'm teaching to wrench already. I'm a fire fighter for Bartlett Fire (a suburb of memphis in west tn). My side job is Bushhogging and doing various other tractor work like grading, posthole digging, finish mowing, etc. I wanted a diesel and needed a bigger truck for pulling equipment anyways. I knew from the start I wanted a 7.3 because of their reliability and their relatively easy to work on.(not over engineered) i search for roughly a year and found her, a 2003 xlt FX4 with only 60,000 miles(I was in love). Ive had her 2.5 years now and she hasn't failed me yet.