Introduction The On-going Saga Pictures Spec Data Clubs Events Links Automobile Page Home \auto\s10\s10.html	Below left is an Adobe Photoshop rendering of how I wanted to paint my truck.  On the right is the orignial picture. Popular Upgrades 04-11-2006 log:     Well it turns out there is a little bit more to add.  Just recently I ran a CarFax report on the truck.  I found out that the truck was as suspected, reprocessed, then sold at auction in Florida, and the new owner is located in Nevada.  I don't have specific information on the new owner, in fact I would like to track down the new owner, so that possibly could continue to follow the story of the truck.  I also am wondering what they thought of fact that the truck was so torn up.   And did they ever follow-up on the vinyl letter ad that I had on the back window.  That should have lead them to this website, or my other site.  Interesting enough, my vehicle page got a lot of hits for a while after the truck was reprossed.  I suspect that while it was sitting at the auction lot, folks took note of the website, and checked it out, to learn more about the truck.  If you are the new owner, please contact me at "jason@weatherwarrior.net", I would love to hear how the truck is doing. 5-10-2005 log:    This is the last log for this vehicle (maybe).  As it turned out I ended up with Kidney Failure and with the lack of employment and growing medical bills I had to let this truck go.  A voluntary repossession.  I was going to sell it, but I just couldn't since I was feeling so crappy.  Don't be surprised if I purchase another truck just like it in the future, or maybe the Blazer version.  It turned out in the end that it was good that the repo folks took it, and sold it, they got a lot more money than what I was being offered on the street for it.  I sure wish I knew who got it now, what happened to it, is it being restored, or ripped apart for parts.  It would be easy to know which Xtreme it is because I had a Hurricane Charley decal on the back window, it was missing the rear bumper, and I had started to rip out the interior to cover it to a dedicated storm chase vehicle with a water proof interior.  Oh, and the fan was missing on the engine, and I just replaced the radiator.  It had the Black NASCAR rims on it too. E-mail me at "jason@weatherwarrior.net" if you got my truck.  It would be great to link to it's new life. 10-1-2004 log:   OK, now I never figured that after the last log I'd be writting a log about two more storms and that I've moved to Florida. But I am!  That's right, in addition to intercepting Hurricane Charley, I was at ground zero for Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.  The last two storms I intercepted in Ft. Pierce / Hutchinson Island area.     First, Hurricane Frances, which was the 3 day, never ending storm.  That storm moved so slowly that it was just horrible.  I like being in hurricanes, but all that sand, wind, salt water, and more just got too old after 72 hours.  And worst yet, I had to abandon the truck about half way through the storm.  While on at the Hutchinson Island side of the South Bridge (near the boat ramp), my belt blew off (not broke) and I lost power and steering on the truck.  But with the 100+ mph winds outside,  I couldn't repair it, and it failed right next to a trailer park, which I knew was blowing apart.  I left the truck and recovered it 4 days (and $500 towing charges) later.   I got it back to my buddies house and found it to be a 2 minute fix. Arrrg!  Well, that's part of storm chasing.     But all that said, I was very ahppy with the performance of the truck during the storm.  It was very stable.  The lower profile made it much easier for me to drive up and down the South Bridge to get wind measurements.  I suspect the control threshold for this vehicle for cross winds would be around 90-95mph.  At 88mph, the truck was rocking violently when at a 45 degree angle to the wind.  I got my measurements and got off the bridge for the last time.  When I returned to retrieve my truck from the bridge, I noticed it moved about 15 feet across the highway.  I'm just glad the truck didn't flip over.  When I fianlly got back I noticed some more scratches, likely from depris from the trailer park hitting it.  No damage other than that though, so another hurricane that just couldn't hurt this tough truck. The Hurricane Jeanne story is short.  It seems that all that salt water and heavy brake holding int he wind burned out my calipers.  Right at the beginning of Hurricane Jeanne the brakes failed and I parked it in a garage and hoped in with my buddy Chris Collura and intercepted the hurricane with him.  After a few days I recovered by truck, which was fine.  then drove All the way from Ft. Pierce, Florida to Miami Beach then to Cutler Ridge using US-1 and A1A at very slow speeds all the way.  What normally would take 3 hours to drive, ended up taking 8 hours.  But with only one close call it was a successful transport.  With the money I saved on the towing, and fixing the brakes myself I now have money to get an apartment on South Beach.    Hurricane season is basically over.  There is a chance for a few weak storms, but now I'm focusing on producing a DVD documentary with my chase buddies, we have so much footage it's ridiculous. 8-17-2004 log:   Wow, what an experience!  I just got finished with my stong hurricane intercept to date.  That's right I was in Punta Gorda, Florida intercepting Hurricane Charley.  Punta Gorda was ground zero for this Catagory 4 hurricane.  I thought I was gonna die, and die inside my truck.  I ended up at the Charlotte County Courthouse since that appearred to be the best structure to protect my truck.  It wasn't perfect and I ended up with some damage.  Some of the lower cladding disconnected, luckily a grabbed it before it blew away.  I also got some paint chips from a plate glass window that SLAMMED the back of the bed and bed cover (yes, I was inside the truck when it hit, very scary).  Luckily that was about the extent of the damage.  I'm driving my truck down to my sisters in Cutler Ridge (south Miami).   The plan is to leave it there, fly back to Maryland to take care of some business ends, and then this next system (Likely to be Frances) will be nearing the Florida coast.   I have to say, I'm very proud of my truck.  It handled this storm very well.  I can't wait to upload the pictures and video of the storm. [ ed. I've now got a link to the Hurricane Charley webpage.  Click here.] 8-2-2004 log:   Been quite an adventure with my truck.  I've had multiple body repairs from accidents and a few small upgrades along the way.  The front has been rebuilt twice now and I finally had the side damage repaired.  All is back together except for the rear bumper.  I still plan on using the roll-pan as seen on the thumbnail picture to the upper right.  What I elected not to do was change the Xtreme front airdam.  The replacement was going to be a Wing West design (the top two upper right thumbnails pictures).  There's something bold about the large blank stock Xtreme airdam, and the Wings West doesn't exactly match the front wheel arch molding correctly. I had also previously experimented with NASCAR style 15" rims and raised white letter tires.  I also upgraded to white face indi-glow guages inside, neon lighting.  I also added an amp and base speaker (subwoofer) system.   I would still like to lower the suspension another 1", upgrade to 18" wheels and tires, & tint the windows.  I'm not interested in upgrading the performance since the 2.2L is getting old and has over 70,000 miles.  I'll likely sell the truck before the engine gives out (at which point a V8 conversion should be done).  At least the value is holding up.  Having the LS package and the Xtreme ground effects sure helps make the package more attractive to potential buyers.   6-22-2004 log:   Finally getting around to repairing the front end, side and rear of the truck.  The truck is starting to get old, well at least by my standards.  I have never kept a "daily driver" for this long....almost four years now.  (My Galaxie I had from 1996 thru 2001, but it was for show!).   My preliminary plans call for new front end repairs and custom air dam, new hood,  left fender.  Also, finish rear roll-pan and custom tailgate (with plexiglass insert), repair and paint cab damage on right side.  All these repairs and painting should have the vehicle looking complete and new again when it's done.  Other possible work includes (time/money permitting): custom interior door panels, finish custom dash bezel (already resculpted), custom center console, overhead center console.  Neon lights and other show off pieces may also be added.  But I may also sell the truck soon too.  And the custom front airdam may or may not be possible. There are lots of pictures already up, and lots more pictures to come. Make sure to visit the "pictures" link to view them all. 10-18-2002 log:   In other news about my truck, I have had quite a bit of body damage to repair these past few months.  First while in Northern Virginia taking pictures for my college photography class, a baby deer ran out on the highway, I hit (and killed) it instantly, as well as killing front of my truck.  Damage was only to the grill and turn-signal, but it still isn't cheap to replace them.  Then a week later while in Delaware helping the Cycle Across Maryland Tour, I misjudged the distance between a post and the side of my truck.  It wasn't a hard hit, just barely sideswiped it, but it crunched the sheet metal pretty good.  I was doing the repairs myself when about a month later while on my way to the store, an SUV pulled right in front of me, leaving me no room to stop, so bam, there goes the front end.  This time I couldn't drive it, and it had to go in for major body work.  Luckily the accident was charged to the other driver, so I didn't have to pay any of the $3800 repair, and I got a free rental (a GMC Sonoma noless).  It took nearly 30 days for dealer to finish the repairs but does the truck look sharp now.  However, I didn't finish the repairs on the side, so that is next.  Let's just hope nothing else happens for a while.