Who is this guy?

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Jeepskate:
Suspension
Steering
Drivetrain
Body/Interior

Jeepskate II/XL:
Suspension
Steering
Drivetrain
Body/Interior

1 Last 7:
Suspension
Steering
Drivetrain
Body/Interior

 

I guess that some of you are wondering just who the heck I am? Am I some hardcore wheeler? Am I some howler grease monkey? Nope...I'm just Rodney Lewis, a 37 year old Jeep-obsessed computer geek who isn't afraid to pick up a wrench as long as I have at least half an idea of what I'm doing. I was originally employed by Comdisco, Inc, and transferred to Illinois from New Jersey in 1993 when they shut down the facility that I was working at. I purchased my first Jeep (an '83 CJ-7 aka Alter Ego) shortly after I started working for them in 1990, and brought it with me when we moved. I did most of the work on the Jeep that first year in Illinois. I purchased Jeepskate in May of '94 and sold Alter Ego in November after an engine transplant. I left the employ of Comdisco (February 1998) and accepted a position as a Network/PBX Administrator at Nicor Energy...a small partnership between Nicor Gas (gas utility here in Northern Illinois) and Dynegy. During that time I purchased 1 Last 7 and Jeepskate II/XL and parted out Jeepskate, keeping the usable parts for myself. After a 5 year stint eventually becoming the IT Supervisor at Nicor Energy, some of their questionable business & accounting practices caught up with them and they were shut down at the end of June 2003. After a brief period of unemployment, I landed a new position as a Network Engineer at Nicor Gas. My wife Aaliya and I have been married since 1991, and we have one child, Brendan, who was born July 20, 1996...those of you who know me from the Jeep-List back then know all that we went through to have him with Aaliya having severe preeclampsia and him being born 2 months early. I could have lost them both, and am thankful for them every day. Brendan is a great little guy...very intelligent and personable with a smile that lights up a room. He loves cruising around the backyard in his Power Wheels Jeep Aftershock and riding in the back when we go off-highway.


The Baby Photo...
Me and Alter Ego a few weeks after purchase in '90.


All Grown Up...
One of the last photos prior to the sale in '94.


Alter Ego 2?
The sequel that wasn't...an '81 Laredo I picked up for $350 and sold a week later for $900...no room for another project...yet.


Raiding...
Checking out Lara's ride.