Coming in Clutch

TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD JEREMIE TERAN HAD NEVER BUILT ANY SORT OF CUSTOMIZED VEHICLE BEFORE THIS TRUCK. Back when he was 16 (nine years ago), this GMC Sierra meant everything to him, and it still does. It was his first taste of true freedom at a time when being grounded was a real-life worry. There were times when he could’ve “off’d” the truck since then, but he just couldn’t shake the overwhelming connection that one usually has with their very first ride. Jeremie made a promise to himself that he would stick with his truck and customize it to meet his specific wants and needs, even if it meant that he would have to funnel time and funds from other parts of his life to put toward the project, he was ready for all of the sacrifices ahead.

As a teenager in high school, Jeremie was faced with the situation of having a bad case of empty pockets syndrome. It’s a typical situation with kids that age. Classes and homework ate up the better part of his days, which meant that earning cash for the custom fund was done on weekends and the occasional weeknights. He did manage to scrape up enough dough to finally make an offer on a truck— luckily he knew the seller. “It was a girl’s truck who was a year older than me in school,” says Jeremie, “I ended up wrecking the truck about a year after I had it and [had already] added little things on. I worked at a sporting goods store when I finally paid the truck off. I ate dollar menu items and didn’t really eat anything else other than sandwiches and anything else cheap so I could spend more money on my truck.” Even after the truck was officially his, Jeremie continued to subject his gut to fast food buck-and-under-menus; he was becoming quite the expert on how to dine on a dime. No sacrifice was too big to shift his eyes from the big prize.

Jeremie did survive those years of heat-lamp-cooked, processed meats, and he even went through a girlfriend or two. “The day after I had broken up with my last girl, I spent every last dollar on shaving the tailgate, adding a roll pan, new LED taillights, new wheels, and finally the lowering kit I had been dying for.”

Things were going great. Jeremie was living the life most guys would envy: He had his truck, he had his freedom and after he found a better-paying construction gig, he found himself with more money in his pocket. When things couldn’t possibly get any better, they got worse—fast! “I was driving home from work one day and was rear-ended. The insurance company tried to total out my truck, but there was no way I was going to watch them haul it off, especially now that I had some money saved up for more work. I took the maximum amount they could give me and I started looking for parts to get it fixed on my own.” The dedication Jeremie devoted to the truck then was at an all time high.

The hunt for new parts was officially in full swing. Jeremie went out and spent the insurance money on replacement parts, but with the amount of damage that was caused in the crash, there were things he just couldn’t do in his own garage. “I brought the truck to Gonzo’s Custom Paint and Body in Groves, Texas. Gonzo fixed the warped doors and pretty much straightened the whole body—it was pretty bad. I had him stick with the same paint color since I don’t see all too many trucks with the metallic copper.” While the truck was at the shop, the doors were shaved, as was the third brake light and antenna. So even though the experience pushed Jeremie back a few steps, he did eventually make progress from the situation. “Even though the truck was only a little bit better than where it was at before the accident, I was even more focused to take it to the next level on my list.”

HE PLAYED THE GAME THE WAY ANY SEASONED PRO SHOULD, AND FOR THAT HE’S SET HIMSELF UP FOR A PROMISING CAREER TO COME. ”

The truck became much more than just a truck to Jeremie. He had pretty much grown up with it by his side. It had become his best pal and a reason to work as hard as he did. “I continued to put money aside, and was so close to my real dream. I had always wanted to see it laid out on 24s. It was the ultimate gift I could give to myself and to my truck. As weird as it may sound, I considered the Sierra to be just another girl in my life because she always demanded the most attention, and she always gave me some sort of trouble.” But unlike most inexperienced builders of their first truck, Jeremie saved his money and stepped up to the plate, making the best decision he could possibly make. “I only live two hours from Ekstensive Metalworks in Houston, and after seeing the trucks they have worked on, I knew I couldn’t go wrong with them.” The truck was out of Jeremie’s hands for six months while it was away getting its suspension altered. These may have been the longest months for him since he had owned the truck. Before then, he had driven it on a daily basis (aside from when the body damage was being repaired), and the suspense was starting to eat away at him. Would the new stance look as good as it did in his head? He would have to wait to find out.

Of course, Jeremie couldn’t have been happier with what the fellas at Ekstensive had done to his GMC. It was laying as low as he had imagined, and the air management system operated with ease. But with the paint and body looking perfect, and the new suspension setup bringing the truck down to an ideal height, other parts of Jeremie’s ride were starting to become eyesores: “I had never noticed how rough the interior looked until everything else was fixed up. I pulled the panels out and painted everything I could. I had the seats reupholstered too, but the shop I took the truck to kept it for another six months. They never even really finished the job. My stereo was stolen under their supervision, and they bent the fenders by not lifting the front end enough when they were moving the truck around. I ended up pulling the truck from their shop and finishing the job myself. There was so much I had to redo after bringing the truck home. Twisted Interiors, in Houston, stepped up and helped me build an amazing custom center console, so it all worked out.”

Through all of it, Jeremie didn’t let the negativity get to his head; he dealt with all the curveballs and unexpected headaches like a seasoned truck builder. He didn’t get mad; he just got over it. He still had a goal to reach, and the ticky-tack stuff that came up wasn’t even close to being real issues to him in the grand scheme of things.

Jeremie did get his truck finished. Well, finished enough for now. He’s currently stashing money aside for a supercharged V-8 swap and a body drop, which are sure to come when the time is right. Until then, he’s enjoying being able to cruise around town and to shows in the Texas and Louisiana area. He’s joined a small local truck club, Low Intentions, and is having fun, which is what this whole thing is about in the first place, right? Not too bad for his first time out. Even though he’s been in the mix for a number of years now, he didn’t sell himself or his truck short for any cheap substitution or imitation. He played the game the way any seasoned pro should, and for that he’s set himself up for a promising career to come.

---

TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Jeremie Teran
1998 GMC Sierra 1500
Nederland, TX
Low Intentions

BUILDERS

• Ekstensive Metalworks, Houston, TX
• Gonzo’s Custom Paint & Body, Groves, TX
• Twisted Interiors, Houston, TX

ENGINE

• Stock 1998 GM V-6
• K&N cold air intake
• Optima Red Top battery
• Sheet metal and paint details under the hood
• Aluminum gas tank

SUSPENSION

• Front frame notched for steering, ’bag mounts and control arms
• Ekstensive Metalworks upper and lower control arms with relocated upper mounting points
• McGaughy’s spindles
• Rear C-notch
• Rear 2-link with traction bar
• Drilled and slotted front rotors
• Hydroboost brake assist booster

WHEELS & TIRES

• 24×8.5 and 24×10 Raceline Burst
• 275/30/24 295/30/24 Fullway HS288 tires

BODY & PAINT

• PPG Metallic Copper
• Shaved door handles, gas door, third brake light, antenna, tailgate handle
• Gas door relocated to center of bed
• LED taillights
• Weld-in roll pan
• Tubbed and notched bed floor with spray-on liner

INTERIOR

• Tan suede and vinyl upholstery, carpet and headliner
• Dashboard dyed to match
• Billet Specialties steering wheel
• Custom center console with compartment for handgun
• Pioneer head unit
• MMATS amplifier
• Two MMATS 10-inch subwoofers
• Pioneer monitor

---