CAVALRY

he outline for Brian Jacobson’s dream Chevy Blazer was simple: it had to go fast through the desert, hold up

Tto the rocks, and it had to be a classic. So, when he was pointed toward a ’69 K5 wasting away in a nearby backyard, he quickly went to work turning the languishing hulk into a functional 4x4.

For Brian, building the Blazer was a deliberate process—he knew exactly what he wanted and wasted no time removing the body, stripping the frame, and gathering the parts he needed. With the help of Rock Bottom Off Road in Riverside, California, Brian acquainted the chassis with its new fire-breathing powertrain, lined up the linked suspension, and reinforced the mostly new Blazer body with custom armor and a full rollcage. At the end of the two-year build process, the restored and reimagined ’69 Blazer was ready for the dirt. Impressing friends and family was no sweat as the LS3 charged through the Southern California desert, and the Offroad Design links and King coilovers made easy work of rock gardens and sandy whoops. The Cavalry Blue paintjob and the Blazer’s all-around classic appeal continue to garner their share of attention, too.

By Jered Korfhage jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com Photos: Jered Korfhage

|> /> Brian wanted big power for the K5, and he looked to J & M Speed Center and Hughes Performance for his crate LS3 V-8 and 4L80E transmission while Advance Adapters helped mate the transmission to the Offroad Design NP205 transfer case. With a tune from CBM Motorsports, the engine’s power figure sit at a healthy 495 hp.

-> \> KC Lights’ Gravity Pro6 LED lightbar crowns the windshield and a trio of the company’s Gravity Pro6 pods are mounted on the Chassis Unlimited front bumper. Truck-Lite headlamps light up the highways between home and the trail while rock lights from KC Lights and Rigid Industries brighten obstacles beneath the Blazer. Milestar Patagonia mud-terrains sized 38x13.50R17LT fit into the Blazer’s fenders. The beadlocks are KMC Machete. With the Dana 60, ARB Air Locker, 5.13 gears, and ram-assist components from PSC Motorsports, the frontend has everything Brian needs to pick his way through the most challenging lines.

Vehicle: ’69 Chevy K5 Blazer Owner: Brian Jacobson Stomping grounds: Riverside, California Build time: 2 years DRIVETRAIN

Engine: 6.2L LS3 V-8 Transmission: 4L80E 4-spd auto Transfer case: NP205 2-spd Low range ratio: 1.96:1 Crawl ratio: 24.9:1 Front axle/differential: Kingpin Dana 60, chromoly ’shafts, 5.13 gears/ARB Air Locker Rear axle/differential: GM 14-bolt, 5.13 gears/ARB Air Locker SUSPENSION

Front: Offroad Design four-link kit, King 2.5-in coilovers, King 2.5-in bumpstops Rear: Offroad Design four-link kit, King 2.5-in coilovers, King 2.5-in bumpstops, RockJock 4x4 Antirock sway bar TIRES/WHEELS

Tires: 38x13.50R17LT Milestar Patagonia M/T Wheels: 17x9 KMC Machete MISCELLANEOUS

|> \> <| The 14-bolt rear axle is located by links from Offroad Design, suspended by King 2.5 coilovers, and the 5.13 gears are behind a Crane Axle differential cover. Boyd Welding did the work on Brian’s custom aluminum fuel tank. Softopper was the solution for convertible coverage in the back. Passengers appreciate the top’s roll-up capabilities and when it’s rolled down, mud, snow, and dust are sealed out.

Steering: Offroad Design links, PSC Motorsports ram-assist Lighting: KC Lights Pro6 lightbar, bumper-mount KC Lights Gravity LED pods, Truck-Lite headlamps, Rigid Industries and KC Cyclone rock lights Armor: Chassis Unlimited front/rear bumpers, pinion skid, Crane Axle rear diff cover, full interior ’cage by N8Z Fab Cool stuff: ARB air compressor, Boyd Tanks aluminum fuel tank, Griffin Performance aluminum radiator, Spectre Performance intake, sPOD Bantam 8-switch panel, B&M shifter, Wilwood hydroboost brakes, Classic Industries carbon-fiber dash w/Auto Meter gauges, Carven exhaust, Vintage Air heat and A/C, custom Adams driveshafts

</ Brian kept the Blazer’s factory hood and tailgate and replaced the remaining body panels with reproduction units. Color choices were narrowed down to Toyota-inspired matte grey and Cavalry Blue, and it was Brian’s daughter who made the final decision. If the Blazer was grey, she said, it would be just like everyone else’s truck. So, Cavalry Blue it was. FW