If Darth Vader drove a Blazer, we’re convinced this would be the one. This sinister 1989 Chevy K5 Blazer is expensive at $259,900, but it has been through a ridiculously thorough restomod, with every nut, bolt, surface, gear, corner and crevice addressed. I’m not sure if this is the best 1989 Chevy Blazer in existence, but it has to be top 3, and RK Motors in Charlotte, North Carolina would love to make it your #1.
Before you even read anymore, give this a watch!
The Model.
Designed and marketed as a competitor to the Ford Bronco and International Scout, both of whom were also chasing the smaller, but wildly popular Jeep CJ series, the K5 Blazer was an equally competent, but much more “comfortable” option. It had creature comforts like air conditioning and automatic transmissions, and it sold like hotcakes. The real win for the K5 was that it was simply a shortened version of their pickup platform, which both increased interior space, and lowered the cost of production.
This K5 is a late second-generation model, from a model that had three total generations before Chevy flipped the script and started calling its full-size SUV the Yukon. There are so many great factoids about the 2nd gen K5, but the thing is, this restomod renders a bunch of them obsolete, so here’s one: The second generation K5 models incorporated the rear hatch glass and tailgate into a single unit, which allowed the glass panel to retract inside of the tailgate by use of a manual crank mounted on the tailgate or an electric motor activated by a key-operated switch on the tailgate and a dash-mounted switch. Definitely a nice touch and fit within the narrative of the K5 being a luxurious alternative to the Scout and Bronco.
The Specs.
This K5 Blazer is the trifecta. It’s dangerously good looking, fast as hell with a motor that has over $23,000 invested in it, and will handle whatever terrain you could possibly throw its way. And boy, what a build sheet.
MECHANICAL
- Pro-built 6.0 liter GM LS V8 that's been stroked to 408 cubic inches and fitted with LS3 heads for 547 horsepower and 519 lb ft of torque
- Jake's Performance 4L80E 4-speed automatic transmission with billet internals and a Yank converter
- GM 14-bolt rear axle with a Detroit Locker
- Yukon gears and Branik Motorsports shafts
- Dana 60 front axle with a Detroit Locker, Yukon gears and RCV shafts
- Granatelli Motor Sports plug wires
- NP205 transfer case
- Offroad Design Magnum planetary underdrive
- Electronic throttle body
- Frostbite radiator
- Color-keyed Billet Specialties Tru Trac serpentine drive
- ATI Super Damper
- FAST LSXr 102 intake
- FAST fuel rails
- Nitrous Outlet vapor crossover
- Edelbrock water pump
- Derale steering cooler
- Derale transmission cooler
- Dual Optima batteries
- Genesis dual battery kit
- Meziere Enterprises starter
- Deep Moroso oil pan
- RCV shafts, Yukon hubs and more Yukon gears
- NP205 transfer case
- Offroad Design Magnum planetary underdrive
- Magnaflow mufflers
- Kooks GREEN cats
- Stainless shorty headers
STEERING, SUSPENSION & BRAKE
- Performance Steering Components hydro steering
- 4-wheel disc brakes
- Custom shock tower brace
- 4-link front and rear suspensions with RideController Electronic Management
- Branik Motorsports axles
- Eibach coils
- Fox shocks
- RockJock Antirock sway bars
- PSC steering system with full hydro assist
- Wilwood master cylinder
- Wilwood proportioning valve
INTERIOR
- Modern air conditioning
- Custom plaid interior with PRP seats
- Custom 6-point roll cage
- Momo Mod 69 steering wheel
- Modern JL Audio system
- Red 4-point harnesses
- Mod Armor-mounted iPad
- Winters Sidewinder shifter
EXTERIOR & BODY
- 1974 K5 Blazer front-clip
- Custom rock sliders
- 4” stretched wheel openings
- Two-tone black and charcoal two-stage paint
- Warn 16.5 winch
- Billet hood supports
- Factor 55 Hawse fairlead
- KC LED headlights
- Custom tube bumpers
- KC Hilites Gravity Pro6 light bar
- Granite crystal metallic powder-coated Method race wheels
- 37x13.50R17LT BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/As.
- Tucked MagnaFlow exhaust
- Holley fuel cap
- Softopper
- Frame-mount hitch
- LED tail lights
- Line-X covered firewall
- Custom inner fenders
- Powder-coated frame
- Line-X coated floor pans
