We met Brian Jacobsen and his 1969 Chevy Blazer outside the 2020 King of the Hammers race, where he showed us around his rig and explained how he built it exactly the way he wanted it.
The outline for Brian Jacobsen’s dream 1969 Chevy Blazer was simple: it had to go fast through the desert, hold up to the rocks, and it had to be a classic. So when he was pointed toward a 1969 K5 wasting away in a nearby backyard, he quickly went to work turning the languishing hulk into a functional 4×4.
Brian’s Blazer Story
For Brian, building the Blazer was a deliberate process—he knew exactly what he wanted and he wasted no time removing the body, stripping the frame, and gathering the parts he needed. With the help of Rock Bottom Offroad 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.
Powertrain
Brian wanted big power for the 1969 Chevy K5 Blazer, and he looked to J & M Speed Center and Hughes Performance for his crate LS3 V-8 and 4L80E transmission and to Advance Adapters to help mate the transmission to the Offroad Design NP205 transfer case. With a tune from CBM Motorsports, the engine’s power figures sit at a healthy 495 hp.
Interior and Rollcage
Inside, the B&M shifter and JB Custom Fabrication twin-sticks are nested in a console hand-built by @n8zfab, the same fabrication wizard behind the Blazer’s full rollcage. Brian and passengers sit secure with PRP Racing seats and harnesses, and the driver monitors the Blazer’s vitals on the carbon-fiber Classic Industries dash with Auto Meter gauges.
Tires and Wheels
Milestar Patagonia mud-terrains sized 38×13.50R17LT fit into the 1969 Chevy Blazer’s fenders. The beadlocks are KMC Machete.
Lighting
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, and rock lights from KC Lights and Rigid Industries brighten obstacles beneath the Blazer.
Front Axle
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.
Four-Link Suspension and Coilovers
Satisfying Brian’s needs for bump-taming and rockcrawling was easy with the 14-inch-travel King coilovers and King bumpstops. The four-link kit from Offroad Design suspends the front axle and puts every inch of the coilovers’ travel to work.
Canvas Top
Softopper was the solution for convertible coverage in the back. Passengers in the 1969 Chevy Blazer appreciate the top’s roll-up capabilities, and when it’s rolled down, mud, snow, and dust are sealed out.
Rear Axle and Suspension
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.
Toyota Paint?
Brian kept the 1969 Chevy Blazer’s factory hood and tailgate, and replaced the remaining body panels with reproduction units. Color choices were narrowed down to Toyota-inspired matte gray and Cavalry Blue, and it was Brian’s daughter who made the final decision. If the Blazer was gray, she said, it would be just like everyone else’s truck. So, Cavalry Blue it was.
At a Glance
- Vehicle: 1969 Chevy K5 Blazer
- Owner: Brian Jacobsen
- Stomping grounds: Riverside, California
- Build time: 2 years
Drivetrain
- Engine: 6.2-liter LS3 V-8
- Transmission: 4L80E four-speed automatic
- Transfer case(s): NP205 two-speed
- Low range ratio(s): 1.96:1
- Crawl ratio(s): 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-inch coilovers, King 2.5-inch bumpstops
- Rear: Offroad Design four-link kit, King 2.5-inch coilovers, King 2.5-inch bumpstops, RockJock 4×4 Antirock anti-roll bar
Tires/Wheels
- Tires: 38×13.50R17LT Milestar Patagonia M/T
- Wheels: 17-inch KMC Machete
Miscellaneous
- Steering: Offroad Design links, PSC 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 @n8zfab
- Cool stuff: ARB Air Compressor, Boyd Tanks aluminum fuel tank, Griffin Performance aluminum radiator, Spectre Performance air intake, sPOD Bantam eight-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
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Keyword: 1969 Chevy Blazer Built With All the Right Parts