Custom Build: 1972 Chevy Blazer K5 by Ringbrothers
This off-road-ready restomod is a modern remake of the classic Chevy Blazer.
If there's one thing that hasn't changed in the decades of factory 4x4s being built with off-road capability in mind, it's that every aspect is about beef and brawn. When parts manufacturer and car builder Ringbrothers set out to reboot the Chevy Blazer K5, their restomod had to be about beef and brawn, plus the vehicle had to stay true to their reputation of avant-garde customs that set out to disrupt all perception of what's cutting-edge. It took 8,500 build hours to get "BULLY" positioned to easily climb that summit.
Body Parts
BULLY's got a ton of one-off 3D-printed and machined parts—intake vents, running boards, and bumpers, for example—and also a plethora of Ringbrothers part numbers, like door handles, hood inserts, and taillight bezels. A new chassis and suspension were key add-ons.
Building the Power
For cranking out 1,200 horsepower, BULLY earned a Wegner Motorsports-built 6.8-liter LS3 V-8, two Walbro 450-lph pumps, 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger, a Holley Dominator, and a Bowler Tru-Street GM 4L80E automatic transmission. Motul lubricants run throughout. The headers were customized by Ringbrothers and complement the Flowmaster 44 exhaust system.
Chassis and Suspension
Currie axles were bolted into the front and rear—Dana 44 and Dana 60, respectively—and the triangulated four-link suspension features FOX 2.5 Race Series coil-overs. Stopping power is provided by Baer six-piston Extreme disc brakes at all four corners. Road Shop handled the driveshafts, custom chassis, and front anti-sway bar.
Interior and Exterior
"Floating" is the interior theme of the in-house-fabbed seats, with upholstery work by Upholstery Unlimited. There are Dakota Digital gauges, and a custom Ringbrothers-designed carbon-fiber steering wheel machined by Sparc Industries. Exterior carbon fiber takes shape in areas that include the custom hood and fender flares, under which are Cooper Discoverer STT PRO tires and 18-inch wheels, a custom design by Gary Ragle that came to life via HRE Wheels.
See More Ringbrothers SEMA 2022 Builds!
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Watch the New Car Craft Video Series!
To kick off theCar CraftYouTube video series, hosts Kevin Tetz and John McGann immerse themselves in the task of swapping a Gen 3 Hemi into a 1972 Dodge Challenger. And this isn't just any old Hemi—we're dropping a 707-horsepower Hellcat into the car and putting one of Tremec's brand-new TKX five-speed transmissions behind it. The Challenger is also getting a brand new coilover suspension and a brake upgrade. The goal is to make it run and drive like a new Hellcat-powered Challenger, but with the classy good looks of the original E-Body. After you'd done with episode 1, watch EPISODE 2 and EPISODE 3, then sign up to the MotorTrend YouTube channel for more great automotive content!
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