Up next New Truck News | Ford’s New 7.3-Liter V8 Deserves the “Godzilla” Name, 2020 Roush Ford Ranger Full Review and Lordstown Motors Developing Electric RV Published on December 17, 2020 Author Chris Hamilton Tags 1967-72 C-10 Blazer, Arizona Kustom Koncepts, Desert Valley Auto Parts, Firestone airbags, Sav-On Transmission, TOYO Tires, Share article Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Mail 0 72 Staxx | A 520hp, 1972 Chevrolet 2WD K5 rolling on 26″ wheels! When Frank Nuñez of Phoenix told his friends that he wanted to build a 1967-72 C-10 Blazer on 24s and 26s, many told him that it couldn’t be done. Those wheels are huge in an older truck, and just wouldn’t fit the wheel wells from front to back. Why build a truck if you can’t drive it? But those who knew Frank understood that not only was it going to happen, it was going to be amazing. It all started at Desert Valley Auto Parts (DVAP) in Phoenix. Long known as a mecca for pre-1970 car and truck parts, it was the place where Frank would start the search for his ideal project. The owner of DVAP and Frank are friends, and when a ’72 Blazer came onto the lot, he knew who to call. After some paperwork was cleared with the state, Frank took home his new-to-him Blazer to give it a new life. The truck was dropped off to Ernie Greene at Sav-On Transmission in Phoenix because that’s where everything that Frank builds is sent first. Ernie is Frank’s go-to guy for everything custom, and he’s the man who coordinates the build process. The two roughed out a plan and then got after it, ready to show the world how to do the impossible. Let’s take a moment to talk about that wheel combo, because it’s the shining part of this build. Getting those big rollers on the Blazer wouldn’t be easy or cheap. It started with ordering the rims from Intro, making sure to request as big a lip as possible. Both wheels were clad in 275/25 Toyo tires—24s up front and 26s in the rear—making the billets look as though they’re painted with rubber. To do the suspension, Ernie teamed up with Allen at Arizona Kustom Koncepts in Phoenix to get the truck down to a respectable stance. The front suspension was narrowed and dropped on coil springs to put the fender just above the tire. Then the rearend was pulled in, and a set of Firestone airbags was installed on the factory trailing arms. Because big wheels make small brakes look horrible, they installed Baer 15-inch drilled and slotted rotors with six-piston calipers on the front and rear. Then the suspension was torn down, detailed and reassembled for the perfect look. Of course, that wasn’t all that needed to be done to fit these wheels. Up front, Frank wanted to retain the use of the stock inner fender wells. To accomplish this, they were raised then notched for the hood hinges. On the outer fender skin, the entire front lip was cut, widened and massaged back into place so that it looks like the fenders were stamped that way from the factory. Out back, the rearend had to be tubbed 2 inches on each side, so the interior seat was narrowed 4 inches to make it look factory. That steel work was just a portion of the restoration process, as a quite a bit of the rockers and lower panels were replaced with new metal as well. Once everything was smooth and flat, G&P Customs of Phoenix came in to lay down a coat of black PPG urethane. With the truck still reeking of paint, all of the chrome came back from Jeff, aka “The Chrome Guy”, and it was bolted onto the truck. Along the way the engine was built as well. He could’ve used just any old carbureted 350 and people would have been sufficiently impressed, but Frank wanted to take it up a notch. He picked up a V-8 engine from a 2004 Silverado and dropped it into the truck instead. Eric Hill and Mike Fisher of Phoenix handled the swap, and in the process, upped the displacement to 400 ci. An LS2 cam, high-amp alternator, Lunati billet crank, Eagle H-beam rods, Arias pistons and AFR aluminum heads are all in or on that motor, combining to produce 520 hp and 580 ft-lbs of torque. Then it was bolted to a 2004 4L60E trans with a Corvette high-stall converter, courtesy of Ernie back at Sav-On Transmissions. The same amount of detail on the outside of the truck can be found on the inside, too. The seats were redone in the original black vinyl with patterns by Country Upholstery in Phoenix. A tilt column was added, and a billet wheel and console were installed for added flair. The completed interior gives off a stock feel, with little hits of custom here and there. There are other details on this truck that are often missed by the casual observer. Things like the rare green-tinted glass from Bell Glass in Phoenix, or the smoothed camper on the back end, just to name a few. This truck is covered in little details, but they’re all very subtle, which is exactly how Frank wanted it. So what’s next for Frank and his projects? Rumor has it he’s building a twin of this truck but in pickup form, and then he wants to do a 4×4 version. There’s also myriad other vehicles coming and going from his property, so who knows what will turn up next. What we do know is that whatever it is, it’ll be clean and packed with details. Truck Specs Owner: Frank Nuñez 1972 Chevrolet 2WD K5 Phoenix, AZ Engine: Performed by Eric Hill and Mike Fisher, Phoenix; Ernie at Sav-On Transmissions, Phoenix 2004 Chevrolet Vortec V-8 400 ci 520 hp A at 5,500 rpm 580 ft-lbs torque at 5,200 rpm LS2 camshaft Lunati 180-degree billet crank Eagle H-beam rods Arias forged piston Air Flow Research aluminum heads Camaro oil pan New stock valve covers Manual cooling fan Double roller timing chain 115-amp alternator Four-row radiator Painless wiring kit Custom-made motor mounts Affordable Exhaust Coating 3-inch exhaust tubing 3-inch Flowmaster muffler 2004 4l60E automatic transmission Corvette high-stall converter Optima battery K&N Filter Steel one-piece tubing for the radiator hoses Suspension: Performed by Allen at Arizona Kustom Koncepts in Phoenix, Ernie at Sav-On Trans in Phoenix Narrowed 1972 12-bolt rearend with posi and Moser axles Front inner wheel tubs stretched and notched for hood hinges and 24s 15-inch Baer drilled and slotted brakes with si-piston calipers front and rear 8-inch master cylinder Dropped and narrowed front suspension Airbags front and rear Trailing arms Factory pan hard bar Nitro shocks front and rear Wheels & Tires: 24- and 26-inch Intro Twisted Vistas 275/25R24 and 275/25R26 Toyo Tires Body & Paint: Gilbert at G&P Customs, Phoenix Stock removable hardtop, smoothed on the inside Inner rear wheel tubs stretched 2 inches per side Chrome bumpers and grille Tri-bar headlights Green glass Shaved tailgate handle PPG Urethane black Interior: Country Upholstery, Phoenix Rear seat narrowed 4 inches to accommodate tubs Original bucket seats Tilt steering column Wood-grain inserts Factory center console Intro Twisted Vista billet steering wheel That may look like a stock engine from a 2004 Chevrolet truck, but it’s been beefed up to put out 520 ponies to those 26s out back. If it wasn’t for that Intro billet steering wheel, you might think this was a stock truck, but it’s not. Frank and his team have gone through everything to make it factory fresh. One of the cooler tricks on the Blazer is the rear seat. It’s been cut and narrowed 4 inches to fit the wider wheel tubs. Yup, those are 26s on a 1967-72 Blazer, and to slow it down, 15-inch Baer brakes are mounted on all four corners.
New Truck News | Ford’s New 7.3-Liter V8 Deserves the “Godzilla” Name, 2020 Roush Ford Ranger Full Review and Lordstown Motors Developing Electric RV
ASE Launches Spanish-Language Option at ASE.com The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has added a new Spanish-language option to its ASE.com website. By clicking on “English” in the lower […] Chris Hamilton June 27, 2021 C10 Builders Guide Department Editor Industry News Latest Press Release Profiles Tech Uncategorized
1967 Chevy C10 on Ridetech air ride suspension A Super Clean ’67 Andy purchased this 1967 Chevy C10 on his 40th birthday. The truck was in a shed for more than 10 years […] Adam Johnson August 25, 2022 c10 C10 Builders Guide Department Editor Features HEADLINE Latest Profiles Reader Rides
SLEEPERADO | 640-horsepower 1986 Chevy Silverado Squarebody A Shop Truck That Scoots! Shop trucks can be a slippery slope for automotive-related business owners. On the one hand, they only need to be […] Mike Self September 20, 2023 C10 Builders Guide Features
SEMA SHOW AFTER-PARTY OPEN TO PUBLIC SEMA Ignited will provide consumers and the general public an opportunity to see and experience the mystique from the exclusive SEMA Show on Friday, Nov. […] Adam Johnson October 27, 2021 Blood Sweat and Gears c10 C10 Builders Guide COOL GEAR Department Editor Events F100 Builders F100 Builders Guide How to Industry News Latest OBS Builders Guide Podcast Press Release Product Reviews Profiles Reader Rides Show Tech Truck Reviews Uncategorized Videos