AQUANAUT: The Ultimate Custom Chevy K5 Blazer

A Gorgeous Chevy K5 Blazer Gets the Ultimate Custom Treatment

THE 1960s and ’70s played host to the original explosion of offerings in the SUV market, with many of the big-name manufacturers coming out with some form of sport utility vehicle alongside their pony and muscle car offerings during these two decades. But for Chevrolet C/K truck fans, you can’t get much more iconic than the classic Chevy K5 Blazer. 

For many kids in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, the Chevy K5 Blazer was a typical family vehicle—one that doubled as a workhorse on the weekend at that. Initially designed as a direct competitor to the International Harvester Scout, which made its debut for the 1961 model year, and the first-generation Ford Bronco, which made its debut in 1966, the K5 Blazer offered more space for both families and cargo than their original competitors, as well as 4WD capabilities matched with available niceties like air conditioning. And with the model being based on the K10 truck platform, the Blazer also offered a lower price point thanks to lower production costs.

The K5 name stuck around until 1988, though the lure of the model lasted long after. To this day, K5s are highly sought after not only for their good looks, but also factory off-road capabilities.

While many of us remember riding around in a well-used K5 at some point in our childhood, the models you see out and about now are typically far from work vehicles. These days, they are collector’s items and badass builds, just like Jeremy Carroll’s 1969 Chevy K5 Blazer gracing this month’s cover, dubbed “Aquanaut.”

Classic with Distinguishing Touches Looking at the color of this K5, its Aquanaut name should come as no surprise. Dubbed “Tiffany Blue” and laid by Benjamin Yost at Finishline Auto Body, the custom mixed paint on this Chevy is beyond dreamy, set off by brilliant white accents, from the removable convertible top to the interior. Even the Raptor Liner sprayed in the wheelwells is color-matched to the beautiful, vintage-inspired hue.

But take a look beyond the color scheme and you’ll find an impressively flaw-free build. Things like a shaved wiper cowl and corner lights on the fully restored body make the truck stand out from the crowd without taking away from the classic beauty of the first-year K5. Other features like an LMC Truck brush guard grille, 1968 truck moldings, AMP Research retractable running board, and new green-tinted glass and rubber seals add even more depth to the blue beauty.

A peep inside reveals an insanely gorgeous, full custom interior featuring white leather Snowden custom bucket seats up front and a matching bench in the rear. Upholstered by New Creations of Lattimore, North Carolina, the seats match the custom door panels, dash cover, and speaker box.

Up front, Dakota Digital gauges keep Jeremy apprised of the goings-on of his truck on the road, while a Billet Specialties steering wheel gives him the ultimate control of the gorgeous custom. A factory radio with USB attachment tied to a plethora of JBL speakers, amplifiers and subwoofers make jamming out in the custom a real treat, while LED lighting throughout gives the interior even more flash, whether at a show or cruising around town. The truck also features a Vintage Air heat and air conditioning system.

Wanting everything protected, Jeremy had Charles Camper at Direct Auto Reconditioning & Sales, a business Jeremy co-owns, do a full Ceramic Pro ceramic-coating on both the truck’s exterior as well as interior.

Sky High 

Lowered or lifted, stance can make or break the overall appeal of a custom build. But with a 5-inch suspension lift done by Motor City K5, paired with a 3-inch Rough Country lift, Smoky Mountain Rod & Customs knocked Jeremy’s vision for another impressive K5 build out of the park! The truck also features FOX dual-reservoir shocks both front and rear, giving the vintage K5 superior ride quality, while the added crossover steering system helps produce the correct steering geometry considering the truck’s lift, as well as deliver  a tighter steering dynamic for rough roads or other off-camber driving.

Just like with the body and the interior, the entire undercarriage is ceramic coated with Ceramic Pro product.

The Heart of the Beast

Powering the gorgeous K5 is a fully painted and ceramic-coated 2012 Chevrolet 6.2L LS3 V-8 built by Smoky Mountain Rod & Customs. This bad boy features a Painless Wiring harness, Brian Tooley Racing Stage 2 camshaft, and a GM Performance intake manifold. Expelling spent fuel from the engine is a custom exhaust system featuring 3-inch Flowtech headers that lead into a custom-configured exhaust built from Summit Racing Equipment stainless piping and mufflers from Black Widow Exhaust.

Backing the mighty LS3 is a 2012 4L60 automatic transmission outfitted with a Chevy Performance SuperMatic control system, GM Performance shift kit, and a custom 3,000-stall torque converter. The standard transfer case gives the truck a crawl-worthy 2.05 low-range ratio, while the Dana 44 front axle and Chevy 12-bolt rearend bolsters the truck for anything that could stand in its way.

Planting the truck to the pavement are JTX Forged Melee wheels wrapped in 355/40R22 Nitto Trail Grappler tires. Behind the wheels and tires sit Wilwood rotors with Superlite 6 calipers on all four corners, powdercoated Satin Pearl White for an additional contrast to the K5’s body color. Stainless hardlines run the full length of the body from a Wilwood hydroboost master cylinder for top-notch braking power.

Jeremy’s 1969 Chevy K5 checks every box you could ask for when it comes to a custom truck—classic looks, amazing paint job, exquisite interior, and all the power and performance you could want. With over three years into the build and the quality of the finished product, you might think it would be a “keeper” for Jeremy, but he admits that he’s nearly ready for it to find a new owner. That being said, if given the chance to purchase this gorgeous K5 in the future, we’d highly recommend jumping on it. After all, this is one of the nicest K5s we’ve come across to date!

TRUCK SPECS 

Chassis & Suspension

• 5-inch suspension lift done by Motor City K5 Brighton, MI
• FOX dual-reservoir shocks both front and rear
• 3-inch Rough Country body lift
• Crossover steering system
• Ceramic Pro ceramic-coated undercarriage done by Charles Camper at Direct Auto Reconditioning & Sales of Flats, TN
• Suspension built and installed by Smoky Mountain Rod & Customs of Knoxville, TN

Wheels & Tires

• JTX Forged Melee wheels
• 355/40R22 Nitto Trail Grappler tires

Engine & Drivetrain

• 2012 Chevrolet 6.2L LS3 V8
• Painless Wiring harness
• Brian Tooley Racing Stage 2 camshaft
• GM Performance intake manifold
• Flowtech 3-inch headers
• Custom 3-inch exhaust system with Summit Racing Equipment stainless piping parts
• Black Widow mufflers
• Ceramic Pro ceramic-coated engine and engine bay done by Charles Camper at Direct Auto Reconditioning & Sales
• 2012 4L60 automatic transmission
• Chevy Performance SuperMatic control system
• GM Performance shift kit
• Custom 3,000-stall torque converter
• Stock transfer case with 2.05 low-range ratio
• Dana 44 front axle
• Chevy 12-bolt rearend
• Wilwood rotors with Superlite 6 calipers on both front and rear
• Calipers powdercoated Satin Pearl White by Black Label Coatings, Chuckey, TN
• Stainless brake hardlines front and rear
• Wilwood hydroboost master cylinder
• Engine and transmission painted by Blake Gorgan of Paint by Blake, Cookeville, TN
• Engine and drivetrain built and installed by Smoky Mountain Rod & Customs

Body & Paint

• LMC Truck brush guard grille
• Color-matched Raptor Liner in wheel wells
• Shaved wiper cowl and corner lights
• 1968 truck side moldings
• AMP Research retractable running board
• New green-tinted glass and rubber seals
• Ceramic Pro ceramic-coated body done by Charles Camper at Direct Auto Reconditioning & Sales
• Custom “Tiffany Blue” paint laid by Benjamin Yost at Finishline Auto Body,  Howard City, MI
• Top restored and paint touch-ups by Blake Gorgan of Paint by Blake,Cookeville, TN

Interior & Stereo

• Full custom interior compliments of Jason Mode
• White leather Snowden custom bucket seats up front and bench in the rear, upholstered by New Creations of Lattimore, NC
• Custom door panels, dash cover and speaker box
• Dakota Digital gauges
• Billet Specialties steering wheel
• Factory radio with USB attachment
• JBL Club 1000 class D amplifier
• JBL Club A754 amplifier
• JBL 6.5 component speaker set
• JBL Stadium two-way component speakers
• JBL Stadium 10-inch subwoofers
• Vintage Air heat and air conditioning system
• LED lighting throughout
• Ceramic Pro ceramic-coated interior done by Charles Camper at Direct Auto Reconditioning & Sales

Special Thanks From Owner

“I would like to thank our shop manager Justin Wyatt for managing this project and the team at Direct Auto Reconditioning & Sales for keeping it fresh and clean for show season; Rob Perry from Smoky Mountain Rod & Customs for all the attention to detail in the engine bay and undercarriage, stainless exhaust system, and hardlines front to rear—fuel and brake lines; Jason Mode for the over-the-top white interior, sound system install, and AMP running board install; my goofy buddy Blake Grogan for restoring the top, painting the engine and transmission, paint touchups, [and] truck body side moldings; my brother Jimmy Oliver for keeping me upbeat and moving forward when it came to a halt and I wanted to catch it on fire; last but not least my wife Jennifer Carroll for letting me spend our retirement on some fun!”

Photo Credit: Brandon Burrell