NO CLEARANCE: A Classy Transformation of a 1980 Chevy K5 Blazer

GREGG OVIST . April 16, 2024 . Chevrolet

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A 1980 Chevy K5 Blazer That’s as Classy as it is Low

Photos by Brandon Burrell/Burrell Images

The adjective “classy” (class-y / klas’e) is used to define something that is elegant, stylish and sophisticated, and to be truthful these are the perfect adjectives to describe this K5 build. With the K5 Blazer market being on fire like it is nowadays, one should consider themselves very lucky to have the chance to own one of these classics. The lifted and lowered stances of the K5 Blazers are consistently demanding attention.

If you’re N2BNLOW like Jim and Kimberly Allen are from Santee, California, then you will be drooling over their 1980 Chevrolet K5 blazer named “NO CLEARANCE.”

When Jim was growing up in the ’80s he was a huge fan of the lowered Blazers and always wanted one of his own. As we all know life happens and Jim never had the chance to focus on himself and prioritize his dream. Now many years later and after becoming a leader in the construction industry, it was time for Jim to project manage his dream and build his Blazer. First step was to find the right Blazer. After shopping around for several years and attending several auctions Jim still was not able to acquire a K5 he needed to start this project.

After some time had passed while looking on the internet, he found one at a consignment company that was out of state. The distance made it hard for Jim to move fast on the purchase. He called and expressed interest but never received communication back in time. Several days later he noticed online that it had already been sold. The frustration Jim had was unbearable and casted a cloud on his upcoming family vacation.

As time went by, the day when his vacation was fast approaching and during the hectic-ness and packing, guess what happened next? The Blazer that he wanted from the consignment company arrived at his front door. To his surprise his wife Kimberly had secretly bought it and had it shipped to the house arriving 45 minutes before they were set to leave for the airport. Jim was speechless but had no time to let it sink in of what just had happened. He took a quick drive around the block with the biggest smile on his face and had to quickly park it the garage and head to the airport. What a great start to his vacation knowing that his dream K5 Blazer was finally his and waiting for him at home.

With the support of his wife Kimberly, once they returned home, they began making a list and pulling the triggers to build the dream truck that Jim had always wanted. The big questions still needed to be answered: Did Jim know what he was getting into? How long would this build take? How much would it cost? Would it all come together the way they wanted? Let’s see how all of this turns out.

FROM STOCK TO NOT

Jim started with a stock 1980 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 2WD. The first thing on the list was to swap out the original V-6 to a V-8. He located a 2009 Chevrolet 502 Deluxe crate engine provided by Chevrolet Performance and Jim pulled the V-6 out quickly. The new V-8 came with forged aluminum pistons with a compression ratio of 9.6:1, and with the new connecting rods he was set up for success. This new heart was connected to a turbo 350 transmission, which we all know delivers the power especially when it’s connected to modified 12 bolt posi rearend. Now toward the front and on the top of the engine, Jim decided to go with the Edelbrock Performer carburetor. To get the most bang for his buck, he went with Holley headers and stainless steel 3-inch Flow Master exhaust with cutouts. This Blazer sounds scary going down the road.

Now let’s talk about adjusting the stance because, we all know that the stance of a custom vehicle is one of the most important decisions. Well, we already know that Jim likes everything low with the least amount of clearance, but how would he achieve his dream look? As you can see, he went with a lowering kit provided from Belltech which gave his K5 the best stance possible and added the perfect wheel and tire package. He selected Raceline Wheels “Tumbler” series putting a 22×9 in the front and a deep 22×11 in the rear and by adding the redline tires Jim gave his Blazer an old school Hot Wheels look.

Next on Jim’s list were the exterior colors. This can be a hard choice since these colors always define the overall style of a build, so Jim and Kim had to decide if they wanted subtle or crazy custom designs. As you can see, they went with a couple classy colors with the nostalgic two-tone design. The exterior colors they selected were a deep Root Beer Brown with the classic insert being painted Polar White, which are both PPG colors. The factory chrome trim ties it all together. I have to say that I love the fact that Jim kept the factory bumpers and grille, which keeps the authentic look front and center.

After making some major decisions on the powerplant and the exterior finishes, it’s time to move on to the interior. This is where comfort meets the road, because no matter how cool your truck is, if you’re not comfortable behind the wheel you won’t enjoy driving it. I have to say that Jim will not have a problem. The interior design and selections are phenomenal. Jim knew that he wanted to have a two-tone combo but wasn’t sure on how to achieve his dream interior. So, what did Jim do? He turned to Old Town Upholstery in Escondido, California, and let them run with it. They went with a distressed tan and brown leather, which is a great contrast to the Dark Root Beer exterior and the interior lower dash frame. As you can see, a lot of hours went into this interior with the custom woodwork, mitering and routing, and the subtle pieces of acrylic. Check out the custom stitching—and let’s not forget the matching travel bag. Nice touch!

So, after seeing Jim’s dream K5 Blazer come to life, I would have to say, “Well done!” Not only has Jim maintained the classic K5 look, but he also also kept it clean and classy. Jim and Kimberly go to many events, such as Goodguys, C-10 Nationals, and South Eastern Truck Nationals. So, if you’re ever at one of these events go find Jim and take a look at this well-built gem and give him a big thumbs up for achieving his goal.

P.S. Jim, you better not EVER forget Kimberly’s birthday or an anniversary!!

Q&A with Jim Allen

We asked Jim a few questions about the process of building his dream Blazer. This is what he had to say.

Street Trucks: What was your biggest challenge during this build?

Jim Allen: “The hardest thing I encountered was waiting impatiently to drive it.”

Street Trucks: We have all been there Jim. Patience is a daily requirement for on a project like yours.

Street Trucks: What did you learn from building this Blazer?

Jim Allen: “‘Self control’ lol.”

Street Trucks: Haha, don’t forget to put “self-control” at the top of your list on the next build!

Street Trucks: What is one unique feature that you like the most about the Blazer?

Jim Allen: “I love my venetian blinds.”

Street Trucks: I agree, Jim. It’s a nice touch, and again, “classy!”

Street Trucks: How much did this build cost you?

Jim Allen: “A lot.”

Street Trucks: No dollar amount? Kimberly must have been standing close by. Lol

Street Trucks: How long did this project take you?

Jim Allen: “Three years.”

Street Trucks: That timeline is not that bad for what you accomplished, but I am sure it seemed like 10 years on some days.

Street Trucks: What was the highlight at the completion of your build?

Jim Allen: “Besides driving it for the first time, I would say it was the people I have met along the way who provided help and direction, and it was a blast just hanging out with other Chevy truck enthusiasts.”

Street Trucks: I couldn’t agree with you more Jim. There is a great group of enthusiasts that are always willing to share helpful information and ideas.