Some guys just make us sick; green with envy, that is. Maurice Rozo is one of those fellas who shows up with all the cool toys and makes us wonder what we're doing wrong. Maurice has been working very hard for more than 10 years to make a name for his 4x4 shop, Off Road Unlimited, and when it was finally time to build his own rigs to head to the dirt in, he and his crew of top-notch techs built the combo you see here. The white '72 Blazer was originally assembled for a customer, but when it came up for sale, Maurice purchased it as a shop trail rig in case he and the guys wanted to go wheeling over the weekend. Plus, it's a great example to show off what the shop could do.
Then to make towing the big GM that much easier, Maurice and crew built probably the sickest '05 dualie on the planet. With less than 300 miles on the odo, this black Chevy hauler was torn apart in ORU's Burbank, California, shop, given its signature solid axle swap, and outfitted with just about every aftermarket component that would make it tow, recoer, and cruise better.
Imagine waking up Saturday morning, cruising to your favorite mud hole in that smooth extra-wide dualie, muddin; till the cows come home behind the wheel of a big-Boggered Blazer, and then cruisin home again is style. Yes, we're jealous. We're sure you are too.
JEALOUSY |
|||
TECH SPECS |
|||
'72 CHEVY BLAZER |
'05 CHEVY DUALIE |
||
Engine: |
454 big-block, Doug Throley headers, Holly carb, K&N filter, MSD ignition, Flowmaster exhaust |
Engine: |
Duramax Diesel with TTS power programmer and exhaust and AFE air-intake system |
Transmission: |
TH400 with Art Carr trans pan and shifter |
Transmission: |
Allison with Mag-Hytec trans pan |
Transfer Case: |
NP205 |
Transfer Case: |
NV263 |
Front Axle: |
Kingpin Dana 60, Teraflex T-locker, 5.13 gears |
Front Axle: |
Ball-joint Dana 60, ARB Locker, 4.56 gears |
Rear Axle: |
Corporate 14-bolt, Detroit Locker, 5.13 gears |
Rear Axle: |
AAM 11.50, 4.56 gears |
Tires & Wheels: |
TSL boggers 19.5/44-15 on 15x14 Allied wheels with bead locks |
Tires & Wheels: |
Pro Comp custom wheels with Pro Comp 37x13.50x17 X-Treme A/T tires. |
Suspension: |
Custom Atlas Springs, Bilstein 5100 shocks |
Suspension: |
Custom Atlas springs, ORU Solid-axle swap, sway bar, airbag, and King shocks |
Together these GMs have one thing in common: A solid Dana 60 front axle that neither came from the factory with. The '72 Blazer has a kingpin 60 from a Chevy truck, and is running 5.13 gears and aprototype selectable Teraflex T-locker differential. All shafts are 35-spline, and the pinion's been rotated 18 degrees for better driveshaft angles. The '05 dualie has a Super Duty style ball joint 60 with Genuine Gear 4.56 gears and and ARB Air Locker. In addition, both trucks run ORU's crossover steering kit with ram assist, but the dualie also has an ORU solid-axle swap kit, dif covers, a sway bar, and shock hoops with King shocks.