"DIMS, TYVM," or if you aren't...
"DIMS, TYVM," or if you aren't acronmy-savy, "Did it myself, thank you very much."
It's funny how, in a vain attempt, the world tries to streamline itself with funny little acronyms. Acronyms are those strings of random letters that represent the first letter in a series of words. You're all familiar with them - FBI, ACLU, NFL, NRA, and the ever popular DIY, or for all of you stuck under a rock, do it yourself. Well, while the rest of the world was worrying about LOLing in AOL chat rooms, Daniel Simpson was busy building his old-school '85 Blazer, DIY-style.
Quite a few modifications were needed to get the Blazer to lay the rockers on the ground. Daniel started by ripping apart the front suspension as well as liberating the Blazer from its mini-me motor. Firestone 'bags, Belltech 2-inch drop spindles, as well as chopped and channeled control arms do the work up front. Attached to the rear axle, a custom two-link was fabricated and set up with Firestone 'bags. Although laying frame is nice, laying rocker is always tighter, so Mr. DIY grabbed the plasma cutter and body-dropped the Blazer 6-1/2 inches the traditional way. To allow the 20-inch billet Eagle Alloy 212 wheels to get sucked up, the rear was tubbed and a section was cut from the floor for the axle.
 A smoothie bumper from a fullsize...  A smoothie bumper from a fullsize was cut down to fit, and then molded into the front of the truck. |  The rear of the Blazer has...  The rear of the Blazer has been stuffed with four 10-inch Kicker subs as well as a Rockford Fosgate 601S amplifier. |  Daniel's 355ci Mouse motor...  Daniel's 355ci Mouse motor was loaded up with KB Pistons and a Scat crank, and then topped with high-flow 2.02 heads. |
The replacement for the stock powerplant is a 350ci small-block, which was bored 0.30 over, stuffed with KB pistons and a Scat crank, and topped with 2.02 heads. Daniel then dropped the Mouse motor between the framerails and mated it to a Turbo 350 transmission. Hedman headers hug each side of the block and flow to the rear via a 3-inch DynoMax exhaust. The stock rearend gears were replaced with a lower set of 4:11s for a little extra grab.
To clean up the exterior of the truck, Daniel shaved the body line, door handles, mirrors, and taillights. The rear bumper was removed and replaced with a roll pan. Up front, a smoothie bumper, which was manufactured for a fullsize Chevy, was cut down to fit, and then molded in to cap off the front. Above the smoothie bumper sits a phantom grille and a fiberglass hoodscoop. After the truck was shaved clean, Daniel's friend Patrick laid down a set of flames using House of Kolor's pigments.
The inside of the Blazer was transformed into a flowing mix of upholstery and fiberglass. The stock dash was removed and replaced with a smooth version that incorporates vinyl flames over red tweed. A custom fiberglass console houses the switches, gauges, and an Alpine unit. Tweed and vinyl continue to the rear of the cab, where four 10-inch Kicker subs and a 1,800-watt Rockford Fosgate amp reside.
Whether it's suspension, bodywork, fiberglass, or stitchwork, Daniel is the epitome of Mr. DIY, which is why if you ever get the chance to talk to him, he'll tell you, "DIMS, TYVM," or if you aren't acronym-savvy, "Did it myself, thank you very much."
 |  Twenty-inch Eagle Alloy 212...  Twenty-inch Eagle Alloy 212 wheels wrapped in Nitto 245/35 rubber get sucked up into the fenders when the truck is laid out. |  A huge custom ragtop was cut...  A huge custom ragtop was cut into the roof and pleated with three Lexan strips. |