Night Krawler

June 29th,2009
After having numerous conversations on the phone, over a three month time span, I got the final call to come see a 97’ Chevy Blazer. This investigation discovered the plans for transforming this stock Blazer into a hill climbing rock eating power machine. However, that remains looking stock. The purpose of this vehicle is to build a rock-crawler that is different from the norm, but at the same time it is a very highly capable trail rig. This build is expanding the mold of a rock-crawler. This project's code name is the “Night-Krawler” for now. The list of modifications is long but Jesse Hahn, age 23 from Denver, Colo., knows what he wants from this build. Jesse is a master mechanic at 4 Wheel Parts by day, and by night a fabricator. From this build he would like to attract attention of sponsors to help him start his dream job. That dream job is rock-crawling and getting paid at the same time. This vehicle wasn’t the first candidate, but was an easy pick when trading it for a snowboard. The vehicle is being built in a two car garage by Jesse Hahn and Dusty Lind. Keep checking back for updates and what mass mayhem develops in building something off the chart. "R U PISSED?"

The starting ideas of the 97’ Chevy Blazer:

Exterior extras- Headlights will be yellow H.I.D 3,000 Kelvin, four 7 inch rounded L.E.D lights mounted on roof

Interior features- 12 point cage, one ten inch sub, Limo tint and a stealth mode

Body color- Painted by Dusty Lind matte black with red calipers and pinstriping on wheels

Motor-LQ9 6.0l 370hp, 200lbs shot of nitrous

Tranny-4l60e with a trick shift pattern

T-case-6.0 Atlas Highlander, Solenoid Shifted

Axles-
Front Dana 60-5:13 gears, Spooled, Blue Torch Truss, Crane Hi-Steer Knuckles, Dutchmen Shafts 40 spline inter and outers, 4 piston calipers with disc brakes

Rear 14 Bolt-5:13 gears, Spooled, Ten Shafts 35 spline, Sniper truss, stopping power 4 pistion cailpers with disc brakes

Suspension- Nitrogen Shocks at the front rating at 1600 lbs each corner and 800 lbs in the rear at each corner totaling four and a half feet of travel full use of the four link front and rear. Later plans incorporate coil overs instead. Pulling winch duty for the suspension is two 2000 lbs. winches.

Tires- 40x12.50x17 inch Goodyear Krawler Comp 8 ply

Wheels- Double beadlocks

Winch Duties- A warn 9500lb crawler front mounted behind stinger

Steering- Full hydro with 2 1/2 x 8 inch stroke by PSC mounted behind axle

Fuel cell- RCI flat 17 gallon installed under body so there is no fumes in cab.

Picture's of the Blazer in the Beginning Stage>>>>>>>>













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July 1,2009
Two days went by, and I received a phone call from Jesse saying there was a paint scheme in the works. The motor was in his possession and I need to come see it. On my way over there, I kept going over in my head something Jesse said, "it will fly." He said it numerous times with a smile on his face. That kept me wondering what the paint scheme may be. When I showed up, I saw a motor on a stand like seeing a new heart on the operating table. It got bigger as I approached it. The heart of the beast is a LQ9 or what is commonly known as a 2002 6.0 Liter, 400 cubic inch and 370 horse power from a 3500 Chevy Express Van with only 27,000 miles on it. A great find. It had been sitting at a friend's shop for about a month because it was pulled for replacement. At the same time, he purchased a LS-7 intake from a 2008 Z06 Corvette. The construction of the motor consists of the block being made of cast steel. As for the oilpan and heads they are made of aluminum. The paint scheme was definitely different from the norm. A mix and match of gloss black and flat black rapped around the body, making it look like mountain peaks.

Plans for the motor are
- new rear main cover
- porting it for easier exhaust
-tear down and cleaning
-resealing
-painting of the oil pan to red(could change)
-timing chain, from chain to gear driven(which will sound similar to a supercharger)
-headers will most likely be Edlebrock huggers to fit inside the frame rails but would preferred would be Borla if space is available in the engine bay
-wiring will be done by Jesse himself
-Computer, Throttle body and Mass Air Flow will be from Jet












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August 8th,2009
Sad to say but this project has been but on hold because Jesse wants to get parts gathered up and finish up another project. Needless to say, he needs to clean up his garage and make a rig for next wheeling season. Once the other rig is done, he is in high hopes of having a lot of the parts he needs ready to go into this crazy off the chart rig. This project may take some time building. It will be worth checking in on as much detail that is being put into the Night Krawler.