They call it Seaker.
Jim and Mike Ring are at it again; the duo took the wraps off their latest creation at this year’s SEMA show. “Seaker” is a 1971 Chevrolet K5 Blazer, and it offers the same high-quality craftsmanship and sex appeal of past Ringbrothers creations.
Named for its upcoming life as a beachcombing Florida truck, Seaker is the first four-wheel-drive vehicle to go under the Ringbrothers’ knife. The resulting product is a thing of dreams, and intricate detail-work abounds.
For example, Ringbrothers designed and fabricated the truck’s running boards, firewall, floors, side panels, air box, engine cover, and fan shroud. Similarly, Ringbrothers crafted larger wheel wells and installed a 1.0-inch lift to the Blazer in order to fit a set of 17-inch Circle Racing wheels shod in BF Goodrich all-terrain tires. Inside, Seaker features a rich, brown leather interior and modern dashboard design, as well as door hinges, door handles, and window cranks straight out of the Ringbrothers parts catalog.
Arguably, the real magic lies underhood. Powered by a General Motors-sourced LS3 crate engine, Seaker’s big V8 relies on a Holly Fuel system and a Flowmaster exhaust to help it pump out 430 horses (321 kilowatts). These ponies make their way to all four wheels by way of a four-speed automatic transmission.
We could seemingly write about Seaker for days, but the truth is you really have to see this classic K5 Blazer to appreciate it. While you may not be able to do so in-person at the SEMA show, we recommend admiring this beautiful beast by clicking through the images in our attached gallery.
Source: Ringbrothers
Gallery: Ringbrothers K5 Blazer
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Ringbrothers, the creative team behind some of SEMA’s most ambitious builds, returned to the show this year with a 1971 Chevrolet K-5 Blazer known as “Seaker.” The build is the first custom SUV by Jim and Mike Ring, crafted after years of successful muscle and sports car projects. “Seaker” combines form and function, taking the best of the K5 platform and adding modern performance and amenities with a show-quality finish.
“This build was unlike anything we had tackled before,” said Jim Ring. “It was a new platform for us, but after unveiling a truck last year, we were excited to take on the Blazer. We learned a lot on the K5 platform and we hope to bring that knowledge to future projects and parts development.”
“Seaker” is powered by a GM LS3 crate engine with a Holley Fuel System producing 430 hp. The GM powerplant is connected to a Bowler Performance 4L60E automatic transmission, while a custom Flowmaster exhaust provides a healthy growl. An AFCO Radiator with Prestone anti-freeze provides cooling for the big engine. Suspension components are provided by RideTech while the running boards, firewall, air box, engine covers, fan shroud, floors and side panels are all designed and fabricated by Ringbrothers.
The big Blazer is the first Ringbrothers 4×4 build and features subtle styling touches, a modern leather interior all wrapped in laser-straight sheet metal with the help of 3M refinishing tools including Cubitron finishing paper. Each panel was then coated in several layers of a custom BASF Glasurit color known as “Brazilian Smoke.”
The build is fitted with numerous Ringbrothers parts currently available for purchase including Hood Hinges, Universal Truck Tie Downs, Pro-Touring Door Handles and Pro-Touring Window Cranks. Each of these parts was manufactured and assembled in the same Wisconsin facility as “Seaker” and shares the same quality as every Ringbrothers product.
“This K5 was a blast to build and we couldn’t have done it without our sponsors,” added Mike Ring. “There were dozens of companies and individuals who contributed their know-how to help make this the best K5 it could be. With the platform growing in popularity we can see the industry shifting to support builders with more products and parts- opening all sorts of creative options. I don’t think this is the last you’ll see from us on this platform.”
The Blazer has a tasteful 1” body lift and larger wheel wells to make room for custom 17” Circle Racing wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires. On the interior, the upholstery is by Upholstery Unlimited, with A/C provided by Vintage Air. The K5 is destined for a life by the sea, exploring sandy back roads along the Florida coast – this is the origin of the name “Seaker.”
For more information on Ringbrothers and its 2018 SEMA appearance, stay tuned to its social media channels – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also, don’t miss the Ringbrothers University video series, in which Mike and Jim Ring give step-by-step tutorials on how to do bodywork.
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