The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Ok, so call me crazy but I do have another Gasser project in mind, and I still have a few loose ends with the Willys, but here is where you guys may think that I've gone off the rails a bit. I REALLY like the RC4wd K5 Blazer kit. BUT I REALLY REALLY like the Dodge Ramcharger too. But no one makes the hard body version, so, here I go, my next build - I am going thru some pre-planning, and I mentioned elsewhere that my next build would be a Mopar, so I am going to attempt to take a perfectly good K5 and try to morph it into a Ramcharger, the early '90's version. Of course there is the numerous issues, top doesn't come off, tailgate is one piece, wheel well, body lines, bulges HOLY CRAP, maybe I should re-think it? NAH!!!!! So here I go begins with it sitting on it's chassis, just a SCX10 with some goodies, on with the inspiration!

So here's the plastic surgery list.....

Trim/remove wheel opening flares
Trim/reduce the stock character lines, fade them mid doors and before "Dodge" rear quarter panel bumps
Trim K5 door locks
Fill front marker lights
Fill lower sill plate/rocker panel TF2 mounting holes
Remove/relocate rear tailgate handle
Combine rear hatch/tailgate, expand rear cap opening
Raise cap side glass openings to match Ramcharger's
Trim hood, leading edge to match Ramcharger's
Add rear quarter "bump outs"
Raise upper character lines
Add '70 'Cuda AAR hood scoop
Increase taillight opening size
Add material to leading edge of front fenders, Dodge is more vertical – K5 had a slight cant

Inspiration pic...
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps7libwqkp.jpg
Sit'in stock....
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psrrx0ymhe.jpg
Let the surgery begin!
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps9fnwtipc.jpg
Trimming back the leading edge of the hood....
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psojetqlmg.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psjwfzbbj5.jpg

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

So the madness continues....the morphing of the K5 into Ramcharger, here it is after the first pass at body filler, hood, grill and rear tailgate work.

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psdxhbakrj.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psnhyrkmg3.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psz12z7pic.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...pseb3b0rid.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psbg9rqwed.jpg

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Nice looking hood scoop.

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Looking good.
Not sure what your plans are for the doors, but to get the mopar look instead of the GM, you might need to cut the top of the doors off a bit and lower the tops and fill the opening a bit as part of the roof.

GM doors seem to go to roofline
Mopar roofs seem to roll over the edge some resulting in some of the roof being seen over door opening.

Which would also help with the rear window when extended larger in height to be more Mopar-ish.

Looking good, great idea"thumbsup"

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

WooHoo!!, another killer fabrication "thumbsup"

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Reminds me of an past builder from scale4x4, she used to convert the Clod bodies into dudge turks. Can't remember her screen name. It looks like you're on the right track! "thumbsup""thumbsup"

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Can't wait to see this one done

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Ohh my, if I hadn't seen your progress, I'd of said your nuts. You do some sweet work! Can't wait to see how this turns out.

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Thanks for the comments and advice guys!

Here's a quick Blazer/Charger update. Body work is a little further along. Added the roof drip rail, raised the cap side glass openings, revamped the grill, smoothed most of the body side details, smoothed the tailgate, removed the K5 details, made the rear tailgate a one piece unit with lifts.. And the tough part, deciding what to do with the cap. So far I do not want to "weld it" like the '93 would have been. I am using dowel pins to locate it and will be adding magnets to secure it. Problem is the RC4WD cap expands a bit where it meets the bed and doesn't look as smooth as the real deal.

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psmuquiguq.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps6vqzq5gc.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps6kxcegif.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psnmekequ8.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psziex38y9.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psqngypf2n.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps3s2zftmn.jpg

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Time for a Blazer/Charger update. I hid a couple magnets in the upper sides of the bed, couldn't recess them as far as I wanted so there is a very small cap that covers them. The at the rear of the top/cap there's a couple hidden as well. The "flip upside down" test so far works, between the dowel pins and the magnets its pretty secure. Filled a couple of unwanted holes in the bed by the tailgate. Added the front grill inserts, framed the rear taillight openings and gave it the first coat of primer. Now for lots of block sanding, filler and more primer.

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...pskoicrczc.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psnwdvoqys.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psqtwxepjf.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps3hpmvges.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psdoemqepi.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psxczn6hq9.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psilzybbon.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...pskxhbyu6u.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psere9vpnb.jpg

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Hey Joe, for no longer than you have been doing styrene your skills and imagination are amazing. I would never have thought to try this conversion let alone be able to do it! You are a true artist, and a huge asset to this form. Keep up the good work!!!"thumbsup"
Ernie,

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Ernie, wow man greatly appreciate the kind words. I't truly a hobby I enjoy. And as you may have read, I really thought I was crazy to attempt this. It's not in color yet so there's a long way to go. BTW your builds a freaking awesome as well!

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Blazer/Charger update. So i figure since I am grafting a six pack hood scoop to the build I should consider putting a six pack under it!

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psmc0xtduw.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps5g5v2oj9.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psnscbvdh6.jpg

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Blazer/Charger engine build update, added the induction, cowl induction - carb base, air filter, air cleaner cover and 440 Magnum exhaust manifolds. Now gotta add a few more engine details and get back on body work!

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps7joexwuc.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psyeaiiu5f.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps9giuwpky.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psxuum3agp.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psvkwc67m8.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psnhrlbaqn.jpg

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

holy craftsmanship! not even 3d printed! wow. your really making me miss my ramcharger...

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Thanks crawlingman9000!

Note to self, test fit scale engine before completely building it! Oh well, had to move the electronics around on the chassis I am using, then had to "machine" the bottom of the block to fit the chassis.

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps7hbzuqa6.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psv6oskuty.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psfqyyya7l.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psrb4ucxgw.jpg
http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...psf07y4bcs.jpg

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Loving the ramcharger joe, can't wait to see it finished! "thumbsup"

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

You always see chevy engines go into everything it is nice to see a mopar engine going into a chevy. Nice work on the detail on the engine. Love six paks.

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

Wow, all around coolness. Keep up the great work !

Re: The Blazer/Charger or I May Be Nuts?
 

This is freaking awesome!
"thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup"