DEEBO

We all remember the movie Friday starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker as Craig and Smokey – two lovable characters from the hood, but it was Tiny ‘Zeus’ Lister Jr.’s role as Deebo that stole every scene he was featured in. The slow moving, calculating thug from the block stood as the epitome of intimidation (except for when Craig knocked him the f**k out at the end). Stealthily prowling the streets on his squeaky beach cruiser was his forte, and there was only one thing he was looking for, and that was trouble. While Deebo wasn’t exactly a stand-up character to base your personality on, it was his unwavering display of badassery that inspired Jake Dominguez to shape his ’72 K5 Blazer around. 

“My brother Telly told me that I should name my Blazer Deebo, actually”, Jake says. “Because at every show, people would bully me asking what was up with the status of the build and when was it going to be ready. Now, my Blazer is the one doing the bullying.” 

To be fair to the crowd though, Jake has owned this Blazer for 20 years. His friends were mostly pestering him about his progress to help push the project along but there was a lot more going on behind the scenes than they knew. “The truck sat for many of those years due to life in general getting in the way”, Jake admits. “My truck wasn’t a top priority, and I honestly never thought that it would get finished.”

Jake purchased the Blazer from a co-worker’s husband some two decades ago. It was in running condition, equipped with a big block, and still had the original blue paint with white top. He paid a mere $2,500 for it back then, and throughout the years, he changed up a lot of things – most have been heavily upgraded to get its current state, however. When it came time to prep the factory chassis to sit as low as it does now, front and rear Porterbuilt Extreme Dropmember systems were affixed to the frame, along with CPP 2.5-inch drop spindles, KYB shocks, Firestone ‘bags and an AccuAir e-Level to add excellent ride quality and user-friendliness to the suspension equation. 

Wheel selection always presents an important undertaking, and Jake searched high and low for the ideal set of hoops for his Blazer. The 22-inch Billet Specialties Legacy 2 wheels feature a classic 5-spoke design, but it’s the use of knockoffs that give it that street-savvy appearance that the truck’s namesake would most certainly approve of. To step it up a notch, Diamond Back Redline tires were added to the mix for a subtle touch of color. 

With the Blazer sitting low, the next order of business was locking down an engine to drop into it – and a tried-and-true GM 350 would serve as the power plant of choice. Easton Speed Works in Evanston, Wyoming outfitted the mill with a variety of Edelbrock performance products, an aluminum Champion radiator with dual electric fans, and a Billet Specialties Tru Trac serpentine belt system among other top shelf accessories to ensure the engine runs great and displays even better. To assist in improving the appearance inside the bay area, VanNatta Fab radiator and core support bead-rolled covers and Hart Fab inner fenders were test fit then painted for an ultra-clean finish. 

By this point, Jake already had a couple of design ideas in mind for his Blazer. He knew that he wanted it to have an outwardly chill yet menacing appearance, so he opted to go for the roadster route – without the use of the top. And while he did envision something in the way of a murdered-out paint scheme, he landed on a single stage shiny black paint job with the slightest inclusion of red along the lower body molding. To help make this portion of the build go off without a hitch, Jake enlisted the help of Josh Simon at Simon’s Rod Shop in Salem, Utah to lend his expertise. 

While in Josh’s care, the windshield was laid back, the doors were capped, and a custom bed floor was fabricated before the entirety of Blazer was bodyworked to a smooth-as-hell finish. From there, the PPG paint was expertly applied and the freshly chrome bumpers and grille was bolted back on to complete the exterior overhaul. 

The interior was next to be addressed, and the black and red color combination from the outer surface was just too good not to run with on the upholstery. Darrell ‘Doc’ Burton of Salt Lake City was recruited to recondition the original buckets, create a custom rear bench, and cover them all in fresh red vinyl with black cloth inserts and detailing. The original door panels were given the same treatment, as were the Guy Designz kick panels, which Audio Extreme in Riverdale, Utah proceeded to stuff with Morel component speakers. Additional hi-fi firepower in the way of a JL Audio amplifier and a compact 6.5-inch subwoofer led by a Sony head unit were also wired up for a well-balanced sound system to enjoy during al fresco cruising sessions around town. Other notable inclusions to the interior include Dakota Digital gauges, a Billet Specialties d-shaped steering wheel, as well as a Vintage Air system to promote a comfortable climate throughout the year. 

With nothing but distant hopes and dreams in the back of his mind for the better part of 20 years, Jake’s wildest fantasies for his Blazer finally materialized over the last few years. “The inspiration from my dad’s unwavering dedication to working on trucks in the driveway during the heat, cold, rain and snow without a garage helped my brother and I to put everything we have into this hobby”, he says. “Winning the C10 Truck of the Year honors at the C10 Nationals 2023 show in Salt Lake City surrounded by family and friends was the best way imaginable to celebrate this long experience with the Blazer. I’d like to thank all the talented people who rallied behind me and helped bring Deebo to streets.”