OWNER: Matthew Trout
RIDE: '90 Chevy S-10 Blazer
LOCATION: Conklin, Missouri
CLUB: Scared of Heightz
Way back in 1995, Matt Trout purchased a '90 Chevy S-10 Blazer, which he planned on doing a few things to, but not going all out on. Going to mini-truck shows and hanging out with friends and family who were into minis prompted him to build a custom of his own. After finding the right specimen, he planned to make it simple and clean with hydros and a body drop. After gathering information and all the parts necessary to get down and dirty, Matt and his brothers went to work.
Matt started with the idea of using hydraulic suspension because back in 1996 airbag systems were not what they are today. With his hydraulic suspension installed on his daily driver, Matt attended his first show with pride in his new creation. When he showed up, he was floored that his stock truck was put into the Wild Class because of the hydros, and that spawned a new beast. Matt was now determined to take his truck all the way and kick some Wild Class butt.
As time went on and airbag systems became more and more advanced, Matt opted to redo his suspension setup with air. He 'bagged the Blazer all the way around with Firestone airbags. The front suspension consists of tubular upper and lower control arms and Belltech drop spindles to help the airbags lay the frame on the floor. Matt used a triangulated four-link rear suspension with Total Cost Involved airbag brackets and Monroe shocks to lay the rearend out. His brother Pat gave him a helping hand and after countless hours, the Blazer was body-dropped 4-3/4 inches on Billet Specialties 17x7-inch Streamlines up front and 18x8-inchers in the rear.
Thinking of some things he could do to set the Blazer apart from the rest, Matt suicided both doors and made his tailgate swing sideways rather than the conventional up-and-down direction. He also decided to go with right-hand steering in his Blazer, and was determined to do it himself like the rest of the modifications, and make it street legal and safe. He ended up using a Saturn rack with Borgeson stainless-steel joints and shafts. With the steering relocated to the right-hand-drive position, Matt decided to build a full custom dash to resemble a '59 Chevy dash complete with a Dakota Digital gauge cluster. With his truck completely shaved, including the body line, the Blazer received a heavy coat of black primer and made its way into the Mini Truckin' Construction Zone.
Matt wasn't satisfied with leaving his Blazer as a Construction Zone has-been, so he took the project the rest of the way and sought out Dustin Haven from Kolor Kreations in Scottsburg, Indiana, to make his Blazer come to life. After his brother Pat and Greg Werkema sprayed the House of Kolor's Purple Passion base, Dustin laid out the graphics. With the truck complete and Dustin having had his way with the exterior graphics, you can't even recognize Matt's "Suicide Solution" Blazer as MT's Dec. '01 Construction Zone "Back In Black." Matt went beyond the call of duty and with the help of his closest friends and family, created a Blazer that is actually worthy of spanking trucks in the Wild Class.
The Low Down
Wheels/Tires 17x7-inch Billet Specialties Streamlines wrapped in Kumho 245/45/R17 tires up front / 18x8-inch Billet Specialties with 245/45R18 tires out back
Suspension/Chassis Suspension modifications by owner / reinforced chassis with /4-inch steel plate / sectioned front crossmember / Belltech drop spindles / tubular upper and lower control arms / Saturn rack for right-hand-drive steering conversion / Borgeson stainless-steel steering joints and shafts / frame and suspension painted gloss black / airbagged all the way around with Firestone 2,600-pound airbags / rear suspension consists of a triangulated four-link with Total Cost Involved brackets / rear disc brake conversion
Body Modifications Body-dropped 4-3/4 inches by owner and owner's brother Pat Trout / Harwood 4-inch Outlaw fiberglass cowl-induction hood / custom front fenders built from one S-10 and two Toyota fenders per side / radiused and flared rear fenders / Mazda 626 gas filler door / suicide doors / side-swing tailgate / shaved body line / shaved door handles and locks / shaved taillights / shaved wiper cowl / Oldsmobile Bravada grille shell with custom billet inserts built by owner / Toyota 4Runner front bumper and valance / street rod taillights with '02 Thunderbird third brake light
Paint/Graphics Basecoat sprayed with House of Kolor's Passion Purple by Pat Trout and Greg Werkema / custom graphics laid down by Dustin Haven from Kolor Kreations in Scottsburg, Indiana.
Interior/Stereo Custom fiberglass dash built to resemble a '59 Chevy pickup with a Dakota Digital gauge cluster / Vintage Air A/C unit / seats, door panels, and headliner all wrapped in black and purple crushed velvet / Eclipse head unit / two Audiobahn DVC 12-inch flamed subwoofers powered by US Amps 100HC amplifiers / Colorado Customs Crawley billet steering wheel
Engine/Performance Painted block Kawasaki Green / Ron Francis' fuel-injection kit / aluminum valve covers / powdercoated accessory brackets / Genie floor shifter / driveshaft shortened / battery relocated to the rear of the Blazer / custom dual-exhaust with Turbo 2 catalytic converters
Special Thanks Pat Trout / Greg Werkema / Mike Trout / Matt's parents for the use of their garage / Matt P. from the Gauge Store / Dustin Haven at Kolor Kreations / Scared of Heightz car club and Latest Craze car club / Matt's girlfriend Heather for all her patience