Is there a first-generation Chevy K5 Blazer project in your future? If not, you may want one after reading about the new Pro1 first-gen K5 Blazer chassis from Total Cost Involved Engineering (TCI). It’s built to be a direct replacement for the factory chassis and the company says it’s as capable off-road as it is on pavement. Read on for the details of the TCI 1969-1972 Chevy K5 Blazer Pro1 4×4 Chassis.

Triple-Wall Framerail Design

TCI is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2024. Since its inception in 1974, the company has focused on creating high-performance suspension and chassis. Its Chevy K5 Pro1 4×4 Chassis is one of its newest offerings. In addition to the first-generation Chevy K5 Blazer, it also fits the 1970-1972 GMC K5 Jimmy. The chassis is unique from anything the company has previously built. Knowing that a transfer case would reside in the same space as the traditional centersection, TCI designed a new way to increase strength. The solution is a unique, triple-wall framerail design, which places a third vertical wall down the middle of the framerails. The company calls it #BoxedBeam, and it ensures torsional rigidity. The framerails, made from 10-gauge plate steel, are fixture welded with over 120 feet of weld bead. Of course, all the outside edges are ground smooth.

The framerails, made from 10-gauge plate steel, are fixture welded with over 120 feet of weld bead.

Reliable Fitment, Tight Tolerances

The team places the frame in a chassis fixture and adds the front and rear crossmembers, along with a new design centersection. The result is reliable fitment and tight tolerances. This translates to no drama when bolting on things like the core support, body tub, and bumpers. If you compare a stock K5 chassis to TCI’s chassis, you’ll see wider framerails ahead of the cab. This is to allow more room for engine headers and steering components. Out back, the chassis is narrower than stock. This allows the rear coilovers to be mounted outside the framerails to help maximize roll stiffness. The chassis can fit up to 37×12-inch tires.

TCI notes that the Pro1 chassis for the first-gen K5 Blazer offers 12 inches of wheel travel.

LS/LT-Engine Ready, Four-Link Suspension

The design of the chassis accommodates a late model LS/LT engine and transmission platform. The new centersection is designed for a driver-side output Advance Adapters Atlas transfer case. The centersection also allows for a 3-inch round tube exhaust, with room to spare.

The chassis uses a four-link suspension, and the angle of each Fox coilover is close to vertical, which keeps motion control close to 1:1. The TCI team mounts the remote-reservoir coilovers as wide as possible for utmost roll control. Additionally, the link bars have a maximized length that deliver minimum wheelbase change throughout wheel travel, and they limit roll steer. The links are fitted with RockJock Johnny Joints. Other suspension components include Fox Race Series bumpstops and RockJock Antirock sway bars. TCI says that the suspension allows for 12 inches of wheel travel at each corner.

Out back is high-pinion Currie 60 axle.

Readily Available Steering Components, High-Pinion Axles, And More

Fox remote-reservoir coilovers are used at each corner of the chassis.

Designed For On- And Off-Road

TCI Vice President and Head of Operations, Sal Solorzano says, “Whether you are cruising down the highway, flying across the desert, or crawling up the mountainside this chassis has you covered. It has the flexibility, strength, torsional rigidity, and protections that will make handling your Blazer highly functional as a daily driver and/or competition. There’s been a renaissance of interest in the K5 SUVs for some time, so the demand is definitely there for a chassis like this.”

TCI’s Pro1 4×4 chassis for the first-gen K5 Blazer is designed to be a direct replacement for the factory chassis.

Dual Warranty, Freight Discount Until The End Of October

All TCI Engineering products come with the company’s Dual Warranty. It’s a 6-year, 60,000-mile warranty on wear items like bushings, tie rods, and ball joints. Additionally, any items built in-house by the company (such as link bars, control arms, spindles, crossmembers, and so on) come with a lifetime warranty. Finally, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, TCI is offering a 15 percent discount on freight with the purchase of this new 4×4 chassis. The promotion ends on December 31, 2024. Note that there is a four-month lead time for this chassis. For more information on the K5 Blazer chassis, visit TCI’s website.