Hot Rod Bio: Ronnie Wetch’s 1974 K5 Blazer “Bonanza” – Square Body Soul Done Right

At SEMA 2025 we caught up with Ronnie Wetch from the C10 Talk Podcast inside the United Pacific booth to check out his 1974 K5 Blazer known as the Bonanza.

If you’re into square bodies, this one hits.

Factory metal. Factory color. Modern drivetrain. Classic vibe.

And yes, it’s running CVF Racing products under the hood.

Original Metal, Factory Grecian Bronze

First thing that stands out is the color.

It’s factory Grecian Bronze. Most people just call it burnt orange, but this is an original 1974 color to the truck. Outside of the firewall, every single piece of metal on this Blazer is original to the vehicle.

Fenders, quarters, tailgate, all of it.

That makes a difference when it comes to body lines and panel fitment. No fighting reproduction sheet metal. No weird gaps. It all just works.

Up front, Ronnie added United Pacific lighting and an aluminum grille from Engineered Vintage. It’s painted to keep the old school look, but it’s modern underneath.

Gen V LT1 with a 10 Speed and Atlas Transfer Case

Pop the hood and it’s all modern.

This is a Gen V LT1 out of a Camaro SS backed by a 10L90 automatic and an Atlas two speed transfer case. So you get the reliability and drivability of a modern drivetrain with true four wheel drive capability.

Front diff is a Dana 44 with 3.73 gears, rear is a rebuilt GM 12 bolt, both handled by No Coast Differentials.

The frame is original but fully gone through, running Off Road Design suspension with softer springs that should settle once some miles get put on it. The goal was articulation and drivability, but still keeping the stance right.

And when you’re mixing 52 year old sheet metal with a brand new LT1 and 10 speed, it’s hard not to appreciate how well GM stuff swaps together.

Modern heartbeat. Classic body.

CVF Hinges and Clean Engine Bay Details

Under the hood you’ll also spot CVF hood hinges, and Ronnie didn’t hold back on the feedback.

Square body hoods aren’t known for smooth operation. With these hinges, alignment and adjustment are simple, and the hood opens and closes the way it should.

Braking is handled by Baer brakes with a Baer master cylinder, paired to an electric Bosch booster setup from InTech Auto. Clean, compact, and modern.

Heart and reliability were the focus here. This isn’t a trailer queen build. It’s meant to get driven.

Interior: Western Vibes with Modern Comfort

Inside is where the Bonanza name really makes sense.

Ronnie kept the soul of the truck intact but blended in modern tech everywhere it made sense.

Debomb Interiors handled the custom interior using Apex leather throughout. The seats incorporate rare 78 to 79 Ford fabric inserts that Ronnie hunted down for over four years. It’s subtle, unique, and fits the western vibe perfectly.

Dakota Digital gauges.
IDIDIT steering column.
Pioneer double DIN head unit.
Vintage Air.
Kicker audio throughout.

There’s even sequential tail lights out back to bring in a touch of modern flair without killing the classic feel.

And in the rear, a real saddle from Ronnie’s father in law ties the whole yeehaw theme together. It sounds funny until you see it. Then it just works.

Classic Soul, Modern Reliability

That’s really what this build is about.

Modern trucks are comfortable, but they can feel sterile. Old trucks have character, but usually come with headaches.

The Bonanza blends the two. Factory metal. Earth tone color. Woodgrain details. Modern drivetrain. Modern braking. Modern electronics.

Nothing feels out of place. Nothing feels forced.

Just a square body done with intention.

Huge thanks to Ronnie Wetch for walking us through the build at SEMA 2025 and for running CVF Racing products on the Bonanza.

If you want to see the full walkthrough and hear Ronnie break it down in his own words, check out the full video on the CVF Racing YouTube channel.