Roberts 02 Trailblazer Build, Idaho Edition

[rScherzer]

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer SWB

Drivetrain Specs: 1.5 adapter plates to 6x5.5
17" 2015 Silverado stock wheels
265 70 R17 Falken Wildpeak AT3w
LT265 70 R17 Goodyear Wrangler AT/S Full-size spare
4.10 with G80 locker in the rear
4.10 open front
Suspension Modifications: Marks 3" suspension lift
Bilstein HD Front shocks
Rear Sway bar removed
Rear Z71 Tahoe springs and MarkMc's spacers cut down
Front UCA's filliped and suspension aligned

Exterior Modifications: Idaho pin strips
Front lower Air deflector/ chin spoiler ripped off!
Cracked front windshield from a rock! 11/10/17

Engine Modifications: PCM of NC programming Stage 2 shift firmness. Cat gutted and programmed for 4.10 gears
Rear Exhaust Resonator Removed

Interior Modifications: Window Tint

Recovery Equipment: 75' Mill spec rope that was given to me
17000 lbs Clevis D shackle (2)
12000 lbs Clevis D shackle (2)

Electrical Modifications: Power inverter to plug stuff into.

[rScherzer]

Two years ago a friend asked me if I wanted to trade him strait across for his 2002 Trailblazer. I had a 2000 S10 Blazer that was lowered and 2wd. I knew that his was worth more but if he wanted it I had no objections. Living in Idaho and having a 4wd would be nice. When I got it home and showed the wife she approved of my trade! Later I searched the internet for lift kits and other things and discovered this web sight! I started saving and putting parts aside to eventually lift the TB and make it look good. Pictures are from a trip to the moutains and a few of playing out in the deserts of Idaho

[rScherzer]

Earlier this week I picked up a scrap yard PCM so I could have mine sent out to be programmed. I plan on putting 4.10 gears in latter so I had flashed my PCM with a vin that had 4.10 calibrations. I flashed the second (scarp yard PCM) to my T.B. so I could continue driving while waiting for the other. I had the catalytic codes disable. I had gutted the cat a few months ago after the O2 reported a 420 code. Today to PCM showed up. I installed it and now I will sit and wait til 5'O clock to go drive it!

***Update*** PCM was a fail. The reason is mine got mixed up on a order with someone else. The tuner guy said he only flashed my vin back to stock but retained the 4.10 calibrations. The SES (Check engine light) came back on for a P0420 code. I contacted PCM of NC and they Fixed the problem. I had also found out that I had flashed a different calibration to emissions into my ECM. It was looking for Secondary air system and VVT. I spent a few days looking for a VIN that had the same emissions calibrations RPOs EVA, FE9, NF7 and GT5 (4.10. I found one on a scrap vehicle on ebay! I'll share it here for any of you that may want to go this direction and have to pass smog. (You can also have the tuner guys turn all that stuff off, so I have been told) The vin is for a 2002 Trailblazer with GT5 and previously mentions emissions cals. 1GNDT13SX22176855. From what I have gathered you program this vin in and then have the tuner people force in your vin#. The calibrations for the GT5 stay and everything looks legit.

***Update#2*** PCM showed up, road test to find shifting feels a touch firmer. Perfect for me as I drive on ice covered roads and tow. I don't need a 2nd gear shift and then spin out on the ice! The tune for the engine feels good. the speedometer is off by a lot. (3.73 gears but programmed for 4.10) That's the next project. Fuel economy has dropped from 16ish mpg to 14ish. Its been snowing so a lot of that is due to driving in 4wd for days on end. No check engine light and I/M flags all passed. Emissions tested the vehicle (because it was due) Passed with flying colors.

[rScherzer]

So I found a used rear diff with 4.10 gears and G80 locker for $175.00USD. I had to jump on it felt like a good deal. It showed up today so i did a little inspection on it. Found a little bit of chipping on the spider gear but nothing that will hurt it for normal service. Now all I need to do is save a few doll hairs for the front.

I would also like to put a few reasons why I felt I needed or wanted to go to a 4.10 gear ratio.
1st With the over sized tires I wanted a little more go power out of the hole. Not that I'm a drag racer or any thing its just nice.
2nd Occasionally I pull a trailer for a friend, (not heavy), but later on I plan on buying a trailer that is going to be quite heavy (5k-6k) empty. So the 4.10 gears will help with that.
3rd I didn't have a locking rear diff so every now and then I would get stuck where the G80 would have pushed me over-threw what ever I was doing.
4 th why are you still reading this....I'm married I could come up with a ton of reasons that don't realy matter!

[rScherzer]

The upper ball joint is at a funky angle with the control arm in the stock location. A lot of members on here have flipped theirs so I wanted to also.
The job was not hard at all put the front end on jack stands. 21mm open end wrench 15mm socket and wrench, and two zip ties. Look at the wheel adapter, it was -6 F out when I pulled it in the shop. Thats frost forming on it!

Upper control arms flipped. Here is what the ball joint looks like now!

I had already set the alignment the night before but I knew this would make things all over the pace

A little adjusting to get it just where I wanted it. It looked good. The drive home was fantastic for a lifted Trailblazer. I did forget to mention that the front shocks blow out today when I lifted it to remove the tires. I guess I'll add that to the list of stuff that needs to be fixed or replaced.

[rScherzer]

So today the TB went under the knife again. I should have just put the HD Bilstein shocks in the front when I did the lift. But I like to do things, then do them agian.,,,, and again some times the hard way, or cheap way. Any way New front Bilstein shocks up front

[rScherzer]

I may have gotten this a bit messed but while working on the front suspension I noticed a oil leak. 42 doll hairs later I installed a new GM oil pressure sensor. Pictures are for your entertainment. I almost forgot to say that last summer I noticed when sitting at a red light and it was hot out (100+ DegF) that the oil gauge would bounce to zero. Im thinking this may also be part of the problem....If not I'll always wish it was!

[rScherzer]

LT 265/70R17 for a spare. It fits! Kinda. actually it rubs the pan hard bar a tiny bit. Like the tit of the tire molding. Not sure this will be a issue but I'm going to run this like that till I figure out something else or some where else to put it.

[rScherzer]

I figured its time to put the rear axle in that I bought a few weeks back. Front gears are on order from Jegs and should be here next week. I popped a new pinion seal in it and hopped for the best. After a road test I noticed the right rear caliper bracket was touching the rotor a little. So I made a little clearance with a angle grinder and it was good to go. All I can say is the 4.10 gears make it fell good on acceleration. I haven't stood on it yet but some day!

[rScherzer]

Last night I got a set of new Z71 Tahoe springs in from the parts department. As I am getting ready for a trip to southern California I had test fitted my dirt bike on a carrier to the back of my Trailblazer. The stock springs weren't bad but I could see room for improvement. So I pulled the rear springs and Marks spacers out. I have read a few posts where some members had just put the Tahoe spring on top of the full spacer, It gives a stink bug style rake to the vehicle. I prefer a level to slightly up in the front look. So I trimmed the spacer. I believe Mark had cast a line into the spacer so if you decided to go the route of using Tahoe springs you just trim at the line and then (most importantly) notch the inner part to clear the locating part on the axle. (the boob looking part!) Also on a side note while I'm here I ordered a set of 4.10 gears for the front. They were scheduled to be here last Tuesday 2/21 and go put on back order till 3/30 so now I am I have a 2wd with g80. At least the snow and ice is gone.

[rScherzer]

Update 11/17/17
I finally have had enough time to build the front diff. This last summer has been super crazy for me at work. I found time to take a day off and roll through this. Removing the front diff was quite simple. I take mine out the bottom while others take theirs out the top. The end result is the same. Sorry in advance that the pictures are not in the correct order. The front diff on this unit was a bit different than what I have worked with in the past. The ring gear bolts are RIGHT HANDED tread. All the differentials I have worked with over the last 16 years have all had left handed threads on the ring rear. Also, the factory workshop book left out the side bearing preload. I found it in a 06 model year. All done, now I need to think of the next mod.

[rScherzer]

Been a while since I updated this build. So a few things have changed. The old Goodyear Wranglers gave up the chase. They still had about 5-6/32" left and were around 9 years old. The problem was almost every time I went out I would get a flat or two

Flat tire in Jordan Valley OR.

I spent a few bucks and purchased a set of the Falken Wildpeak AT3w

[rScherzer]

I noticed a while back that I started to get pinhole leaks in the front CV boots. I looked around on the Facebook page and found that a few of the members liked using the Detriot Axle parts. Ordered up a set $90.00 and free shipping for the set. Cant beat that price.

Removal is really easy. Jack up the front, remove the tire, remove upper ball joint from control arm. Remove axle.