SaltWaterDrinker's Build - 2003 Trailblazer: "BMWKiller"

[SaltWaterDrinker]

2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer LT
4x4 non-G80

Current Picture:


Suspension Modifications:
Front Bilstein HD Shocks
z71 Rear Springs
BDS 5500 Series Rear Shocks
1.5 inch Wheel Spacers
Deleted rear sway bar (June 2012)
255/75/R17 Nitto Trail Grappler M/T Tyres (March 2013)
Replaced/Flipped UCA's (May 2013)

Exterior Modifications:
Custom Tire Carrier with recovery shackle and Hi-Lift mount
Rainier Rims - Custom..
SS102 - 102" CB antenna (September 2013)
Laird Whip - VHF (May 2012)
Antenex Quarter Wave UHF Antenna (May 2013)
Sealed off and disabled leaky sun roof (Feb 2012)
Taillight brush guards (May 2012)
Custom Oil Pan Skid by Dvanbramer88 (June 2012 - Thanks dude!)
Hella 550FF(4) Lightbar, controlled by Federal Signal SW400SS - Thanks FishSticks! (August 2012)
Thule Sport Rack (September 2012)
Bumper cover delete (October 2012)
Bumper Bar flip (October 2012)
MDB Radiator Skid (October 2012)
Rollover Offroad Inc. Fabricated Bumper (March 2013)


Engine Modifications:
Resonator Deleted (May 2012 - Thanks Mooseknuckle!)
PCMForLess eFan Kit (August 2013)

Interior Modifications:
Stream Light charging pod
Passenger sun visor delete
Kicker KS65's (August 2012)
Alpine CDE-HD138BT Tuner (November 2012)


Recovery Equipment:
Recovery Shackle on Tire Carrier (Thanks Mooseknuckle!)
Chain, Recovery Strap(s)
48" Hi-Lift

Electrical Modifications:
Magnum S-380 (Upgraded August 2013)
Motorola VHF Astro Spectra (New W7 - May 2012)
Motorola UHF MCS2000 (May 2013)

[SaltWaterDrinker]

Well, after my accident involving my friend's dad's BMW...I was pretty depressed. I was shocked at the used market, angry at used car dealers...angry at myself, and angry at German engineering. That's not the point thou. xD

Came across a dealer that the family used since forever. Found a low mileage Trailblazer which, at the time, thought was okay. I'm embarrassed at the price but...my stupidity is ever-present when it comes to this kind of stuff.

November 2011 - Buy Day:


December 2011/January 2012:
These days were plagued by failing temperature sensors...thermostats, and sun roofs. I wasted more gas and money dealing with the BS that the dealer refused to cover than I should have. Funny...my older Trailblazer was a brilliant tool. This one...not so much.

Added my old Firestones, rims, and go-fasts...I think:


January/February 2012:
I was presented with an opportunity that seemed almost too good to be true: A chance to get someones offroad equipment for exchange for my stock equipment that I didn't want in the first place. It almost fell thru...and within a time period of 8 hours, a last minute plan was devised, my "dreams" came true...with more than I expected.

Irishboy02, Gordinh80, Dvanbramer88 and myself met up on the 16 of February to do a mega swap out. A huge thank you to all three of these gentleman for dealing with my stupidity and complicated Trailblazer :

Arriving fashionably late:


Brendan's Super low TB:


The BDS Shocks:


The finished comparison!!!! :


The day concluded in an unplanned test run/meet up with some locals. Made some friends...and saw some crazy things too. Focus on the kid standing on the back of the Jeep...he was there while they were riding around the circuit:


So lives my new trailblazer, donning the ever appropriate nickname "BMWKiller." In due time, it will bear it's name publicly for all BMWs to fear, as well as enough frontal armour to defend against another "attack."

After saying that...I think I've lost my mind.

We added the Spare Tire Carrier later that night:

[SaltWaterDrinker]

Proudly hit 100,000 miles on the 17th of February at one of my favourite "on-road" places, Langhorne CSX Yard!

17 February 2012

[SaltWaterDrinker]

23 February 2012 - Added CB, Laird Whip, and Motorola Astro Spectra

CB and CB Antenna:




Motorola Astro Spectra(VHF):

[SaltWaterDrinker]

9 May 2012:
Put the VHF Antenna up - will soon be paired with the Laird Technologies 27MHz Antenna.




Also put in the taillight (brush)guards.


Rotated the rear left tyre; was wearing down funny I suppose.

[SaltWaterDrinker]

Before an offroad trip - Mooseknuckle deleted my resonator for me, and I added his old tip today! (26 May and 30 May)

[SaltWaterDrinker]

Installed FishSticks' old lightbar(August 2012):


The lightbar is controlled by a Federal Signal model SW400SS Switch Box; this will eventually control all flood, spot, and emergency lights on my Trailblazer:
Day:

"Take Down" control the lightbar, "Grille & Deck Lights" will control two spots on the bumper, "Work Lights" will control the side/alley floods, and "rear lights" will control just that - the rear lighting. The four position slider is for emergency lights (strobes, grill leds, small dash light).

Night(with dome lights on; sorry for blur):


The lights on the bar are all Hella 550s - four in total, all with 100 Watt bulbs:

I still need to play with positions, but -
Without lightbar:
'

With lightbar:

[SaltWaterDrinker]

Upgraded to a modded out Cobra 29 LTD Classic. Talk back, echo, and peaked/tuned - all ready for Tecore.

I moved it right below the dash on the left side:


It doesn't interfere with the legs...it is noticeable, though:


I ran the wiring behind the radio and up into the Dash itself. I also ran the microphone from the pillar down into the dash, and up into the radio. I cannot take all the credit for this as Mario was the first one I saw do this:

[SaltWaterDrinker]

MDB's Rad skid came in early October. We went to work as soon as possible as TECORE is right around the bend.

Skid plate is painted and comes with a Chevy emblem - matching my flair colour of my truck (orange).

I needed to keep the recovery points in the front - the skid plate did not come with the holes for the factory tow hooks as an MDB bumper is in my future. So to combat this issue, we cut the ears off of the bumper and flipped it.





Tow hooks on the flipped bumper: