Midwest Trailblazer

[bspellman]

Hello, i recently got my trailblazer from wife after I traded in my turbocharged 2011 Mustang GT for her new 2014 Ford Escape to haul around the new family addition.... Our baby boy!

Anyways this is my first 4wd that I have owned. Definitely not my first modded vehicle by a long shot. Used to be an ase mechanic but got out of the field because fixing grandmas minivan ruined my home motivation. All work is done by me because I trust no one with my cars

List of some of my previous modded vehicles..

Turbocharged 2011 Mustang GT... had a Hellion 67mm turbo kit on it
1993 Mustang LX Notch... gutted with a built 347 stroker (never should have sold this car)
2002 Chevy S10... Bagged and Bodydropped on 20"s
2000 Chevy S10... Slammed on 20"s and Big stereo
1992 Chevy S10... Bagged and Custom Sheetmetal bed
1988 Chevy S10 Blazer... 350 sbc and slammed on 18's
1993 Nissan 240sx... Highschool Ricer drift car lol
Misc. other vehicles not worth mentioning lol

My uncle got the 4wd bug going and now i finally have a vehicle to satisfy the urge.

Currently it is a 2002 Trailblazer with 3.42 gears and a non g80 and 181k miles

Current mods are...
Trimmed front bumper
Removed rear swaybar
Removed resonator

Planned mods (soon)...
MarkMC 3" lift with new shocks
MarkMC wheel adapters
265/75R16 Mud terrains of some sort
Radiator and Oilpan armour
Trans cooler

Planned Mods (future)...
Rock sliders
fabbed bumpers with winch
trans armour
4.10 or 4.56 gears with bigger tires
Spare set of half cut doors for the front
Rear control arms and panhard

Maybe possibly if i am lucky in the future maybe a 5.3 swap with the turbo off of my 2011 mustang

[navigator]

welcome Brandon, glad to see you already have a plan and are getting out.

[bspellman]

Thanks. I have been lurking for a few weeks and researching my options. I am trying to find some more local places to go as my current area is mostly limited to country roads and conservation areas

[djthumper]

Welcome, good to see some reading being done.

[bspellman]

Better to read and learn so I dont waste my play money lol

[Cable810]

Welcome!!

[Diacom]

Welcome Brandon. Looks like your off to a good start, though I must say, unless you like to break things, you might hold off on the 5.3/turbo swap. 5.3, sure though it is easier to get a TB with a 5.3 already in place, or even a 6.0 if snag an SS, but a turbo will lend itself to damaged drivetrain while off roading if your not carefull. Though if you drive sane, I'm sure you'd make it work.

[bspellman]

With all of my previous vehicles I am no stranger to broken parts lol. Hell I broke the trans twice in my 2011 Mustang. But the 5.3 turbo thing is more of a "I have done everything else mod" I am not really looking for big power in this build (yet) I just want to be able to go places and do things that I have never been able to do. I have been wanting to start kayaking and camping and this will be my way to get there.

[ErikSS]

Welcome Brandon. Looks like your off to a good start, though I must say, unless you like to break things, you might hold off on the 5.3/turbo swap. 5.3, sure though it is easier to get a TB with a 5.3 already in place, or even a 6.0 if snag an SS, but a turbo will lend itself to damaged drivetrain while off roading if your not carefull. Though if you drive sane, I'm sure you'd make it work.

I'd like to see an 2wd SS converted to a 4x4 with a Solid Axle Swap.
It's easy to get 450ish out of an LS2 with some bolt ons and a tune.

All and all I agree totally. I think it would be crazy to replace your engine, trans, and rear axle and drive shafts all so you can reuse your Turbo.

[v7guy]

You could always toss a turbo on the inline 6, it's been done a few times and they make decent power. But it's probably pretty low on the priority list

[tarsh]

Welcome buddy

[bspellman]

Well when everything already has 181k miles on it will have to be replaced eventually And yes I had kicked around the idea of turboing the inline 6 but I think my turbo may be a tad on the large side for a stock 4.2 :p and yes the turbo is low on the list.

[bspellman]

Woot Woot!! Just ordered my MarkMC 3" lift!

[Trail X]

I like the way you cut the front bumper, looks like the way the border patrol configures their tahoes.

[bspellman]

Thanks I wanted a better approach angle and better clearence up front after nearly ripping the bumper cover off on a really high curb . And I didn't quite like the way it looked removed. It has the same clearence either way because the "tow" hooks are just below where I trimmed it. That will have to work until I make my winch bumper someday in the future.

[bspellman]

Got my 3in MarkMC lift on my work bench. Waiting on my Bilstien HD struts, and Skyjacker N8030 shocks to arrive

[redleg6]

welcome, hope to see you around