Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys

New TB owner in NJ here.

New members: please introduce yourself here.

by flap00 » Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:14 am

Hey folks...
They call me Flap. I've been enjoying reading the forums here tonight for the first time. I am a long time owner of many Chevy Vans over the years(older body style 72-96), and in the past 10 years or so, of the 4x4 variety. My main ride the past few years is an '89 Chevy conversion van, with a pre-title 4WD conversion by a company called Pathfinder. I also have an '88 that was converted to 4WD by Quigley....selling that one soon...
So, recently, I've been feeling the urge to have another vehicle...something a little smaller (and newer). My desires and requirements funneled down into really wanting a Trailblazer LT EXT, and a few days ago, I found the perfect one for me. It's a silver '06 with (seemingly) all the bells and whistles. 130,000 on the odometer, but in extremely nice shape. Not fully realizing all of the modern conveniences and aesthetics I've been missing out on all these years, I quickly fell in love.
It's got a side to side bounce while driving across minor humps in the road. I'm guessing that one or more of the shocks and/or struts are shot. It also has a small but steady pull to the right, which I'm hoping is just because of the newer tread tire on the left front. The other 3 are pretty badly worn. I'd like to lift the truck some, and also put some bigger tires on. (Are 33" x 12.5"s a possibility?...and just to mention, I'd probably just use the stock 17" rims for now.) Now seems like the perfect time for a lift & tires, since the tires and shocks/springs/struts(?) apparently need replacing anyway.
So, as I mentioned, I've done some reading here, but it's pretty overwhelming due to the large number of posts.....Z71 springs, Markmc kit, Bilsteins, etc...etc.....
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated! :)
Thanks very much,
~flap
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by djthumper » Wed Apr 10, 2013 2:33 am

Welcome! Here is a good starting point for your light reading, viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3060. You will probably want to fill out your location in your profile. There are a few guys from Jersey.
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by darring70 » Wed Apr 10, 2013 2:54 am

Welcome to the site, I am from north NJ, I learned a lot in this site too.
I can tell you that if you want to have 33" tires you will need to lift it and buy wheel spacers, but do not forget to check the gears of your TB.
Check this out: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2290

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by Cable810 » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:26 am

Welcome!!
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by Gordinho80 » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:34 am

Dang... NJ community is growing again!

Where in NJ are you from?
Mario - Build Thread
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by blacksheep » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:55 am

Welcome!
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by Opeth » Wed Apr 10, 2013 11:58 am

Welcome!
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by flap00 » Wed Apr 10, 2013 11:40 pm

Thanks all, for the welcomes, and the links to some of the required reading...which I just completed. I also added my more specific location, which I somehow neglected to do before. Looking forward to interacting, learning lots more, and getting this thing lifted up and decked out some! :)
~flap
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by HARDTRAILZ » Thu Apr 11, 2013 12:03 am

Welcome!
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they've always worked for me.
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by 87chevy » Thu Apr 11, 2013 2:38 am

welcome
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by v7guy » Thu Apr 11, 2013 1:46 pm

howdy, looks like you're off to a good start. remember to stay at 32s if you only have 3:23s. sounds like you've got the basics
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by darring70 » Thu Apr 11, 2013 1:54 pm

What about if you have 3.42 (gu6) and add a tansmission cooling system, can you go 285/75/16?
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by navigator » Thu Apr 11, 2013 3:03 pm

darring70 wrote:What about if you have 3.42 (gu6) and add a tansmission cooling system, can you go 285/75/16?


Even with the tranny cooler you'll likely want to stay with the 265s, especially if you tow.
I was towing what I would expect to be about 2k lbs the other day with my 265s and my tranny temp was getting close to 210 with it 50 degrees outside. I can't imagine where it would get if it were warmer.
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by darring70 » Thu Apr 11, 2013 6:24 pm

navigator wrote:
darring70 wrote:What about if you have 3.42 (gu6) and add a tansmission cooling system, can you go 285/75/16?


Even with the tranny cooler you'll likely want to stay with the 265s, especially if you tow.
I was towing what I would expect to be about 2k lbs the other day with my 265s and my tranny temp was getting close to 210 with it 50 degrees outside. I can't imagine where it would get if it were warmer.


I do not tow anything, I have only tools in my trunk
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by Diacom » Thu Apr 11, 2013 8:29 pm

Welcome to the Site.
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by flap00 » Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:44 pm

Thanks! How do I figure out what gear ratio I have...3:23 or otherwise?....short of popping the pumpkin cover off of course. I'm not even sure if my rear is the G80 or not. What did the '06 LT EXT generally come with for a rear and ratio? And, I'd be cool with 265/70/17? I will be doing a lot of towing, actually.
One more thing, does anyone know what my silver color is actually called? :)
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by DustinC1989 » Thu Apr 11, 2013 11:00 pm

Simple search would have shown you
RPO Codes for gear ratios: GU6 = 3.42 GT4 = 3.73 GT5 = 4.10. They can be found on the options tag in glove box. Right next to the gearing code it will say G80 if you have one, otherwise it will not
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by 4angels » Thu Apr 11, 2013 11:59 pm

welcome
Now just one.... 2007 LT, Mods to come soon to a TB near you....
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by flap00 » Fri Apr 12, 2013 12:04 am

Ok, thanks. It says GU6 & G80, so apparently, I have the G80 rear with a 3:42 ratio. Hopefully, that will work with some 265/70/17's and towing.
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by DirtyBacon04 » Fri Apr 12, 2013 3:58 am

navigator wrote:
darring70 wrote:What about if you have 3.42 (gu6) and add a tansmission cooling system, can you go 285/75/16?


Even with the tranny cooler you'll likely want to stay with the 265s, especially if you tow.
I was towing what I would expect to be about 2k lbs the other day with my 265s and my tranny temp was getting close to 210 with it 50 degrees outside. I can't imagine where it would get if it were warmer.


Nonsense! Just need a BIGGER xmsn cooler!! But like i've said before, I dont know if temperature is the only risk with 33 + 3.42... Well, temp and fuel economy.
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