Owner: Michael King
TP: So Mike, how did you come to build your Trailblazer SS?
MK: I bought it with no intention to modify it at all. I just wanted something to drive around San Francisco that also had enough power to tow my Jeep. That's when I discovered what 400 crank horsepower felt like. As soon as I had a taste, I knew I wanted more.
TP: Haha. That's awesome. So how long have you worked on this particular project? What would you say your build philosophy has been?
MK: This project has been 2 years in the making. I don't think I will ever be done with building it, but from 2008 to 2010 I spent countless hours in the garage wrenching on it. My build philosophy has been to "build it right the first time!" Also "don't take short cuts." A little more effort initially will save you much time and money down the road.
TP: That's a great philosophy, we certainly agree. And we must say, the car looks amazing. So is it your daily driver?
MK: Thank you. It started out as my daily driver and for the first two years that's all it was. Then in 2009 it became a toy.
TP: What was the first modification made to the car? Tell us about the build process and some of the major milestones.
MK: The first modification was a common one for most people. I installed a cold air intake, electric fans, and then a tune. From then on, the car exploded into what it is today. I immediately wanted a supercharger, but to have the supercharger I needed a built transmission along with exhaust, a cam, and then the list just kept on growing. After everything was finished I raced it regularly at Infineon Raceway and attended Pinks All Out. Then the engine blew. It was a spun rod bearing in Cylinder #6. So it was time for a forged bottom end. After the Leading Edge Performance (LEP) forged bottom end was installed, it was time to up the boost!!!
TP: Amazing. So who would you say did most of the work on this car? Is there a specific person and/or performance shop(s) that you guys took it to?
MK: Originally I took it to Newtech Performance in Hayward, CA. Josh, the lead mechanic there, originally installed the Maggie, Transmission, Headers, and Catback. All of which lasted about a year until the bottom end of the engine went out. From then on I completely ripped everything out and re-did the entire truck. I built it so that it would be even stronger and better than before.
TP: How did the car do on the dyno? What kind of horsepower and torque to the wheels are you putting down with your current setup? Do you plan on improving the performance and adding even more power down the road?
MK: The car did good on the dyne. It put down 518 AWHP and 518 AWTQ at 2,200 feet elevation in Las Vegas. I also have a Nitrous set up with Nano assist. It's jetted for a 100 or 200 shot right into the supercharger snout just in case I need more! Eventually I will probably put a bigger supercharger on. As it is now I'm spinning the shit out of my Maggie to get 13 PSI.
TP: Wow. We're speechless. That's incredible. So do you plan on doing any more racing with this car?
MK: I like drag racing. I also entered in a small autocross race at the Good Guys Car Show in Pleasanton and did pretty well for my first time! I mostly enjoy surprising the exotic cars and many high-end sports cars on the road with the great view that they get of my taillights.
TP: Haha. No doubts there. So what modification would you say is the most rare or unique to your car? What do you think makes your Trailblazer stand out compared to the very few others out there?
MK: I would say the most unique modification is the custom standalone fuel management system that I designed and built to provide the correct air-fuel ratio for the nitrous system. I think my Trailblazer stands out because I didn't cut any corners while building it, I took my time. Everything was researched and planned down to a T. Thanks to Tbssowners.com & a big thank you to Joe Delano (LeftCoast32) for his help with tuning the engine and all of the guidance.
TP: Tell us, what do you have planned next? Is this car going to see any more major cosmetic or performance changes?
MK: The next step for this car is a BAER big-brake kit for the front and rear, along with some custom 3-piece forged wheels.
TP: Awesome! Well Mike, we'd like to thank you for sitting down with us. Any last words before we wrap things up?
MK: I just want to say thanks for the interest in my SS. I put a lot of time and money into the build and it feels good to have some car enthusiasts take notice.
Car Year: 2007
Car Make: Chevrolet
Car Model: Trailblazer SS AWD
Car Color: Black
Modifications:
Engine & Performance:
LEP Forged LS2 Engine
Alky Methanol Injection Kit
Maggie 112HH Supercharger
IW 8 Rib Alumium Pulleys
RPM Stage VI Transmission
Yank SC3000 Converter
Custom Ground Cam
1-7/8" Kooks Long Tube Headers
Custom TurboHoses Dual 3-inch Exhaust
LeftCoast 32 Dual Intercooler Setup with Canton Intercooler Tank
Dual 6,400 CFM E-fans
PCMforless Transmission Cooler with Fan
160 Degree Thermostat
LS7 Throttle Body
Custom Battery Relocation
Nitrous with Nano Set Up
Custom Standalone Fuel Management System for N2O tuned for 110 Octane Race Fuel
"Nitrous Dave" Custom Spray Bars (Built into the Maggie Snout)
Suspension & Brakes:
DJM A Arms
Addco Front Sway Bar
Addco Rear Sway Bar
Kbee Coilovers
Spohn Adjustable 4 Link Suspension
SD Panhard Bar
Wireless Adjustable Air Ride Rear Suspension
R1 Concept Rotors
EBC Yellow Brake Pads
Wheels & Tires:
American Racing 20x10 Black Wheels (All Around)
Hankook Ventus Evo V12 275/45/20 (All Around)
Exterior & Interior:
Exterior:
MPD Function Cowl Induction Hood
Custom Tinted Tail Lights
10,000K HID Headlights
Carbon Man's Carbon Fiber Vent Covers
Interior:
PLX Boost Gauge
PLX Fuel Pressure Gauge
PLX Air Fuel Ratio Gauge
PLX Air Temperature Gauge
Integrated Pillar Pod
Audio:
Factory Navigation with Bose Speakers
JL 13W7 Subwoofer with Enclosure
JL 1000/1 Mono Amp
Photo & Video credits belong to Official TunerPlayground Featured Car Photographers: Jeff Cabacungan and Staff from Photoshootmycar.com
Posted by jared sinclair
on May 19, 2011 06:53:11 PM Reply
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on May 21, 2011 10:23:49 PM Reply
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Posted by Stillrollin
on May 22, 2011 10:58:54 AM Reply
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Posted by Juan
on Aug 9, 2011 12:47:27 PM Reply
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