Worth it to mod a Trailblazer SS?

[Cobra99]

Is it worth it to do an intake/tune/exhaust on an 08 Trailblazer SS AWD? Does it really make a difference in the seat of the pants acceleration? The truck is pretty quick off the line stock and I don't know if it's even worth putting money into right now. Anyone have one with some experience?

Click to read more...

 

[willizm]

If you really want to liven it up without touching the motor put a converter in it with those bolt ons. Some of the most fun you can have without breaking the bank is just bolt ons, converter and tune. Just get a good cooler for it. Not sure how the transfer case would do though.

 

[Spivitz]

3800 stall. Tune. Fun

 

[1quick]

mine is a 5.3 not an ss, but i did a tune home made hot air intake e-fans and just a muffler swap for sound and it woke it up pretty decent, and i picked up a few mpg with those changes

 

[Cobra99]

I've always had manual trans cars in the past so putting in a 3800 stall is new to me. I've done some reading and I can see how the stall would help at the track. What difference does it make on the street? Just higher rpm starts at red lights? I've never rev'ed it up at a light for a blistering start when green.
At a light would I have the car in neutral, rev to 3800 Rpm's then drop it into drive?

 

[deviantlx]

At a light would I have the car in neutral, rev to 3800 Rpm's then drop it into drive?

yep!!!!!! go pro that shit so we can make sure your doing it right!

 

[1quick]

a converter just slips enough to put it in the power right from the start, say now you take off hard and it starts at 2500 and it takes a while to get into the power band around 4k with a converter it will jump to 3500 right away when you get down on it

 

[Cobra99]

Will it work similarly if I just floor it when the light turns green? Also, If I just want to drive normal you still can, right?

 

[Turk]

Will it work similarly if I just floor it when the light turns green? Also, If I just want to drive normal you still can, right?

I wouldn't buy a stall on a car I drive daily or often. It'll rev to about 3500 every time you accelerate.

 

[1quick]

you dont really notice it much just driving around normal, i dont really know how to explain it you should try to find someone with a converter to take you for a ride lol

 

[Cobra99]

Anyone live in the west suburbs with a stall on their car/truck? And daily drive it?

 

[Shibby50]

I wouldn't buy a stall on a car I drive daily or often. It'll rev to about 3500 every time you accelerate.

I have a 4k stall in my dd and it'll grab just fine from idle if I don't get on it too hard..

 

[willizm]

^Agree, stalled cars are perfectly streetable. Going with a 3400-3600 stall is plenty fun with great drivability. Plus they lock up at whatever mph you tune for so mpg really doesn't suffer providing you aren't racking up tons of miles at 30-40mph .

 

[Dan00Hawk]

You also don't have to go with a stall speed that's that high. I had a 2800 stall on my 98 LS1 Formula fifteen years ago, for example, and that proved to be a big difference from stock that really livened the car up on the street and was also good for about 1/2 second in the 1/4 mile. Something more moderate like that might be more suitable for a daily driver, in my opinion.

 

[SRT41320]

stalls kind of go by throttle pressure... if you do 10% throttle off a stop light, you would never know it has a stall in it. if you do 50% throttle off a stop light it will seem like it revs a little higher than normal before the truck moves. if you go balls out (or even brake torque at the light) its will rev up to the stall speed before the truck wants to move...

can no longer tow anything with a higher stall converter though...

my old truck... intake, exhaust, e fans, and a tune will get an AWD truck to low 14s high 13s (tools and parts in the truck on a 95* day) and around 20mpg on the highway

 

[Devildog1833]

stalls kind of go by throttle pressure... if you do 10% throttle off a stop light, you would never know it has a stall in it. if you do 50% throttle off a stop light it will seem like it revs a little higher than normal before the truck moves. if you go balls out (or even brake torque at the light) its will rev up to the stall speed before the truck wants to move...

can no longer tow anything with a higher stall converter though...

my old truck... intake, exhaust, e fans, and a tune will get an AWD truck to low 14s high 13s (tools and parts in the truck on a 95* day) and around 20mpg on the highway

All correct above but on brake torque it will not rev to stall speed before wanting to go. I ran a 4000 stall in my ride the last few years and on a brake torque at the track it would only go to 2200 rpm before it starts to creep.

 

[SRT41320]

true... I was just trying to exaggerate my explanation of how they work but yes you are correct - although in my limited experience with them ive noticed some will brake torque higher than others... (same stall of 4k - one car will brake torque to 2500 and the other will be 3100)

 

[Yaj Yak]

converters are huge for these trucks.

your trans is gonna fall out at some point though stock or modded.

 

[SRT41320]

never had any issues with my trans and I beat the piss out of my truck!

 

[YoushallgoFo]

a stall is great for acceleration from a stop, but you need a decent set of tires to get any use from it. my camaro has a 3600 stall and on 315 summers it just lights them up from a dig. Not sure if you want to daily DR's.

 

[10sec]

AWD

 

[daturbosix]

i did eFans, cats delete, magnaflow muff, CAI, IAT extension harness, and a tune for the ladys tbss, she couldnt be happier with it.

i expected to see a bit more MPG improvement, but its better than nothing and runs and drives alot better..

 

[Yaj Yak]

rwd ones are where it's at.

 

[AllGM]

Rwd was fun but when we did get snow I had to have a grandprix. I had 3800 stall with the attitude cam and efans. It had traction problem all the time though

 

[Ti28]

You live in CS, I'm in Bartlett, come by I'll take you for a ride in my bottom 12 SS.