LS2-powered Trailblazer SS looks stock, but this all-wheel drive SUV will likely roast most sports cars at the drag strip.
The Trailblazer SS that Chevrolet offered from 2006 through 2009 was easily one of General Motors’ best performance vehicles that isn’t named Camaro or Corvette. Of course, the key to the success of the “TBSS” was the Corvette’s LS2 engine, making it one of the quickest new models on sale during those years and allowing it to hang with most sports cars of the era in a straight line.
By today’s standards, the Trailblazer SS isn’t as impressive as it was when new, but “007FJ” has listed one of the LS2-powered SUVs in the LS1Tech Marketplacethat has been beefed up to better compete with modern performance vehicles. However, this TBSS offers improved performance with the same great looks that came from the factory.
The Introduction
When the OP first listed his 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS for sale, he didn’t explain why he was selling, but he offered up a quick list of the modifications.
Ported 243 heads, Pat G 230/230 600/608 113 LSA cam, Trunnion Kit, Pcm of NC oil pan baffles, Pcm NC trans cooler, Headers, PCM Tuned conservatively on 93, Ron Davis radiator, GM Flex Fuel Injectors, Circle D 278mm, Dynomax 3″. Fresh window tint on all windows including a heat rejection clear on the windshield, Clarksville Fastener SS brake lines. Other stuff I’m sure I’m forgetting. Looks and Drives great.
So the LS2 in this Trailblazer has ported heads, a bigger camshaft, headers, injectors and a 93-octane tune for extra power while a high-stall torque convertor helps send that power to all four wheels. We don’t know how much power this SUV is making, but knowing how well the LS2 takes to upgrades, it is safe to assume that this Chevy is making well over the 390 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque that it packed when new.
Nice SS with a Nice Price
A 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS with 66,000 miles is worth just shy of $18,000 in “excellent” condition according to Kelley Blue Book. This TBSS is listed for $18,800 and it appears to physically be in perfect condition, so it would likely classify as excellent, meaning that the buyer of this SUV will only be paying a little over a grand for all of the upgrades.
If you want a nice, stock Trailblazer SS, you can hunt around with the hopes of finding one in the $17,000 range, or you can buy this built ridefor only a little more than stock book value.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
