"Project Blackout" - Trailblazer SS Track Update

[TheNewGuy]

When you think of someone saying that they are taking their car to the track, you might not think of it being a Trailblazer. Then again you might not think of a Trailblazer to have a 400 hp LS2 wedged under the hood. But this is a Trailblazer SS model. And as we do with all of our projects, we took this one to get some passes down the track.

It's one thing to be taking a new car to the track for the first time. That was the case for our Creative Director, Eric Schumacher. Eric was piloting his Trailblazer SS down the track for the first time and pulled up to the line with confidence that wouldn’t be matched...

Eric's Trailblazer isn't stock. It's got Kooks headers, a Kooks Y-pipe, and a Corsa Touring exhaust system. An HP Tuners tune gets it all to work together at maximum horsepower and gets rid of the check engine light. We've also installed a full blown NOS LS2 nitrous sytem, and we will use these runs as a baseline.



The downside. It was 105+ degrees heat. Not optimum conditions for any performance.

The first run didn't go so well, and included a horrible reaction time. When .100-.200 is good, Eric's R/T of 1.006 showed he isn't going to be driving Pro Stock any time soon. The 60’ time of 2.139 was followed by a 9.40 at 77.74 mph on the eighth mile. Eric left pretty easy and this equated to a 14.57.
Not bad for a part-throttle run in 100+ degree temperatures. “It went as planned,” Eric said, “it's got more in it though.”



After the first run it became hard to keep him off the track. It was like watching a kid play at the playground. Eric made 5 more passes in the SS trying different setups and driving techniques. After adjusting tire pressure and working down his R/T, Eric ran a personal best of 9.008 at 79.97 just missing the eight-second mark, about a 13.90 in the 1/4 mile. We estimate the DA correction to be at just over 3000 feet with that kind of heat. That correction factor values in at an 8.67 E.T at 82.95 MPH which equates to a 13.4 ET. Not bad for a 4500+ pound truck with only exhaust and a tune!





With the first time out of the way now, Eric is looking forward to future runs. Only next time things will be just a little different. We've got the NOS LS2 nitrous system to turn on, a new torque converter from Yank, and a new transmission are definitely more than just talk. He also plans to dial in his suspension a bit more by adjusting the coil-overs to have a little more “squat.” We're also going to make things easier for him by mounting some 20 inch Nitto Drag Radials on to really blaze some trails.

All and all, 12's seem to be the goal if we can get some weather better than 100 degrees!

[powermelissa]

The Corsa exhaust really sounds good. It's pretty quiet at idle, but at full throttle opens up nicely.

[powerjames]

I would be curious to hear the difference between the Touring and Sport exhaust. I'll see if we can find a clip on Corsa's web site.

[Myles]

Can I take the Trailblazer SS to the store for a quick snack?



Thanks,
Myles

[powerjames]

Myles, you'll have to ask Eric. Why not..

[The Vader]

The Schuu's ride reminds me of the old GMC Cyclone or am I wrong?

Its cool to see that the old idea of a sport SUV is back and with some serious power and looks like a hell of allot of fun.

Good job Eric in keeping the dream alive!

[LS2 V8 Miata]

You're right Vader, 'cept the Cyclone was the truck & Typhoon was the Blazer SUV thang, right? Both probably a lot lighter and the 4.3 Turboed V6s were more akin to a Buick Gran National engine than a truck motor as I remember.

GM with a dry ice loaded inter-cooler and some motor work went over 200 MPH at Bonneville in one too!
- Lee