Unfortunately this Trailblazer SS was a victim of the all too common oil starvation issue – which caused total destruction of the bottom end. The TBSS’s factory oil pickup tube is in the front of the pan, so on hard acceleration, the oil sloshes to the back of the pan and starves the truck. This particular truck actually had some very impressive damage – almost nothing was able to be reused in the next motor!
We decided to rebuild it better than ever – utilizing a Texas Speed 402ci shortblock, topped off with an L92/LS3 top end. We sent a set of LS3 heads to Advanced Induction to let them work their magic on it – a 280cc port and polish package with a set of Brian Tooley Platinum valve springs. We utilized our popular LS3 cam called the ‘545’ cam, and also finished it off with a set of Kook’s 1 7/8″ Headers, our three relay electric fan kit, and our Standard Airbox 4″ Intake as well.
Since the transmissions are a famous weak point in these trucks also, we added an RPM Level 6 transmission, along with a Circle D stall to allow for better performance.
This time around, we also added our Oil Pump Pickup Tube Relocation kit to ensure this problem doesn’t happen again! Our kit relocates the pickup to the middle of the pan, so that it no longer starves on hard acceleration. Being AWD, we were not able to dyno tune it, but it really feels amazing on the street, that’s for sure!
PCM of NC Pickup Tube Kit Installed:
And of course some carnage from oil starvation:
