Newb from IL

[K STYLEZ]

I stated dating my latest GF back in Feb of 2010, and with her came this 05 trailblazer. ALL stock and in need of some much needed maintenance attention. I definitely gave it the once over and it in return treated us well. Back in Feb of THIS year she hit some black ice while driving it and put the rear end into a tree!

The tailgate was trashed, window shattered, bumper support wrecked a bit of quarter panel damage and finally the insurance company totalled it due to some frame damage. Truck still ran and drove excellent, no bags deployed and no codes. I ended up buying it back on the cheap, and reassembled it on a shoe string budget (already dumping piles too much money into my other cars!!!) and now I drive it on a regular basis.

It's not as pretty as it once was, but it still goes through the snow awesome and tows way better than my 01 blazer. Initially, before the accident, my plans included lowering it down and some big wheels. It's slightly more "rough and tumble" appearance wouldnt really embrace that look, so I've decided to go more multi-purpose off road/race support with her.

Here are a few pics of the damage, sorry everything is so dirty, but it was the dead of Chicago winter/salt season. I replaced the entire tailgate, tail lights, bumper support and the right side frame horn and some of the middle tie bar between the two frame horns.



Chopped off damaged sections



One taillight was cracked, and I've always despised the raised "altezzaish" factory tails, so I got some smooth aftermarket ones. I also despised their inner reflector madness, so I nightshaded them, which coincedentally ties in nicely with the now black tailgate.






Welding on new horn





Reinforced with 4 plates on all sides



Not as pretty as I'd like, but pretty close quarter trying to stick your head/paw/gun up there



Undercoated




together





Got my adapters today and mounted up these Escalade wheels and 265/70 17 tires.



No lift and no real rub!!! I pulled in the inside of the front fender liner a bit and everything is cool.

Next question is what color to powder coat these wheels? And what tire to go with?

I've got a tube bender in house and am thinking a custom front bumper. I've got a few sets of PIAA 6" fogs I'll toss on. Roof rack/top mount tire.

Only mods so far are tint, 2 sets of HIDs and resonator delete.

Glad to be on board!!!

[Trail X]

So are you planning to lift it or keep the suspension as is? I didn't see you say anything about a lift.

Are you sure it wasn't lowered at some point? That thing looks really low, but maybe it's due to the larger tires.

Also, just to properly vet you, will this thing see dirt? You're not just going for the look right?

All that aside, nice work getting it back together.

[Blackout]

Welcome

[irishboy02]

Anyone who can weld will be easily persuaded into lifting

Welcome aboard

[b taylor]

Welcome

[djthumper]

Welcome!

[Hatchet669]

yay another Chicago person on here... lol

welcome

[K STYLEZ]

So are you planning to lift it or keep the suspension as is? I didn't see you say anything about a lift.

I'm sure at compression the front will have some big time clearance issues, so a lift in the front is in order at the very least. The sportscar guy in me doesn't want to raise it up too much, as I do enjoy a spirited 18 mile back road drive to work each way. A roof rack and top mount tire will raise the gravity center as well... I was thinking the Hotchkis rear bar might alleviate some of that roll though.

Are you sure it wasn't lowered at some point? That thing looks really low, but maybe it's due to the larger tires.

No, wasnt dropped. The current wheel tire combo does fill out the wheel well quite a bit, I couldnt find anyone online that was running this large a combo with no lift!

Also, just to properly vet you, will this thing see dirt? You're not just going for the look right?

Oh yes! She saw quite a bit of action even in bone stock state. I'm very happy with it's abilities so far.

I'm taking it up to our property in central WI this weekend were I'll get it good and muddy!!!

I dont want to go too crazy with it till I get/make some armor as it's my tow vehicle right now.

Like I said, I've got a JMR tube bender, so I'll do some form of bumper, some rock sliders... Not sure what else.

All that aside, nice work getting it back together.

Thanx!!!

[Diacom]

Welcome to the site.

Mark's 2.5" lift really isn't anything wild, and combined with better shocks/struts will help with the body sway feeling. Will also alleviate your possible tire rub and allow you to run a 265/70/17 tire with minimal clearancing.

If nothing else, look in the vendor section and get a rad and oil pan skids to help protect those areas while running down those back roads.

[fishsticks]

The sportscar guy in me doesn't want to raise it up too much, as I do enjoy a spirited 18 mile back road drive to work each way.

That feeling will pass. You have cars for those activities.


Welcome.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Hello

[K STYLEZ]

What I've/the TB have been up to:
Powder coated the wheels pearl blue. It's one of those things where once you've got the ability to powder coat stuff, everything gets powder coated. And EVERYONE wants black or flat black, so I just had to do something different.





Since I kinda make alot of chassis and suspension stuff for a living, I also had to try out some rear suspension stuff. I know I'll be lifting her pretty high soon, so I figured making it adjustable was a good idea. All spherical rod ended. I used really bad ass high end Aurora's that are lined, so they are literally silent and offer no appreciable negative change in ride quality.

uppers

lowers

panhard




I added some rubber rod end seals as I knew she'd be seeing Chicago's wintery mess and of course lots of mud and dust while wheeling.



I shortened up some billet offset bushings used on another application to fit the TB (that's the purple part).

Took it wheeling at my place up in central WI.





This pics taken today, some real world testing.



Home made 3.5" intake too

Love this blue!!!

[HARDTRAILZ]

Like the blue. Far better than the black spare tire look.

[Infamouz]

Wow very impressive, thats a badass blue. how long have you been testing your control arms for? If everything goes well with your testing would you consider making/selling me a set?

[K STYLEZ]

They've been on a good 4 months or so I'd say, and either I or my GF drives it pretty much every day. I would consider making more, sure.

[djthumper]

Like the blue, everything looks great. Is that an adjustable panhard?

[K STYLEZ]

Yes. Should make it easy to center the axle once lifted.

[The Roadie]

I LIKE your style! I also like blue but the powder coating oven at work is only about a 12" cube, nothing that can bake a panhard bar.

[K STYLEZ]

We've got a 4x4x6 foot oven.

It's awesome.

[Trail X]

Sorry, I gotta pull this out on the blue... If you wanted to be different... go hammertone or something! Sheesh!

Nice looking control arms!