2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS

The Chevrolet Trailblazer SS was an unusual vehicle even when it was new: a midsize SUV fitted from the factory with Corvette-derived LS power, a performance-oriented chassis, and in this case, all-wheel drive. This 2007 example takes that original formula considerably further while retaining the character that made the Trailblazer SS special in the first place.

Finished in white and riding on 22-inch SS-style replica wheels, the truck maintains a relatively understated exterior. Rather than radically changing its appearance, the focus of the build has been on transforming the drivetrain and supporting systems underneath it.

The original 6.0-liter LS2 has been replaced by a 6.2-liter LS3 V8, providing the foundation for the truck's current powertrain. Mounted atop the LS3 is a Boost District Magnuson 2650 supercharger, bringing modern positive-displacement forced induction to the GMT360 platform. The combination gives the truck substantially greater performance potential while preserving the immediate torque delivery that suits a heavy AWD street vehicle.

Getting that power through the rest of the drivetrain required moving beyond the TrailBlazer SS's original four-speed automatic. A TrueBlue Motorsports 6L80E conversion replaces the factory transmission, providing six forward gears and a drivetrain better suited to the LS3-based combination. The 6L80E feeds the factory GM all-wheel-drive transfer case, allowing the truck to retain the AWD layout that was central to the original build.

The front driveline has also been upgraded with a Bullydog limited-slip differential, replacing the limitations of the factory front differential arrangement and helping put the supercharged LS3's power through all four tires.

The supporting electronics were approached with the same goal of making the newer drivetrain feel integrated rather than simply transplanted. A GM Flex Fuel sensor has been incorporated into the fuel system, allowing ethanol content to be monitored by the engine management system and providing the foundation for operation on varying ethanol blends.

The factory cooling strategy was also updated with an electronic fan-control conversion, integrating electric cooling-fan operation with the engine-management system rather than relying on the original Trailblazer clutch fan.

The result is a Trailblazer SS that still looks immediately recognizable as Chevrolet's original high-performance SUV, but whose drivetrain has evolved considerably beyond what left the factory in 2007. The 6.2-liter LS3, Magnuson 2650, six-speed automatic, upgraded front differential, flex-fuel integration, and retained AWD system combine to create what amounts to a modernized interpretation of the original Trailblazer SS formula: big LS power, four driven wheels, and everyday SUV packaging.