V8 TrailBlazer Owners---LQQking for some Huge HP & Torque Gains?!

[Mr. Northface]

Well, since I am in the never ending search for extra ponies, I have come across something that will get your lead sled up & running for sure


STS Turbo Systems. The kit will cost you $3600 plus you will have to have a place do some custom piping work since they don't have a direct fit for our vehicle yet. The place where I was talking to said that it would probably cost installed with the piping work somewhere around
$3600 for turbo
$75 an hour for labor.....roughly about 6-10 hours max
then what ever the cost for the piping which he didn't think would be much.

This is not your typical turbo system. It mounts on the underside of your vehicle & not in the engine bay. It even comes with a custom tune for your ride to get the most out of it. It only spools up to 5psi of boost which translates into 100+ extra RWHP and an additional 110+ RWTQ
all coming on at full boost in 1st gear by 3000 RPM & I was told that the full boost can be achieved by as little as 1500 RPM in the rest of the gears.

They do offer kits with more boost with greater HP & TQ gains, but you would have to replace the fuel pump to keep up with the added demand.



If it wasn't for the fact that I am buying a new home....it would be a done deal. Money well spent to me even though it is alot of $$$.


For more information about this product, check out this site:




http://www.ststurbo.com/


I have spoken with some of the people there & they are VERY professional & I would highly rec. them to all.




I will post on here if & when I can get this kit installed.

[JoseEspino]

Hi Northface. I noticed on your EXT setup that you installed a Flowmaster 70 Series Muffler for your TB. I was wondering what gain in hp & performance you got after installing it & if you took out the resonator as well? Since your engine is a 5.3 V8 are there other exhaust system options out there?

After doing some research, I found that JBA Evol Exhaust System #50-3027 will fit my 04 TB EXT 4.2L 4WD but it's backordered from the manufacturer so it'll be awhile before it gets shipped. Once I get it installed, I'll post the progress.

[Mr. Northface]

Well for the 4.2L, you can go with Borla. That was my first choice but since they didn't have anything for the V8 yet....I had to take a pass on them.
The resonator....don't think that that was taken off.......all the guy did at the shop was to cut the old muffler off & weld on the new one in place & that was it.
As far as the exact extra power....hard to say. I have never dyno'd her & as far as driving differences afterwards.......a little bit quicker....but nothing really noticeable. Supposedly...about 10hp....torque....? got me there. It did seem to get up to speed just a little bit better than before. But since dumb me didn't time or dyno anything....again it is hard to say.


I don't recall any other manufactures at the moment with the exhaust systems for the inline 6. When I have the time, I can get back to you on that. I am just headed to bed right now so I can get up at 4am...YUCK!



All that I have done to mine has made it definetely quicker. Heck, I have had it up to 123MPH & it was still pulling hard....though it would (very soon after that) be redline limited & the major thing.....tires aren't rated for that amount of speed. I could only do short top end runs & nothing prolonged for fear of overheated tires & blowouts.


It still lacks the off the line boost that I am looking for. But hey...at least it's better than what it was...



K&N makes a nice FIPK for your if you need an air intake. JET makes a chip for yours.......my mind is drawing up a blank right now...so I can't think of anything else right now. Like I said...if I can get some time, I will do some lQQking to see what else is available for you.

Talk to you later.

[clone1008]

Just thought I'd give my exhaust input. I own a 2004 EXT with the 5.3L V8. The first improvement I did was to have the original muffler cut out. This truck has headers...so I went with two 50 Series Flowmasters out with true duals. Wow, what a difference and what a killer sound!

[Mr. Northface]

Yeah...I kinda wish I went with the 50 series. I really like the sound of the 70 series & the wife has never complained about the extra sound, but deeper sound is better & that's what your is.....Bet it sounds sweeeeeeeet!

I thought about headers too, just that I have no idea on where to have that kind of work done around my house. I am sure there is someone that can do it, but I am not sure if it will in fact increase the sound of the motor or not. To be on the safe side, I don't want it really any louder......or should I say for the wife.....I personally would love it louder......so we will see. Cash is at a stand still because of a house being built....but eventually...more is on the way.

[clone1008]

Northface,

What I meant to say was that our 5.3 comes from the factory with dual exhaust already (Headers). So what I did was, I had my local muffler shop cut out the "Y" pipe before the stock muffler. I then had two Flowmaster 50 SUV series mufflers mounted side by side where the stock muffler was, and ran true dual pipes out the back. The sound is exactly what I wanted. The wife on this side loves it! I also just mounted my 20" Helo Skids on it yesterday. What an improvement over the stock wheels.

[Mr. Northface]

Very cool! I understand now....but they do make better headers for our too......
Really wish I had some rims on her.......

Darn new house & wifey!