Building the Ultimate 800HP Street Vortec 4200 for the 10 Second Trailblazer

[@76629online]

I have put MANY engines together over the years with (some) used parts. Lots of folks have made fun of me for it, too. I'm just not keen on wasting money and throwing away perfectly good, usable parts. Not to mention the fact that a set of bearings with .0005" to .001" of wear on them will actually work better with your high volume oil pump. The days of only spending $25 on a new set of bearings (even for an SBC) are LONG gone.

[@devonneri2087]

Just spent $50 for some eBay ones for a sbc lol

[@cmattdabrat]

Awesome! You have me inspired. For my 1.8 EcoTec build, I send a piston in to JE, and they replicated it to a tee. Kept the order number so I could easily just reorder more and fans of the engine could as well. Could be an option. My understanding is Wisco and JE are the same race winning brand / umbrella.

[@stephenolshefski9290]

Damn right you’re using aftermarket rods--says Dad. Safety first. No repeats. Good video

[@icelandic1717]

REALLY liked in the (I think?) turbo/mistakes episode where you broke down the weight diff in each piece that you were saving, would love to see a breakdown/recap at the end of this build that highlights the difference per piece and the overall weight reduction you were able to achieve! Love this build, thank you for your videos :)

[@paullatour7012]

I’m really enjoying what you are doing with the Atlas series and keeping things budget friendly where possible. Merry Christmas to you and your family

[@RetroAnachronist]

I have always loved Wiseco. My favorite brand of forged slugs. I’m sure you’re aware of this, but, the torque test channel showed that you get far more pressure with lubricant on the fastener threads. You still torque to a ft lb amount before beginning the angular torque. 🤷‍♂️

[@garthp9874]

Thanks for taking us along. Love that you are explaining your engine parts selection between new and old. Wish you nothing but good luck on your first pass. Can't wait. To you and your family have a great Holiday season. God Bless.

[@TroyStanton-ok5vd]

Merry Christmas to you and your family Calvin! Really enjoying the videos lately.

[@mastercricket7626]

Cant weight , i got a 08 trailblazer lt that the wife drives that i am eager to secretly modify for her one day 😅... keep at it Calvin.. you and pops are a great inspiration.. peace and love all, keep it rad, stay safe, and build on..l8r famz and keep having fun guys

[@lifeishard1211]

that's a great looking rod and piston.

[@MississippiDan1]

Another awesome video bro! Can't wait to see it fly...😎 And i haven't forgotten about the caddy/yote...💪😁

[@cphollingdale4412]

You've given me ideas... I have my 6 cylinder pulled from the Trailblazer now and getting ready to rebuild....

[@randylneisen4824]

Another awesome video on the 4200! Keep up the amazing, innovative work and videos! Happy Holidays!

[@willsteele9249]

They have no idea! Love your channel!

[@J-Whit]

Its coming together great! I look forward to one day lining up my more stock awd 6l80 version and seeing how they perform!

[@primeral]

I truly love your Vortec content

[@BB-fv2dw]

These cars are fun with the 4.2 I sent out got computer tuned for 93oct in a EXT with 373 gears it's my daily

[@GrandPitoVic]

Awesome video Kalvin!!!! I have been wanting a Trailblazer for along time now. I'm going to have to end up getting a 07' or 08' or 09'.

[@YaIKnowJayBen]

I appreciate your pioneering. Can't wait to go pull a motor at the yard and build it for drifting.

[@chrisfairbanks9746]

I'm loving these videos

[@MichaelDurig1]

Always a pleasure to watch your projects. Still planning on the resurrection of my 06 TB.

[@ericwilson2585]

Hey Calvin, good to see the new 4200 coming together, can't weight to see her making some dyno pulls. I was wondering something; have you ever heard of anyone who makes an off the shelf forged piston for the LH2 Northstar? So far the only kind I have found are the hypereutectic type.

[@donaldhalls2189]

Hope it's capable of your 1000 hp ,thanks for sharing, all the best to you and your loved ones

[@button-puncher]

Calvin, did you do the head porting yourself, or do you recommend someone? Or do you think a novice get decent enough results? THANK YOU for detailing this build. You've convinced me to keep a 6-cylinder in my Astro van. Almost the same weight as your Trailblazer. I also want to keep my Astro perfectly streetable but am never going to put a full cage in it.

[@MarkTLarry]

Great video!!

[@bobroberts2371]

I had to replay the vid, try closed captions , and web search. The company making the rear pan is Stutz Performance Engineering. The pan is on pre order for $ 475. Options are + $ 35 for laser welding , - $ 75 for a you weld it parts kit. Regardless of the welding type, I'd be spraying brake cleaner on the inside of the welds and looking for leaks as hand welding can be an issue. Also, I'd make the baffle removable by welding short pieces of angle iron to the inside of the pan. The down side of this pan is the lack of lower bolts that attach to the bottom of the bell housing but these can be added. I've got a square body that is getting a 4200 and haven't yet decided to stretch a stock pan or get this.

[@JohnZornAscended]

Compound stress on a concentrated area kills rods. Not necessarily torque alone.

[@redhotchannel1945]

When wiseco comes out with a set of pistons, I plan on buying a set! Hopefully, they come out before spring.

[@jacobwippie515]

You got me wanting to stuff one of these in my rambler

[@jclaybaugh2]

Merry Christmas, this one is a treat!

[@JakStoll]

merry Christmas young man gona be a ripper

[@gabriellindig]

I picked up 2 6.0 ls blocks for 50 bucks and I want to put one in my wife's Land Rover Discovery. But watching your videos I'm leaning more towards a 4.2

[@fresnomikey1]

Tuned in a few times, love what you discovered here. How much to grab a junkyard str8 6 and a cheap turbo (plus whatever else I’m forgetting) to get some nice power? Ya know 350-450ish

[@michaelblacktree]

With the 4200, that will be easy. The engine is rated for 275-290 HP from the factory. So we're talking around 8-10 psi boost. A cheap ebay turbo can do that.

[@yurimodin7333]

semi-pro tip....instead of wrapping paper around things like master cyl, aluminum foil wraps and scrunches to shape easily.

[@crookedaxle]

Amen brother! I have a roll in my desk drawer just for this reason.

[@Thebadraccoon]

I’m local to you and stalking this series 😍

[@seancollins9745]

CGI block would be badass

[@nuts5388]

I wish the 5cyl had this level of aftermarket support… I really want to build one

[@djfisher6728]

Beautiful work. Are we getting any Northstar content soon?

[@philbetthauser9547]

Merry Christmas to you and your family

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Merry Christmas!

[@Carcrafter7165]

When do you think you’ll find a non torque to yield headbolts Calvin ? Have you reached out to ARP For headbolts?instead of head studs?

[@TurboWorld]

AWESOME, been waiting for this one! Love the Wisecos in the volvo, For sure need a set in my Envoy!

[@BanginGears1300]

Hey Calvin, if you ever want a new project motor, I have a 0 mile 4200 engine that’s never been opened or driven. Straight from GMs factory. Was given to an automotive school, but it was an auto body school, so they never took it apart. 1st gen with plastic valve cover

[@BanginGears1300]

I’m in NJ. So not far from PA

[@rogergm92]

A no balance required rods and Pistons for this 4200 and LS would be a blast ❤

[@rodduncan1183]

Calvin , dad & family Merry Christmas & I hope you find the Studebaker next year from the deep south (New Zealand) Both of you produce a interesting, informative & professional videos Thank You Kiwi Rod

[@chadriddle3517]

Love the atlas content !

[@McChevy]

Thanks for the video 👍

[@mariusfridlund55]

Merry christmas!🙂

[@fugemlpriks1876]

Thanks for sharing. I’m always looking at fast 6 cylinder stuff apart from 2j /rb stuff. You have been tinkering with these 2400’s for quite a while and it only gets better. Thanks.❤️👍🇦🇺

[@fugemlpriks1876]

I meant 4200😡

[@jord9308]

Do you ever re-torque the head bolts after a heat cycle?

[@JohnZornAscended]

Seems like a good idea.

[@Tapwater45.]

None related to the video but hope you fab up a sun roof delete plat for the TB I need that since mine doesn't work anyways

[@michaelblacktree]

That rear sump oil pan is a nice option. I'm sure a lot of builds can benefit from it.

[@brandyoverly3485]

You have inspired me to do a junkyard car build from ground up using a 4200 instead of the sbf or SBC v8s

[@tomasgustafsson1811]

Hmmm...you are making my brain working....i think this whuld be a beast at the street with minimum wight without making it look like a plastic rocket. And a think with more development and more boost a 1200-1500 hp engine its a killer on the street. I am now looking at ads here in Sweden för trail blazers ;)

[@lanceneuman9528]

Thanks Cal

[@xXDaReasonXx]

i need to go yard hunting

[@ronaldfarmer1208]

Great presation love akll the tips

[@AcM.5233]

Man I want to do this motor build so bad, but until these parts get to the off the shelf availability, it's not just not going to happen.

[@mickmagnetta6264]

Merry Christmas Team 6cyl

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Merry Christmas!

[@WillThat]

A 4200 with only 130K? That's the most impressive thing about this video.

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Yeah. The transmission behind it probably failed 3 times.

[@andrevokey4132]

Right on!

[@jamayajackson5256]

I wish you could get 6 forged pistons for under 1k.

[@CapablePimento]

Calvin, 6:48 so did you just mic the walls, look for taper, then dingle ball hone?

[@Rscmgw23]

I don’t even think he ball honed the cylinders. Looks like some tired bores and he just piston slapped it lol

[@jeremiahjohnson3018]

YES

[@dano4572]

VERY COOL!!!

[@jlongjr27]

I really want to put one of these in a Jeep Cherokee, as opposed to building a stroker with the stock head. Plus the head design on the 4.0 is just not great. You ready have me thinking now!

[@CodyRPierce]

I have one if thrse engines sitting in my buddies shop being used as a table. I need an engine for my ranger. The math is starting to look good

[@jasonbirch1182]

I want to see the difference in ET between a reasonable tire on the front that will make the car handle well and a silly drag only skinny tire that so many people drive around on.

[@ericmiller4285]

Are you still offering your crank trigger kit? I was unable to find it on your website.

[@AvenEngineer]

How much power would the stock awd trans tolerate? Wheels in my head are spinning for a turbo winter machine.

[@ClarkHillary]

I'm glad you made this video it reminds me of my transformation from a nobody to good home, $34k monthly and a good daughter full of love

[@JoseMatthew-r2e]

$75k biweekly changed my mindset and behavior, my goals, my family and I've to say this video has inspired me a lot!!!!

[@leoWilsons-b3v]

wow this awesome I'm 41 and have been looking for ways to be successful, please how??

[@JoseMatthew-r2e]

No one likes market risk, but without longer retirement, taking on risk is often a necessary evil to compensate for inflation

[@leoWilsons-b3v]

My wife is willing to work for another 5 years if needed. Are we in good shape? Will we be okay if I begin withdrawing from Social Security when I'm 41 and my wife is 40? Should we hire a financial planner to help us navigate this?

[@JoseMatthew-r2e]

These are crucial questions for a financial planner. I met mine at a NYSE summit, and with her help, my wife and I reallocated our $1.7M portfolio between a traditional IRA and a brokerage account. She's been making investments with our approval and has helped us recover twice our losses. We're holding steady and carefully navigating more markets

[@em2attic]

Any recommendations for machine shops that are knowledgeable on the 4200 in SoCal?

[@ATH24TXEX]

I take it the aftermarket rod and piston combo was close enough in weight to the factory parts to not require re-balancing the rotating assembly? Just curious... would have thought they would be significantly heavier, given the extra beef of those rods. Great video, as always. 👍

[@JohnZornAscended]

That’s a good idea.

[@pauloleksyn1289]

Kinda curious, was looking at this engine a couple times in the past, I'm in the middle of something now where weight is a concern, how much does one of these weight? It might also be too tall and long, I I'll probably need to stick to an LS.

[@krakhedd]

You're a G code I just got a C earlier tonight 1n my IT102 class - CNC Mill programming - final day of classes today, we did our finals and all that last week

[@robertmagni7201]

What is a rough cost estimate to build this same engine including the price of a used engine? Thanks, Rob

[@Dante_S550_Turbo]

i've gotten a running trailblazer as low as $400, so the engine cost can be pretty darn cheap if you're lucky.

[@brandyoverly3485]

What years have the metal valvecovers

[@TerranceMosley-ck3fc]

These things just may catch on. The American version of a 2JZ so to speak.

[@AustinRBa]

Who did your head? And do you mind sharing the price? Putting one in my Chevelle and thinking of getting another head/motor to drop in at a later date for extra ponies.

[@dmack6043]

I believe it was done by Fasterproms if I remember correctly.

[@kurtkurtis2982]

Whats your thoughts on using one of these 4.2 to repower my jeep Cherokee. I have 2 running driving trailblazers and 2 jeeps that need engines. Both were 4.0 inline. Id like to use the jeep trans tho.

[@yurimodin7333]

4200 is TALL might have a better time with the 3.3 and 3.8 v6 from a junkyard caravan. They even came factory in some wranglers.

[@JohnZornAscended]

Use the 4.0

[@RD-zq7bp]

You can build those inline 4.0 motors pretty rowdy. There’s some guys getting 400+ hp out of them

[@chuckschneider5625]

Is that an MLS head gasket? If it is you never put silicone on them.

[@eddiebrown9590]

I see you have done the one tooth change on this motor also, i dont intend to run the vvt at all, so do you think i need to do that change, i am using the same cams, rods, pistons ect as you. Thanks in advance mate..

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Nope. In fact you may want to retard it some.

[@e34boat88]

do you back cut stock valves?

[@jakeness4863]

I dream of an awd 4200 gmc jimmy “Phyclone“

[@the_olives6272]

Anyone know if there's an adapter for 4200's to a t56 or other manual trans?

[@countryjoe3551]

I would look at Advance Adapters for an adaptor plate or bellhousing for your combination.

[@dentfixer5968]

👍

[@Mike-kr9ys]

I did a shot of tequila everytime he slapped that piston/rod assembly. Now I am so drunk I can't tell which of the three screens I was originally watching...

[@OutlawCowboyNFL]

Where are you guys located? And would you be interested in offering assistance with swapping one of these 4200 engines into a C5 Corvette?

[@Andriod846]

Now i want to build a Vortec 4200 for a Trailblazer!

[@rippin39]

What year model of the trailblazer to use the motor from?

[@boosted2.4_sky]

Is that a 4032 or 2618 piston?..

[@queezytarantino1456]

Wiseco needs to make those pistons

[@johnnicol8598]

I don't work for Wiseco. But I can tell you as an engineer a new part is certainly not a "couple lines of G code". It needs drawings and part #'s. Full documentation and testing. Making one is easy, production is a whole other thing.

[@jacevincent2574]

yeah, I work in manufacturing and there is SO much more that goes into developing a new product even if it's only slightly different from other versions

[@CamCanCars]

Eager with anticipation to hear this thing fly 🤙

[@Carcrafter7165]

I would like to see DART to come out with an iron block but it’s probably not going to be cheap either.

[@BuffMyRadius]

Has anyone blown up a stock 4200 block yet?

[@2011metalmaniac]

Ya know I read a comment a few weeks ago and someone said these engines because they are lost foam casted they are extremely dangerous and if they explode they kill the passengers. Unfortunately noone has ever lived long enough to document these findings

[@countryjoe3551]

@@2011metalmaniac You know, that sounds like somebody that you probably ought to be very skeptical of.......

[@vashroundtree1623]

How do you bypass or get rid of security system was customizing interior and put back together now my security system is stoping from starting back up and reprogramming keys not working need help

[@StlMar314]

What's the name of the company that has that oil pan

[@countryjoe3551]

He said it was from Stutz Engineering

[@StlMar314]

@countryjoe3551 right on

[@ryder2shae]

Yes sirrrr. Letss gooo 🤘

[@alexhernandez8305]

How much money are you spending in this project in total?

[@permafrost2064]

Molnar rods, or Mjölnir rods... 😏

[@rvarsigfusson6163]

Who is making it..... a USA or Swedish company?

[@Rscmgw23]

Did you not at least hone the block?

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Nope