RIPPING The HURT LS2 Out Of A Chevy Trailblazer SS

Josh's Chevy Trailblazer SS is ready for some upgrades. The LS2 408 stroker is not making the power he expected. It was built to go fast but a small cam is holding it back. We're ripping the engine out to do a cam swap when we find a little more wrong than we expected to find.
MERCH: shopWatchJRGo.com
Shop Motul: motul.com
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Common Questions:
What motorcycle do I ride? A few. Ducati 1198, Honda Goldwing, Honda Grom, Honda Ruckus
What do I do for a living? Make KZbin videos.
Can you wheelie? No, I suck.
Are you fast? Sort of. I suck mostly though.
Where can I keep up with you off the bike?
Instagram: WatchJRGo
Facebook: WatchJRGo (or JRGo, FB hates my branding)
Do you go to school? College, for 2 classes.
Why do you ride so dangerously? What do mean? I was doing 25.
Do you go to the track? Of course, hopefully there will be videos in the future.
Do you play video games? No, but I might stream N64 Goldeneye at some point. Twitch: WatchJRGo
Are you afraid the police will watch your videos and arrest you? Something something evidence something something warrants and due process of law
#TBSS #ChevroletTrailblazer #LSX

[@smackassify]

The cat at 10:13 is an an absolute unit. A real chonk, that's for sure.

[@ElliottAlvis]

Josh got to work on one of his cars in his garage for once! Also I love that there is a cat cameo 🐈

[@taunuslunatic404]

Did you say Meow?

[@michaelstanley5215]

That cat is a regular when JR works in Josh's garage.

[@keithmumford1164]

Love your content and how it always varies. Some channels get super cars like an Audi or something like an Audi, and they fix the Audi and tune the Audi, and it takes several episodes of working on the Audi, just to see the completed Audi.

[@justinsweeney2629]

Lol. Completely random type of vehicle just happened to be first brand that popped into your head lol

[@jaym9529]

LMAO

[@AgtWashingtub]

...Audi

[@ricky-sanchez]

Audi sux. there is a testament to audi in jr's garage. You've never seen another audi since.

[@TheLucasHB]

Great job with the timelapse! The speed was perfect, got to see you guys working together, making messes, cleaning it up, all sped up the perfect amount

[@jfrorn]

Love watching these videos, but it was hilarious to me that I didn't understand a word of the first 5 minutes... Total motor crazy talk.

[@Zer0Fall3n]

Same here I understood a few things but im still learning a lot about cars it’s endless lmao

[@travisburch6970]

I like to see you and Tyler do a build off Tyler get the wizard and you get Josh . I can see it now both have to buy a junk car and repair and get ready for a race for the next day . If you think it a great idea hit the like button 👍😜😜😜

[@TheFracturedRooster]

JR might need a couple of Josh's to compete w the Wiz. - Josh

[@rvne3959]

@@TheFracturedRooster JR is knowledgeable especially electrically and Tyler is useless.

[@metromusic5725]

Tyler has given JR more than enough handouts over the last year since he got fired and is WAY TO BIG for Jon for that.

[@mikewest5529]

RvnE39 yep preaching some real bible truth right there!! I’m a believer!!

[@metromusic5725]

@@TheFracturedRooster 100% guy is a TOTAL NOTICE compared to most KZbin car pros. Too bad Josh is a total 😴 personality/charisma wise

[@Brycereigle2000]

I love how Josh is wearing a Ford shirt working on his Chevy! Lol!

[@MrClarkisgod]

Well he has a pretty nasty fox body too. You can like both. It's okay. Fanboying car brands is dumb.

[@TheGewidener]

But about to use a rear from a Lincoln lol

[@Brycereigle2000]

@@MrClarkisgod No I agree I was just trying to make a funny comment lol. I think every brand can be appreciated in some way

[@metromusic5725]

Wow really? Josh is extremely dull, boring and quiet. If THIS is the MOST INTERESTING thing about him.....oh boy 😴

[@ajw828]

This is so crazy to me how routine this type of upgrade/repair is for you guys. Love watching and seeing this level of detail that I don't normally experience. Love the TBSS too! Wish they made one a little bit more accommodating for my growing family.

[@CarswithNash]

You guys are machines! Glad to see the Rolls coming together as well.👍

[@carlmcrobcustomgoldsmith11]

Have no idea when you sleep... so much awesome content. Thanks.

[@TermBallistics]

I live for daily uploads. This channel is so entertaining

[@ricky-sanchez]

I love it when you guys pull an engine. Keep up the good work. Subbed years ago.

[@someguyonli]

Great video! Have learned so much watching your videos. You've given me the confidence to get a project car and just go to town. After watching this video, I realized that I know nothing. This was very cool to watch but at times I felt like I was in a foreign country where I didn't speak the language.

[@BMattWill]

2:14 Achilles tendon 😂

[@InFiD3ViL1]

Those 823 heads are plenty fine for that engine, they are great heads and flow a ton. They are the same heads that the 2010-2015 Camaro SS uses on the auto L99 engine. Only difference from the LS3 heads is the 821 LS3 heads have hollow intake valves from the factory. Sold my 823's last year for $600. Josh should find 500 rwhp with that stroked 408 no problem. I am installing a GPI .647/.638 224/237 112+4 cam in a few days and am expecting 460/430 hp/tq to the wheels on a stock cube full bolt on LS3/6L80e. He should have no problems hitting his numbers if he tunes it well.

[@colingoldthorpe5918]

Still looking forward to this channel hitting 500K subscribers great channel and informative for us that only turn wrenches on basic stuff. Made me realize taking my front wheel of the bike for a tire change is not that hard and saved myself $50...

[@RYEINDUSTRIAL]

Joshs' eye for detail is admirable.

[@Raindrops4891]

love your videos bro. keeps me motivated on my own projects lol

[@troyfoster3551]

Awesome vid! Can’t wait to see the new black marks on the roads from it. Leave a good one in front of ACE for me!! I go by there on my way home.

[@gainesinlife]

Great video as always! What is the song during the time lap?

[@hurricane7081]

please do an in-depth part 2 of the engine rebuild!!

[@jacobyo99]

Woah woah-minivan? This is a body on frame SUV

[@mharry860]

I got rear ended in mine, totaled the old Toyota with no ABS that hit me, shoved me into the car in front of me and pushed his trunk up. I got a concussion and the Trailblazer had a cut in the rear bumper.

[@jacobyo99]

Mark Harry trailblazers are tanks

[@scottfirman]

He insulted all trailblazers. They are in no way a minivan. Sometimes he doesnt think I swear. Mine saw a lot of deer trails and dirt roads. The straight 6 engine was bullet proof. The transaxle up front leaked like a bitch and my tranny went twice. After that, I sold it.

[@WatchJRGo]

Issa joke... I even had the custom license plate that said minivan on mine. It’s the greatest minivan 💯

[@DakotaJaegle]

WatchJRGo please get the actual best minivan Jeep WJ lol

[@GoodOlBoy1976]

I hope to some day LSX swap my 95 chevy truck. She runs ok now but needs some money thrown into her to get her just right. The first thing I would love to do is get a set of headers and strait pipe her.I cant wait to see the blazer burning up the trails lol.

[@skip0110]

Yup, mine blew up too, oil starvation!

[@jn07513]

Great content keep it up i love the common cars i would love to see you flip an sn95

[@Sjonathan91]

Enjoy your vids man thinking of flipping cars myself

[@artysmotorsports]

That's a pretty sweet set up. I used to have a 03 Silverado ss. I sure miss that thing...

[@dave11686]

Love the TBSS!

[@TreadTalk247]

My Wife has a stock TBSS, we THINK we have a spun bearing, or a stuck lifter…notorious tick. Runs fantastic though!!!! So we parked it a year ago and plan to work on it this Spring. She loves that truck and won’t part w it for anything. It is AWD

[@dom2159]

What's the best way to get the torque converter bolts out? I'm stuck on that part. Let me know please!

[@drippingwax]

Have any of you replaced the heater core in a 1996-2000 Civic? Normally I print off all of the steps from the FSM, watch videos, and read forum posts, but I am hardly finding anything!

[@philipalbert7609]

JR, please make sure you clean the shop floor really well if the cat is going to be walking around the shop. Engine coolant has a sweet smell for cats and they often try to drink it. Sadly it is extremely toxic to cats. So please clean the floor or keep the cat out of the shop.

[@danrowley6934]

Never seen anyone use their thumb, let alone having such control, using a spray can for any reason. Props to Josh. 👍👍

[@montealsmith5356]

hey how you doing I have a chevy trailblazer 2005 4.2 and I've been look online for where I can get core plugs or freeze plugs can't find it anyway but I talked to someone and they said I would have to pull the plug to get the size I was wondering if by any chance you knew the size of the freeze plug

[@oncewaslost1982]

Hows the crawler coming along? That was a really fun build to watch.

[@pussygalore5947]

Is there a version of this video in English?

[@juiced71]

Awd on the street tho 👍🏻 I have an 08 it’s all stock but love driving it Would love to do a cam and some nitrous

[@tylerty7324]

Wait, why did you pull the pistons for the cam swap??

[@Justin-bx2gz]

Got ported 823s on my 408 also. I don’t agree with the awd to 2wd tho😑😬 but the adapter for the 80e is a little expensive

[@DaddytechEnt]

*LOVE the Trailblazer SS's those things are nice! Fast too.NOT TRUE! they make a kit to keep them AWD and you can still go fast and keep your AWD too. one secret is using a high volume oil pump and a high end fully synthetic oil coupled with Lucas. oh so he's got a high volume oil pump. what does he street race this thing? trying to figure out how and where he's running it and where that he's blowing out bearings. Maybe he should start checking into some type of forced lube situation if he's blowing out bearings that fast though or maybe it's just time for a different, bigger, motor. LS swap his LS so to speak get rid of the LS2 and put in an LS7? Maybe?could be a good goal*

[@tokuzumi1]

I'm used to seeing the knock sensors in the lifter valley. I was surprised to see the lifter valley tray with no provisions for knock sensors.

[@WatchJRGo]

That's the deleted cover from ICT Billet: amzn.to/2W1Og4V

[@whitechocolate8885]

Can't wait to see the dyno video

[@grayfool]

JR and Josh demonstrate the new DADSpeed© Peer Pressure tuning system. 😀

[@ozmanozgood856]

I was told that LS 408 have a problem with the piston skirts coming to far out of the bore creating unnecessary wear ?

[@srp365]

"There's a head gasket for a reason" quote of the day lol

[@KreKeriS911]

That cat is absolute unit.

[@mikeybhoutex]

5:55 - That's the funniest lookin' didgeridoo I've ever seen. Sounds pretty good though.

[@miguelare3]

Hey what took is that Watchjrgo at 6:00 hey can you put of like descriptions of the tools you use ?

[@MassiveTrackHunter]

2wd is a good choice for that motor. Less driveline to break.

[@GatheringSticks]

How do you fix the oil starvation issue....high volume pump.

[@RichieRouge206]

Great job

[@maad1087]

Dont know why, but I love that bold guy. 👍

[@blackcountryme]

Couldn't you put a baffle in the oil pan if it has that issue?

[@unstablebobgable]

If I got to help Watch JR Goes and Joshs work on the Trail Blazer SS I would drink the cold Bartle Skeets and puff on the Cannabis Cigar and get all schmoked up.

[@rome2881]

Why did you remove the engine without the transmission? Is it easier

[@markturner2646]

Been waiting for the SS build looks like it's gonna be a ripper. Big fan of the trailblazer SS not that many around

[@TheRealBleach]

Nice bro

[@russellivy1991]

@watchjrgo how do you have all the stats on the car display like that?!

[@jmoney7289]

I love those man my favorite SUV my first pick for s Chevy SS is actually the Chevy SS not the camaro the SS 4 door American Holden love them

[@xTinBenderX]

I have an L96 with L92 heads and intake swapped into a Jeep JKU that's stuck in reduced power mode. Changed pedal and TB sensor and did a relearn. No joy... Been sitting for 2 years now as the company that did the swap is in Las Vegas and I'm in OKC area. Any ideas anyone?

[@Max_Thunder]

I thought Romero won but at least the ladies shined.... Oh wait wrong channel.

[@redneckbryon]

What kind of Pop is in the Pop machine outside the shop?? True or False, is it OK to lay a crank down on its side, i’ve heard you should.

[@TheFracturedRooster]

Root beer, Sprite and Miller Lite

[@paulog8813]

Plz ask Josh to translate all he said about the engine in the beginning into common people’s English!😂😂😂 And wearing a Ford tshirt to work in a GM? Cool.

[@345Taij]

Where do you buy these vehicles from I’m from St.louis , Missouri abd is looking for a vehicle

[@carstenreinbold5523]

Is this an LS2 swapped 4.2? The SS models didn’t have roof racks, and the suspension is way too tall for an actual SS.

[@james10739]

I did not know that about the trailblazer ss that was dumb with the oil pickup

[@dangerousfreedom4965]

Did his motor burn oil? Reference the 4” stroke

[@MikeG_9]

Yo Jr! 🍻 4th. 😩

[@rubioo93]

What tool was that that yall used to clean the heads up.

[@WatchJRGo]

This: amzn.to/39xsWYU Milwaukee Die Grinder with a scotchbrite pad 🍻

[@blautens]

What did Josh do for the 4L80 swap (regarding the harness)? Did he keep the stock ECM and TCM? I thought the 2006 TBSS was harder to swap the 4L80 into, since it used an E40 ECM and the 2007-2009 used an E67. I've blown five 4L70s in my 2006 TBSS...:(

[@TheFracturedRooster]

I downloaded 4L80 swap instructions for a silverado. Just had to repin a couple of wires in the trans connector. Then use HPtuners to "segment swap" the TCU. I used a segment from a 3/4 ton suburban w a 6.0/4L80.

[@blautens]

@@TheFracturedRooster Thanks, I have HP Tuners, I'll look into that.

[@waynep343]

JR.. do you know the history of the big port heads.. when caddy wanted a high power LS engine.. somebody mentioned.. why not go over to the corvette race team and try some of their heads.. so the high power LS engines were born..

[@snowyowl7042]

Get the RR original engine back from Wizard! Swapwith reliable one drom Geo Metro or Samari

[@VivienneVoid]

i had a 4.2 TB and we hated that thing. put a couple hundo in parts just to get it to run normal and then sold it

[@Veikra]

funny seeing this recommended since I sold my saab 9-7x today

[@tabajaralabs]

Say "Meow" to Josh's beautiful cat! =)

[@davlet53209]

Inline 6 is better on the trailblazer. With modes. I have a new inline block I'm over haul. For it. I'm getting 400 to the wheels without the turbo. The new block I'm doing I'm hoping to get between 600 to 800 to the wheels. I also got a full posi

[@MarksKicksOnRoute66]

I vote JR is a cool guy!

[@kshitijtulsian5271]

It would low-key have been cool to rebuild the r8 engine and have a build up bottom end and rods and pistons

[@HiggsBJ]

First few minutes reminds me of the scene out of Dazed and Confused.

[@fatmanjess]

HiggsBJ it’s got a 350 with a 4 barrel carb and an edelbrock intake

[@dwiedmaier]

Cool cat!

[@saxonfan]

Great video as always, but is there a way to make that loud crappy music lower volume, it just kills the video.

[@davidhanesworth8027]

Time for a dry sump and external pump system.

[@jliznel99]

should have went with the TSP BFD cam

[@ekbenc6151]

What do you mean they blow up? How I just bought one that I’m building, I know this video is kinda old but talk to me and tell me what I can do so it won’t blow up

[@scottfirman]

I was under the Trailblazer body has to come off in order to remove the engine in a Trailblazer. This is NOT a minivan by any means. How can you even call it a minivan. Mabe you ment something else. My Trailblazer had 248k on it and I sold it because the transmission took a dump twice. I am convinced no one today knows how to properly rebuild a transmission any more. The engine ( 6cylinder) was running fine when I sent it down the road. I would buy another one if it wasnt for the crappy front differential problem most of them had. I wonder if the 8 cylinder had a better transmission. Heavier duty.

[@PoweredByLS2]

The SS has a 4L70 which is slightly better than a 4L60. Mine is still running fine after 85K miles. Tho I don't drag race, just spirited driving now and then.

[@willnixon7392]

You truly should have all your buddies sit down with you once a week and just shoot the shit, kinda like the perfect car podcast .

[@travisloftis3566]

Love the ss

[@steaker-gi9uw]

JR are you going to be getting the new Valentine 1 Gen. 2?

[@WatchJRGo]

No, the R7 is a beast, that’s what I’m on now. Might move to the Radenso Theia 🚔

[@j.brooks5017]

@@WatchJRGoawesome

[@detroitwatkins6201]

Are you guys in mi?

[@mikeroeder]

Maybe the next R8 shirt could say "LS Swap *most* of the world"

[@100PercentJake]

Call that stroker LS Nine Inch Nails cuz it hurt itself.

[@vladivostok47]

Hey Josh, you want to sell that old cam? Just got a project that needs a cam/lifters replaced.

[@billynunns]

Billet fix 😎

[@toolzshed]

yayyyy Josh has a cat!

[@gsppuffer]

Why pull motor for heads and cam swap?

[@WatchJRGo]

Because it's like 20 bolts, super easy pull 🍻

[@frankwolf389]

Working on a Chevy with a Ford shirt on !

[@amigaboy]

chonky cat needs more exposure. !!! give us more of a CHONKEEER!!!!

[@mmonkeyman1403]

(Mentions the R8) ...wait! That's illegal!

[@mjmcomputers]

Burnouts while waiting in the carpool line.

[@jonathanj.4800]

Cool