What mods to start doing?

[BLU98]

I'm going in for a test drive on the 08 3SS saturday and if I do pick it up which is very likely. What mods should I do? I read somewhere that there is a stealth CAI kit? I know I'll do a tune etc. Any heads up on where to go in NJ or PA would like to keep it close by if I may need to go back etc. Any help or info is greatly for a new soon to be SS owner.

[idreama300]

I believe that Tune Time is in NJ, they can hook you up. I would do a tune, efans, CAI that should get you a good start.

[wmolzon]

yup as stated tune and CAI are the best 1st mods you can do!!! tune time is also a pretty good place, i belive there is vector also

[cgriffin_5139]

Debadge that baby to!

[POWERFREAK]

Congrats on your purchase....I'm jealous.:hail:

Might want to also do a tranny cooler...seems like the trans is the weak link, a cooler will help. Depending on how much $$ you want to sink into it, headers and exhaust would be worth it too....just do the tune after or at the same time as the other performance mods to take full advantage of everything.

[ltz03]

Tune Time is in Toms River, NJ he will do what ever you want to your SS anything from an intake to a built blown motor. Matt is a great guy he has good guys working for him . Everyone who leaves there leaves HAPPY and if you not he will do what it takes to make you. So take a ride down and tell him what you want out of the truck and he will lead you in that direction...

[BLU98]

Anything closer? Does anyone know if PSI does AWD dyno's?

[ieatsrt8]

I would recommend taliking to Alvin & Kelly @ pcmforless. They have everything you need under one roof. :woot: Tune, ieatsrt8 intake, trans cooler, efans, TBSS specific cams. Not one single complaint on any forum. P.S. he does have an in house AWD dyno. His prices are very reasonable and his customer service is second to none. Alvin recommends what is right for your vehicle, not what he will make the most money on! :m2: They are out of North Carolina. Phone is : (704)-307-4227

[TURBO BUICK]

Like almost everyone else has stated, Tune Time Performance in Toms River, NJ is the place to go. Carries just about everything in stock or if not can get what you need very shortly. Matt has a great bunch of guys working for him. TTP did my wifes TB SS and she couldn't be any happier. They are also a vendor here. Rich

[junehhan]

I'm going in for a test drive on the 08 3SS saturday and if I do pick it up which is very likely. What mods should I do? I read somewhere that there is a stealth CAI kit? I know I'll do a tune etc. Any heads up on where to go in NJ or PA would like to keep it close by if I may need to go back etc. Any help or info is greatly for a new soon to be SS owner.

Vector does have their 2nd gen CAI, as well as their stealth intake. I havn't tried it yet since I am not much of a fan of K&N and K&N type oiled filters these days, but lots of people like theirs. I also have to say that i'm amazed by Vector's tune as it not only increased low to mid range torque significantly, but this is how EVERY Trailblazer SS should have been shifting when it left the factory. A transmission cooler is probably also a good idea before summer hits as the factory cooling is not adequate. PCM4less does have a nice kit specifically for our vehicles that supposedly don't require cutting any lines.

Most of us have our favorites and will have trouble deciding on which vendor to go with. However, most of us will agree that the best bang for the buck comes with doing a CAI, Tune, and transmission cooler(mostly to keep the tranny from overheating).


Of course, there are Magnachargers, STS turbo kits, Nitrous, long tube headers, and more depending on your budget :woohoo:

[TuneTimePerformance]

I would recommend taliking to Alvin & Kelly @ pcmforless. They have everything you need under one roof. :woot: Tune, ieatsrt8 intake, trans cooler, efans, TBSS specific cams. Not one single complaint on any forum. P.S. he does have an in house AWD dyno. His prices are very reasonable and his customer service is second to none. Alvin recommends what is right for your vehicle, not what he will make the most money on! :m2: They are out of North Carolina. Phone is : (704)-307-4227 So you would rather do a mail order tune then one live ? :confused: I guess I should recomend another Intake cause they are futher away ? We have an inhouse AWD dyno.

Give us a call we have many customers from your area . Takes about 1hr and a half to get here + We have been tuning TB SS since Feb 06 and then some.

[TURBO BUICK]

BLU98, First of all good luck on getting an 08 TB SS. 2nd of all DEFINITELY get the Sonnax Servos and by all means a trans cooler installed for the trans. Those mods are a MUST because the 4L70E trans is the weakest link in the drive train. Also my wife and I drove from NE Pa to Toms River, NJ for Matt and his guys to perform their work on my wifes 07 TB SS.A total of 4hours down and another 4hours back. 180 miles down and 180 miles back. Why did I go that far and that many miles? Because Matt and his crew are some of the most honest and dependable people we have ever met. They DO Know what they are doing, believe me. The end result? 12.80 in the 1/4 mile with an 07 TB SS AWD. And even then the TB was hitting against the rev limiter on the 2 to 3 shift because the tranny was going south. The trans has since been rebuilt with all the good stuff and hopefully will do even better in the 1/4 mile. I personally would never go with a mail order tune or any other mods when Tune Time Performance is so close to you. Also check out TTP posts to see if any people have been dissatisfied with the work that they do. I doubt that you will find anybody that is dissatisfied. Trust me, if I was unhappy with their work, EVERYONE on this forum would know about it. Good Luck if you do purchase the 08 TB SS, and if you do keep us posted on how you like it. Rich

BLU98, I forgot to tell you that I also went with the ADM CAI and had Matt at TTP install his tune in order for it to work properly and I couldn't be any happier. ADM does make a nice CAI which has 100MM MAF sensor. Besides it is stock looking and does work nice. As far as the Trans Cooler, look up RossiSS posts and see what he has done for the installation of the trans cooler. I liked what he had done and did the same thing. Parts at NAPA store cost me only $125.00. (Thanks RossiSS for your good tip). If you want to know any more info you can send me a PM. Rich

[SpotBlender]

.
Turbo Buick, Thanks man, this is good info, It may be worth the travel to go and get good "Products" and "Work" done on my TBSS.
Seems these vendors really have good stuff, it's "Team Work", if ya think about it.

Dallas, NJ, NE Pa, where ever, If one is serious about getting the best out of one of these fine Trucks. :thumbsup:

.

[BLU98]

Any pics of these CAI's?

[Juice]

Good luck on getting the truck. If and when you do get it, I highly recommend going with a tuner that is local (seems to be Tune Time) to you so that they you can have it tuned accurately. Good luck with the purchase!!!

[BLU98]

Yeah seems everyone recommends TTP down in Toms River. Where are they at anywhere near Downs Ford or that main strip etc? I used to be custom to SCT X-Cal but that too is a pain data logging and back and forth etc. I used to go to Laroccas back in the day but heard they suck now! I know that PSI Motorsports is pretty close to me but not sure if they have AWD dyno chassis? Anybody deal with Frank Soldridge?

[TuneTimePerformance]

Yeah seems everyone recommends TTP down in Toms River. Where are they at anywhere near Downs Ford or that main strip etc? I used to be custom to SCT X-Cal but that too is a pain data logging and back and forth etc. I used to go to Laroccas back in the day but heard they suck now! I know that PSI Motorsports is pretty close to me but not sure if they have AWD dyno chassis? Anybody deal with Frank Soldridge?We are around the corner from downs and do a lot of buisness with them . We also have an awd dyno in house .

[PrinzII]

Vector does have their 2nd gen CAI, as well as their stealth intake. I havn't tried it yet since I am not much of a fan of K&N and K&N type oiled filters these days, but lots of people like theirs. I also have to say that i'm amazed by Vector's tune as it not only increased low to mid range torque significantly, but this is how EVERY Trailblazer SS should have been shifting when it left the factory. A transmission cooler is probably also a good idea before summer hits as the factory cooling is not adequate. PCM4less does have a nice kit specifically for our vehicles that supposedly don't require cutting any lines.

Most of us have our favorites and will have trouble deciding on which vendor to go with. However, most of us will agree that the best bang for the buck comes with doing a CAI, Tune, and transmission cooler(mostly to keep the tranny from overheating).


Of course, there are Magnachargers, STS turbo kits, Nitrous, long tube headers, and more depending on your budget :woohoo:

What about us folks on the left coast? Where do we go or would I have to make a 2100+ mile journey?

[ieatsrt8]

So you would rather do a mail order tune then one live ? :confused: I guess I should recomend another Intake cause they are futher away ? We have an inhouse AWD dyno.

Give us a call we have many customers from your area . Takes about 1hr and a half to get here + We have been tuning TB SS since Feb 06 and then some.

I would always recommend a street tune or dyno tune over a mail order tune any day of the week!! I never said the customer should do a mail order tune. Must of missed the part where i said Alvin has an in-house AWD dyno. :confused: I'm not doubting your abilities for once second. Never have B4. Its the customers choice, i just put out a recommendation thats all.

[junehhan]

What about us folks on the left coast? Where do we go or would I have to make a 2100+ mile journey?

I'm not sure exactly what you are asking, but all of this site's supporting vendors do ship their wares no matter where you live in the country. I guess those of us who live in our part of the country are lucky in the fact that we usually get better gas, and have all the vendors around us. I made a trip a couple months ago to Vector which was a 600 mile round trip.