This SUV ain’t for no soccer mom, that’s for sure. We’ve been hammering on this LS2-powered Trailblazer SS for quite some time, and for all intensive purposes, she’s pretty much done. Well, I mean, we could always go bigger, but we do drive this car back-and-forth from home to work, so we do need to keep it civil to some degree…

What Were We Thinking?

For those following along, we’ve had a whole lot of fun with our “Project Blackout” Trailblazer Super Sport over the last few years. We’ve installed a NOS nitrous kit, a Yank torque converter, Kook’s headers and Y-pipe and Corsa exhaust; we even completed our “murdered out” look with a set of Factory Reproductions rims wrapped in Yokohama rubber. We’ve clocked some pretty decent times with our daily driver-turned-weekend warrior, and it’s only going to get better. But one key ingredient to our Trailblazer’s success is a pretty basic one that is key to getting Blackout’s 400-horsepower LS2 running at its full potential; a cold air intake kit.

We needed something simple to install that would set our Trailblazer SS over the top and apart from the rest of the crowd. While exploring our options, we noticed that Project Blackout’s 6-liter was turning blue from suffocation caused by the OEM ‘paper’ air filter. The solution would be to upgrade to an aftermarket filtration system designed to open up airflow to the engine and release more horsepower. When we thought ‘air filters,’ our minds immediately jumped to K&N Filters.

Of course, it comes as no surprise that K&N was our first instinct when you look at the company’s history and reputation. Originally started over forty years ago as a small family business in Riverside, California, K&N now has a global market with offices in the U.K. and the Netherlands. K&N is the leading innovator of air filtration with their invention of the reusable cotton gauze filter technology. Now, with over 3,500 part numbers with a lifetime warranty, there is no doubt that K&N’s reputation is that of honesty and respect. With that reputation, it’s hard not to believe their claims on their products.

When you look at their aftermarket intake kits, it’s obvious that they provide a cleaner look which is unachievable with the stock intake assembly. But what you don’t see is what the research department claims. We talked to K&N’s Tim Martin who explained, “The air intake system has several unique design elements specifically for the Trailblazer. We tried to optimize performance and try different component configurations in development. This intake kit has a custom heat shield designed for the Trailblazer engine bay, and a very unique molded tube shape to provide clearance from the engine cooling fan and engine shroud. The tube streamlines air flow from the throttle body while providing mounting points for the factory vent line and mass air sensor.”

Hypothetically, the cotton gauze filter combined with the improved intake tube will provide improved airflow to the engine. The improved airflow should liven the engine by making it more responsive to the pedal as well as add more horsepower. Given K&N’s successful reputation, we couldn’t find a reason why we shouldn’t put their claims to the test. We picked up our intake kit for our 6.0 LS2 (PT# 57-3061) and ripped open the box like a kid on Christmas.

Installing The Kit

We headed to the garage and quickly discovered this project to be simple to say the least. The instructions guided us step by step throughout the process starting with the removal of the engine cover. After unplugging the Mass Airflow Sensor and removing the crank case vent hose, we pulled the OEM intake tube from our Trailblazer SS.

We pulled the OEM intake tube from our Trailblazer SS

After removing just four bolts, we were able to slip the air-box cover, stock filter, and MAS assembly from under the upper core support. After removing the assembly, we removed the MAS unit from the filter, making sure not to lose it; we were going to need this later.

We proceeded to attach the edge trim to the designated areas around the heat shield

The first step to the installation was simple, cut the provided rubber seal into several predetermined sizes per K&N’s request and attach it to the designated areas around the lip of the heat shield. Next, we dropped the assembly into it’s destination inside the engine compartment and attached the mounting bracket to the cylinder head along with the ground strap.

K&N’s intake tube will provide a cleaner look and better airflow

After bolting down the heat shield with the provided bolts, we inserted the intake tube. We dusted off our original MAS unit and stuck it on the end of our new intake tube inside the heat shield. Then, we unwrapped the K&N filter element and installed it in our vehicle. The engine cover went back on and we were ready to start her up!

Our original MAS will be reused with the new kit

K&N’s high-flow filter will allow the engine to breathe easier

With a few simple hand tools that can be found in nearly every garage, we were able to give our Project Blackout an upgrade in under two hours. We fired up our LS2 engine and we could immediately tell a difference in engine sound. This thing sounded ready to rock n’ roll.

The installation can be done with a few simple hand tools

Be sure to apply your decal making your kit emissions legal come inspection time

K&N’s dyno testing showed the stock LS2 breaching the 300 RWHP mark by adding 19 additional horsepower for a final figure of 313 RWHP. Although the numbers don’t lie, everyone knows there’s a night and day difference between what the paper says and what the seat of our pants tells us. We took the black knight on the street for some ‘performance’ testing. Immediately, we felt a crisper throttle response. Unlike the conventional ‘power adders,’ our K&N intake kit provides us with more power at our fingertips throughout the entire power band. After our playtime was over, fuel economy joined the game, giving us a marginally better efficiency rating.

K&N’s Tim Martin noted, “K&N intakes are tested extensively on one of our chassis dynamometers. This kit showed strong power and torque increases across a broad RPM range. The intake kit has received a government CARB executive order that makes it street legal in all 50 states, and it comes the K&N Million Mile Warranty.”

Our new intake kit looks cleaner and will provide us with more power at the pedal

Features:

• Cleaner appearance
• Easy installation
• Fits in original air box position
• Street & emissions legal in all 50 states
• Increases power up to 10%

Complete and buttoned up, we were more than happy with our Trailblazer’s easy-breathing snorkel. With improved horsepower and fuel efficiency, it’s hard to believe we hadn’t done this swap sooner. Although ideas of new cylinder heads or even an intake manifold crossed our minds, the simple and easy install of a cold air filter made a substantial difference, and that’s what really matters.