Life with the LNF
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Joined: 07-31-06
Posts: 244
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From: Salt Lake UT
Life with the LNF
Hello Guys and Gals,
I’ve wanted to open up the discussing on LNF mods and how they’ve been going on the Kappa side.
I had an ’07 SS Cobalt and loved it, GMPP exhaust, Stage II, and the next size down pulley. That car was a lot of fun but it was only a standby until I got a Solstice GXP. I needed RWD to be satisfied and the Solstice was too sexy to turn away. I bought an ’08 in September.
The LNF is a great motor, it was a huge difference dropping off the cobalt and picking up the Solstice. Same gauges, much different car. The obvious differences are there with FWD and RWD but those are too very different 2.0 Ecotecs. The motor creates boost very fast with that small twin scroll turbo, if you’re used to a big turbo, low-compression 4 cylinder then the LNF will probably feel like a V6.
The LNF was very quiet compared to the screaming Eaton, almost too quiet. I got the GMPP intake since I needed to hear the turbo suck and the BOV blow. Accelerating I now get a large sucking noise, a bit of whistle and the BOV. The BOV sounds a lot like a stock SRT4 BOV but with a sock jammed in the outtake if that makes sense. The engine is very loud while idling; you have a very loud gear-driven fuel pump with the loud cams and fuel injectors. The engine is half diesel with its direct injection and it sure sounds like it with the hood up. The intake helps to drown out some of that sewing machine clatter.
Freemod:
If you can get to the turbo easy on the Slobalts a lot of the Slostice owners adjusted the waste gate actuators all the way towards the compressor side of the turbo (do a search on the Solstice Forum under “Waste Gate Mod”). This increased boost and helped a lot of people hit boost sooner, in the lower elevations is also caused a lot of CELs but it was fun while it lasted. You turn the nuts about half way between the stock location and all the way to the right for a decent increase with no CELs.
Exhaust is a great mod with the turbo, a lot of owners have purchased from Solo exhaust as their “street race” cat back. This is a nice muffler-less exhaust that has some good rwhp gains, you can also make it really loud and get their free flow down pipe/cat for more gains. The GMPP exhaust looks a lot like the Magnaflwo exhaust, just a deeper tone, not much of a decrease in back pressure.
Intake, not a lot of gains but an increase in those fun turbo noises, get the GMPP intake when it comes out for no CELs and to save your warranty. The LNF MAF loves to freak out and throw codes with Fujitas, straight pipe/cone filters. The GMPP intake relocates the MAF all the way down by the filter for good readings.
Reprogramming, there are no 2008/2009 computer reflashes yet! Bosch does the tuning and they use different software for the 2008 computers that no one has gotten good gains with yet. Wester’s seems to be about the closest. Plan on about $800-$1,000 for 320 HP running 22-23 PSI with no CELs. The stock computer regulates boost and timing to 260’ Ibs of torque all the time so your intake mods, exhaust mods don’t really do anything with out reprogramming the computer. HP Tuners has only gotten folks so far, HP is not as extensive on these computers as it is like on a LS1 computer. Different guys have been using voltage regulators to trick the computer but in the end nothing is up to stock drivability yet.
Intercooler and intake pipes. The stock pipes and intercooler are fine for up to 300 horsepower. There are companies selling better engineered intercoolers (see if the SS intercooler is the same part # as the GXP) and pipes for $800 but they don’t do you much good with out opening up the computer for more power.
Here’s the kicker, at the 2007 SEMA show GM showed the Solstice Racer. The car was running a 290HP tune that supposedly is to be the new LNF Stage II; it will consist of a new MAF and a reflash. GM people were saying that we were 4-5 months from purchasing that tune as a Stage II. It’s now May with no updates. Some people are saying that Bosch will release the tune to Europe first through the Opel GT. Remember that all Mods are mute until the computer can be reprogrammed to allow more then 260’ Ib of torque. The computer regulates, boost, cam timing, ignition to 260’ Ibs of torque, all the time. I’ve seen 17 PSI in Vegas in the winter and 22 PSI at 10,000’ in Colorado in the summer just to keep the car making 260’ Ibs of torque.
You Turbo Cobalt owners need to start hounding GMPP, Westers, Hahn, and others to get the tunes out. With Solstice GXP, SKY R/L, Opel GT, Cobalt SS, and HHR SS owners now wanting to buy products for the LNF; the aftermarket should get bigger and bigger.
I’ve wanted to open up the discussing on LNF mods and how they’ve been going on the Kappa side.
I had an ’07 SS Cobalt and loved it, GMPP exhaust, Stage II, and the next size down pulley. That car was a lot of fun but it was only a standby until I got a Solstice GXP. I needed RWD to be satisfied and the Solstice was too sexy to turn away. I bought an ’08 in September.
The LNF is a great motor, it was a huge difference dropping off the cobalt and picking up the Solstice. Same gauges, much different car. The obvious differences are there with FWD and RWD but those are too very different 2.0 Ecotecs. The motor creates boost very fast with that small twin scroll turbo, if you’re used to a big turbo, low-compression 4 cylinder then the LNF will probably feel like a V6.
The LNF was very quiet compared to the screaming Eaton, almost too quiet. I got the GMPP intake since I needed to hear the turbo suck and the BOV blow. Accelerating I now get a large sucking noise, a bit of whistle and the BOV. The BOV sounds a lot like a stock SRT4 BOV but with a sock jammed in the outtake if that makes sense. The engine is very loud while idling; you have a very loud gear-driven fuel pump with the loud cams and fuel injectors. The engine is half diesel with its direct injection and it sure sounds like it with the hood up. The intake helps to drown out some of that sewing machine clatter.
Freemod:
If you can get to the turbo easy on the Slobalts a lot of the Slostice owners adjusted the waste gate actuators all the way towards the compressor side of the turbo (do a search on the Solstice Forum under “Waste Gate Mod”). This increased boost and helped a lot of people hit boost sooner, in the lower elevations is also caused a lot of CELs but it was fun while it lasted. You turn the nuts about half way between the stock location and all the way to the right for a decent increase with no CELs.
Exhaust is a great mod with the turbo, a lot of owners have purchased from Solo exhaust as their “street race” cat back. This is a nice muffler-less exhaust that has some good rwhp gains, you can also make it really loud and get their free flow down pipe/cat for more gains. The GMPP exhaust looks a lot like the Magnaflwo exhaust, just a deeper tone, not much of a decrease in back pressure.
Intake, not a lot of gains but an increase in those fun turbo noises, get the GMPP intake when it comes out for no CELs and to save your warranty. The LNF MAF loves to freak out and throw codes with Fujitas, straight pipe/cone filters. The GMPP intake relocates the MAF all the way down by the filter for good readings.
Reprogramming, there are no 2008/2009 computer reflashes yet! Bosch does the tuning and they use different software for the 2008 computers that no one has gotten good gains with yet. Wester’s seems to be about the closest. Plan on about $800-$1,000 for 320 HP running 22-23 PSI with no CELs. The stock computer regulates boost and timing to 260’ Ibs of torque all the time so your intake mods, exhaust mods don’t really do anything with out reprogramming the computer. HP Tuners has only gotten folks so far, HP is not as extensive on these computers as it is like on a LS1 computer. Different guys have been using voltage regulators to trick the computer but in the end nothing is up to stock drivability yet.
Intercooler and intake pipes. The stock pipes and intercooler are fine for up to 300 horsepower. There are companies selling better engineered intercoolers (see if the SS intercooler is the same part # as the GXP) and pipes for $800 but they don’t do you much good with out opening up the computer for more power.
Here’s the kicker, at the 2007 SEMA show GM showed the Solstice Racer. The car was running a 290HP tune that supposedly is to be the new LNF Stage II; it will consist of a new MAF and a reflash. GM people were saying that we were 4-5 months from purchasing that tune as a Stage II. It’s now May with no updates. Some people are saying that Bosch will release the tune to Europe first through the Opel GT. Remember that all Mods are mute until the computer can be reprogrammed to allow more then 260’ Ib of torque. The computer regulates, boost, cam timing, ignition to 260’ Ibs of torque, all the time. I’ve seen 17 PSI in Vegas in the winter and 22 PSI at 10,000’ in Colorado in the summer just to keep the car making 260’ Ibs of torque.
You Turbo Cobalt owners need to start hounding GMPP, Westers, Hahn, and others to get the tunes out. With Solstice GXP, SKY R/L, Opel GT, Cobalt SS, and HHR SS owners now wanting to buy products for the LNF; the aftermarket should get bigger and bigger.
Last edited by BradyB; May 28, 2008 at 05:38 PM.
I want to hear my engine rumble not my cams clicking and clacking. lol
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 07-31-06
Posts: 244
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From: Salt Lake UT
Oh my gosh, I just looked at some Cobalt turbo engine bay pics, that long plastic charge pipe looks ridiculous. The Solstice uses rubber hoses and aluminum pipes with no ridiculously long plastic tube, that cant be a charge pipe!
As an FYI, the stock hose clamps only hold about 22 PSI.
Just by looking at the pics it appears that the Sol, HHR, Cobalt all use the same intercooler. If you want to upgrade your intercooler for future mods check these guys out:
http://www.turbosystem.com/New_Folde...ell%20Page.htm
As an FYI, the stock hose clamps only hold about 22 PSI.
Just by looking at the pics it appears that the Sol, HHR, Cobalt all use the same intercooler. If you want to upgrade your intercooler for future mods check these guys out:
http://www.turbosystem.com/New_Folde...ell%20Page.htm
Member
Joined: 05-15-08
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: USA
Oh my gosh, I just looked at some Cobalt turbo engine bay pics, that long plastic charge pipe looks ridiculous. The Solstice uses rubber hoses and aluminum pipes with no ridiculously long plastic tube, that cant be a charge pipe!
As an FYI, the stock hose clamps only hold about 22 PSI.
Just by looking at the pics it appears that the Sol, HHR, Cobalt all use the same intercooler. If you want to upgrade your intercooler for future mods check these guys out:
http://www.turbosystem.com/New_Folde...ell%20Page.htm
As an FYI, the stock hose clamps only hold about 22 PSI.
Just by looking at the pics it appears that the Sol, HHR, Cobalt all use the same intercooler. If you want to upgrade your intercooler for future mods check these guys out:
http://www.turbosystem.com/New_Folde...ell%20Page.htm
Senior Member
Joined: 03-26-08
Posts: 3,420
Likes: 3
From: Somewhere, MI
It looks like it is flat to clear the hood.
Also, slight correction for up above:
The high pressure fuel pump is not gear driven, it is a single cylinder pump driven off of a 3 point lobe on the end of the camshaft.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 07-31-06
Posts: 244
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From: Salt Lake UT
...another observation, the kappas have an engine cover which is stupid, but there is also a big dynomat-type piece that is stuck on the valve cover. I wonder if the sewing machine noise will be more pronounced on the Cobalt/HHR with out it. I wonder if you could purchase that as a GM part and then stick it on the Cobalt LNF.
Most of the noise seems to come from the gear-driven fuel pump which is at the back of the motor so the dynomat might not make a difference any way.
Remember the funny-shaped intake tube between the throttle body and the air box on the C5 Vette, I've split that plastic tube with boost before; I hope the Cobalt tube doesn't do the same at higher boost.
Most of the noise seems to come from the gear-driven fuel pump which is at the back of the motor so the dynomat might not make a difference any way.
Remember the funny-shaped intake tube between the throttle body and the air box on the C5 Vette, I've split that plastic tube with boost before; I hope the Cobalt tube doesn't do the same at higher boost.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-26-08
Posts: 3,420
Likes: 3
From: Somewhere, MI
there is also sound insulating material on the Cobalt LNF, its surrounding the injectors, those are what make the most noise (just like diesel fuel injectors) and are what are responsible for the sewing machine sound
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 07-31-06
Posts: 244
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From: Salt Lake UT
Krispy, no sound deadening on the SS. I would rather not have an engine cover, you guys will have to let me know what it sounds like on the Cobalt.
SS:
GXP:
Correct, not gear driven but cam driven fuel pump up to 2250PSI!
SS:
GXP:
Correct, not gear driven but cam driven fuel pump up to 2250PSI!
Last edited by BradyB; May 28, 2008 at 06:13 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-26-08
Posts: 3,420
Likes: 3
From: Somewhere, MI
maybe they took it off for production then, but I saw it in earlier versions of the engine, it was a foam that was underneath the intake manifold surrounding the injectors
also, that fuel pressure is weak-sauce, diesel goes up to 25,000 psi
also, that fuel pressure is weak-sauce, diesel goes up to 25,000 psi
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 07-31-06
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake UT
Check it out my LNF brothers,
I pulled off the ugly engine cover/insulating mat.
What do you think?
The carcasses:
I pulled off the ugly engine cover/insulating mat.
What do you think?
The carcasses:
Last edited by BradyB; Jun 10, 2008 at 10:41 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Senior Member
Joined: 10-06-05
Posts: 10,944
Likes: 2
From: Seneca, South Carolina
this is a good informative thread for LNF enthusiasts, and proof that tuning will be a nightmare. But these cars are still gonna haul ass.
I'm definitely still considering one when the 4 door comes out.
I'm definitely still considering one when the 4 door comes out.
Member
Joined: 01-27-07
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Metro Detroit
good to hear. All these complaints about an engine cover? Seriously, I don't care if they painted it PINK with VOMIT Green accenting...if the car performs reliably and puts the numbers down...
I don't look at my engine bay everyday, maybe you guys do and its important to you?
This car is sick though!
I don't look at my engine bay everyday, maybe you guys do and its important to you?
This car is sick though!
