Alright, I'm just about to the point of pulling my hair out trying to decide which parts to buy for my car. I have about $1800+ to spend including install. I already have a path in mind, but I keep hearing different things. SO post up which way you would go along with a price list please! I think this will really help me out. Oh, and I'm not wanting to keep the warranty (if I can thats cool if not oh well), and I kinda like the idea of bottle babies so keep that in mind....

THX!!!

 

intake, exaust, wheels, springs, tint, soundsystem. install it yourself.

 

I kinda like that way they look stock (as far as wheels, already have new tires, already has tint, and I live in Albuquerque so lowering is a no go) and the sound system it comes with stock is fine for me. I have the pioneer MP3 pkg with XM radio.

 

what model do you have.

 

Injen Cold Air intake - $249.99 + Tax & $20 shipping (self install)
GM Performace Catback Exhaust - $379.99 + Tax & $60 shipping (not sure on install)
GM Stage 2 upgrade - $634.99 + Tax & $15 shipping (not sure on install)
Cobalt Addiction Strut Tower Bar - $74.99 + Tax & $20 shipping (self install)

This should get you started. You can find these on Cobalt Addiction

 

first off what kind of car do you want a race car or a show car. if race car is your answer get the intake and exhaust(corsa IMO) first, thats about $1000. Then if you want i would get a good header, ask for opinions, im either going with the Weapon R header or the CTI header.

 

I have a 2005 Arrival Blue Cobalt SS/SC.

Sorry, the front strut bar is the only mod I have done to the car already, I got it for cheap off a redline owner here in town since he ordered the wrong one. Its a DC sports one.

 

Race is my answer, should I not get a stage kit?

 

Stage 4 Kit From Intense!!!
Motor/tranny Mounts
Intake

That Will Put You Almost Right At 1800.
I Just Did That Same Thing.

 

Cool, well then go with some Eibach Sportline springs.

 

I wouldn't go stage 4 right off the bat, maybe stage 3. You still want to be able to drive it and not waste a grip of gas.

 

The gas really gets that bad going to stage 4? And what do you think is bad? I'm coming from a 1995 Eagle Talon TSi AWD that managed 16mpg around town and about 12mpg if I had my foot in it.....

 

yah i was gonna say get the stage 4 with the 2.5" pulley, the only reason i didnt post it was you have to have someone tune your car, when i got the stage 3 from intense their tune was crap, yah the car ran, but it ran like crap, if your getting any of the intense kits make sure you know someone with hptuners to do a custom tune. and i get ok gas mileage on my car my mpg is around 21-23. i only drive my car to the track and on weekends, and i usually dont go to far, like to keep the miles down. when i went to carlisle i had my stage 3 kit and it was about a 2 1/2 hour trip. I got 27 or 28 mpg.

 

Poly mounts

GM Stage 1

Intense 2.8 Pulley

Airbox Mod

Custom tune

Nitrous

That shoudl put you at 300WHP no problem. Though at this level of power the pistons might not like you very much and decide to vacate the block. Though I haven't heard of any blown LS-Js running at this level of performance. Also look into aftermarket springs so your valves don't float at 7500RPM.

 

I'd stay away form the inatkes until you have acces to tuning or a wideband.

I'd go full exhaust.

strut bar

lowering springs

sts

anti wheel hop mods

wideband

also think about our cars weak points. you might want to go ahead and invest in a clutch and axles before you go lookin to make the car faster...(I can tell you I wish I did)

 

Well, considering I'm getting an average of 24.5 mpg if I went to stage 4, it would drop by about 10 mpg I'm thinking, if you have a heavy foot, which I do. I'm thinking more along the lines of driveability, smog and such. In Cali, you might not pass the sniffer with stage 4.

 

Ditto

 

How good are u at understanding cars?

HPTuners - 670
intense pulley 2.5" and idler - 120
pulley boys tool - 100
pulley boys belt tool - 70
60lbers and harness from lfp - 200
Snout machiner from zzp rental - 30
plxdevices m300 wideband from ebay - 320 installed and shipped
Intake - 250
Spark plugs - 10

weekend of install = 260+whp and 250+wtq

cost - 1770

Dan