Ok, after a serious setback with my sunfire (translation: they broke into it and stole most my ****), I have resorted to starting over with a new vehicle, and I just put the down payment on my Cobalt (take delivery on wednesday).

So on that note, whats up guys, I'm the newest noob on the forums. :-P

Anywhoooo. I have been reading up on here about the cobalt to get an idea of what can be done to this beast to get more power and handling out of it and I came away with more questions than answers, so if alot of this is already beaten to death I appologize, but it is alot to try and track down, and it might be handy to stickier all the info Im looking for in a single location.

Ok, now the fun part.

The LSJ Motor, on the stock internals, how much power before things start busting?

I was reading about people having issues tuning for 60# injectors. At what horsepower range do 60# injectors become necessary, what can be done to tune for them (Im interested in learning hp tuners, but have never tuned anything before).

I saw that both GM and Intense Racing offer SC kits. Whats the difference between them? Any preferences? (other than the issue of my warranty)

Also, on Intense's website I saw that they sold a PCM for the cobalt, is that a factory replacement, plug and play like, or is it inline, how does it work, also same question for the MAF Translator, what does that thing do?

What suspension/power upgrades can I do early on to get some decent gains in handling/power?

I think thats about it for now, I appologize for all the noob questions, but maybe having all this info in one place will help people get alotta anwers faster.
Thanks guys!!!!

~Ike

 

Hope you enjoy it and happy modding

 

this is just what ive heard... most of the engine can handle up to 500-600hp, pistons and headgasket about 350-400, and valves and springs if you plan on going past 7300, clutch is very bad, and also cv axles......but there is lots of aftermarket support! i think cobalt-addiction and intense have the most to offer.... good luck and welcome to cobaltss fourms

 

welcome to the site! On your modding it is purely up to you on what you want to do. Do you care about your warranty? If not go 60 lb injectors 2.5-2.7 pulley and have it tuned with HPtuners. But if you do then I would say go with GM's Stage 2 kit. But just keep looking around and you will get to what you want....maybe!

 

welcome to the board

 

the lsj internals can handle a lot, no one on here has blown anything yet.... but if you do plan on going with a lot of hp/trq then you need a new cluch (stock has a tendency to slip a lot) and stronger axles (stock ones break once you reach around 275hp) intence sells those.

Wheel Hop on these cars sucks (even w/ no performance mods)... so you need to do suspention work, to sucksessfuly get rid of the hop your gonna want to do these things (but the ride is gonna be a little harsher)
1. Poly Urithane engine and tranny mounts
2. Poly Urithane controle arm bushings (by JBP)
3. Traction bars (by BWoody)

You need to go with 60lbs injectors if you're gonna go any smaller than a 2.8" pully (some even recomend 60lbs for the 2.8 itsself)

The difference between GM stg kits and Intence Stg kits is simple, GM keeps your warranty.... but if you're serious about hp, Intence is the way to go



hope this helps... and welcome by the way

 

Thanks guys, alot of useful information!

So the 60 # injectors are for pulleys 2.8 and down, whats the stock pulley size, 3. something isnt it?
Also, is anyone familiar with the MAF translator offered by intense, im wondering what it does, along with the PCM that is available through them, Im not too well informed on engine electronics.

Also, I read somewhere about an available 3 bar map sensor for our cars? Is this true? At what point would that be necessary, i mean, we have a 2.5 bar in there now right? Can the car really handle that much boost?, whats it work out to mid 20 psi boost?

sorry for sounding like a noob, but i wanan do this car right.

 

stock pulley is 3.3??.. i think its 3.345 but could be wrong. 2.8" pulley is good for 42lb injectors, anything smaller you would want 60lb injectors, some guys are running 2.6" and 2.5" pulleys on this site, you would need the machine the snout on the sc though. with those pulleys you would probally be running about 19-20psi of boost. but yeah i dont think anyone has had any problems with internals yet, mostly just cv axles and clutch's and i think there are a few that have blown up there tranny.
here is a site you might like... http://www.hahnracecraft.com/Project...t/CobaltSS.htm
maf-t, i think it just changes the singal to make you have a diff a/f ratio but i would recommend hp tuners or a custom tune, it will do alot more for you. even if you search some other threads, you can probally find alot of info on this site... good luck

 

that twincharger system sounds nasty, whats retail on that thing?

 

probably cheaper if u do your own turbo swap man.


welcome btw

 

Yeah i just bought a SS/SC last Thursday. Put 300 miles on it and love it so far but i have yet to see what it will realy do, been babying it so far. I bought the stage 2 kit with the car and that will be installed by the end of this week. Saving up for axles then a clutch. Been reading alot on here and have learned alot so far. Thanks for all the good info guys!!!