Ok im gonna start this cobalt project within the next couple of days i have 2 grand right now ready to throw down and i was looking at going with: CA dp w/o Cat 250, 3in Custom Exhaust 550, and then this is where im kinda torn i dont know if i want to go with gm stage 2 650 bc i plan on buying hp tuners or if i should just get hp tuners 700 a nice wideband 300 and then 42# injectors 160 and a smaller pulley 100 with corresponding belt 40 Plugs 40 or should i just go with an intense kit and exhaust dp header ? i just want the safest way either way i need to get a device that monitors knock so im thinking of just getting hp tuners

 

if you are planning to go 2.8 or smaller pulley go with 60# injectors. forget about stage2 go aftermarket. stage reflash is not worth it.

 

I love all these threads about what to mod into the car, and all the engine mods that everyone wants to do, knwoing that the SS/SC is plagued with tranny and axle problems.

This is my advice here, put your 2000 into upgrading the knwon weak parts of your car. Buy a set of racing axles for it, buy a new stage III clutch and buy a lightweight flywheel. If you don't have the LSD, then that should also be a top priority. All in all that total comes to about $5000 /w the LSD. Now you don't have to go right for the clutch and flywheel at first. You would probably just want to upgrade teh axles right away and then wait for the clutch to take a dump then do that upgrade. We all know that GM will not let Chevy warranty any of those parts once they break.

 

CLUTCH AND AXELS!!!!!

Mod and safe can not be used in the same sentence if clutch and axels are also not in that sentence.

After that save up more money and ask again. Also while you have the clutch out you might as well get a good flywheel too.

 

axles are only needed if you race from a dig a lot or if you race a lot period the closest track is 80 + miles away i dont need new axles yet im talking about safe as in not blowing my engine

 

People have blown engines with stuff that you are talking about doing. Be safe, do the preventative maintenance first and them mod it. Cometic head gasket, head studs, ....

 

I totaly agree with what everyone is saying

start with fixing the known probs (clutch, axle, wheel hop)..... and if you're doing a lot of road racing you could think about stearing knuckles, cause they're weak too (just nobody knows it yet)

 

im gonna do the clutch but im definately not doing the axles until something happens , wheel hop mods ill get also but i dont even know whats good anymore since everyone is selling their ingalls

 

heh. my first mods are going to be wheel hop ones. and then suspension ones. I'm trying to scoot away from the warranty on the engine failing. Kind of can't have that happen to me.

 

yeah i cant blow my engine either but i had a gtp and its pretty much exactly the same so i know what im doing with the engine ,its just a 4 banger and not a 6 same type blower same parts just different car , i wouldnt be surprised if my modular 3.0 pully setup from my gtp worked on my cobalt (not saying im gonna try it) and at least this one has forged rods and pistons the gtp had a weak bottom end

 

You do know that the 2.0's pistons are not forged, right?

 

thought they were , well i know they are stronger than the old gtp ones thats for damn sure and its intercooled so thats also a plus im not looking to make TONS of boost i would rather open the exhaust up completly before touching the injectors pulley etc

 

I'd get a wideband and scan guage first. I really don't worry about my clutch and axles since all I do is roll race. Although they will get replaced sooner or later.

 

yeah i agree i think clutch is somewhat important or at least more important than axles but i dunno , will the OBDII work on our car i think i might get that and the aeroforce so thats around 450 500 im really looking into either intense stage 3 ca stage 3 or gm stage 2 a downpipe and exhaust maybe a header and thats it for now

 

IMO i think you should sit down and try to decide where you want your car to finish. If you think you're ever going to want to get into the 300 hp range, then start with preventative mods (clutch etc etc ). If that's not your desire, then just slap the intense stage 3 kit on your car and free up your exhaust. The clutch is an issue, but I promise if you learn how to get into it correctly it doesn't slip at all.

Right now I'm running the stage 3 and I couldn't be happier. I haven't even opened up my exhaust yet....

Just depends what your final objective is. if you have 2 grand, that could equal intense stage 5, wait for your refundables to come back, then get a clutch. People are blowing head gaskets with the 2.5's and 60 lbers, so keep that in mind. Just read around on this site. You'll figure out what you should do.

 

Solid mounts will really be the best immediate option for wheel hop. Axles are an $800 purchase so if you chose to get them you'd still have money left to start some engine mods as well.

 

if your not worried about preventative mods or opening up exaust first go with the
cobalt addiction stage 6

otherwise i would get

cai----- i bought engine-225
CTI race header and dp-700
CTI race exaust 3inch-450

thats 1375 and then u can take the rest and do what u want with

hptuners smaller pulley fuel injectors ect

but before all of this get a DRIVER MOD

 

I agree 100% with the Driver Mod

 

i already have decided i want to get into the high 12's i know its not gonna happen with 2 grand but it will be a good start , i think im gonna wait until i have 3 grand and just go with clutch axels and hp tuners , that in itself is like around 2300 and then ill put 700 towards pully belt injectors and a nice dp

 

do you know how to install your own clutch and flywheel???

cuz iff not better add 500 minimum for install and thats if ur really lucky

 

no but my friend is ase certified and hes gonna do it for me and im sure ill get him to hook it up for around 200 or so , he works at an autoshop in town just doesnt own his own business yet