I am wanting to know what the general concesus on these 2 are. To give a little background, i currently own a fully built Cavalier z24. The cavalier has a t3/t4 57 trim, stand alone tec3 ECu, forged pistons,rods, boost cams. Basically built to the nutts. So i tend to go extreme.

I am flurting with the idea of buying and building a cobalt. problem is, i want 450-500+ WHP. I am wondering, for the price, which SS model i should go with. I assume the 2.0L is more bullet proof, but i don't know. If you want good HP, which of the 2 cars are the most econimical to build over 400 WHP with? The SS supercharged has a much larger dealer price tag. But it may have more potential.

Any suggestions (please only inteligent posts with explinations)?

 

I think, with pistons, that you could get 450-500whp out of either car for roughly the same amount of money. You are talking a used ss/sc for probably 15k. Sell the supercharger components to some guy in a 2.4 who wants to do the supercharger swap onto his 2.4 for a quick 90hp for about 1000 bucks. So now you're into the SS/SC for 14k. (or less, whatever you pay for the ss/sc) Now boost it using components and not a kit. You seem to be familiar with standalone, so you might as well go that way. For 3k, you can get your standalone and all the components you would need to make that 2.0 450-500whp.

or

You can get a used 2.4, which is probably cheaper. Rods are forged but pistons are not. You will need (at the least) forged pistons. Then slap a turbo setup on that, with that standalone mentioned above, and that's probably around 3000 for that. You also have vvt from the 2.4 which is cool, and .4 liters of extra displacement for some more oomph.

 

may be a dumb question, but has anyone pulled 400 whp out of a cobalt yet? One problem i had with the cavalier is that there was alot of things we had to do to the block, head,etc to make it handle 400 whp. Reengineered the oil system, custom head work had to be done to acomidate the boost cams,etc,etc. I have almost 6 grand in machine work alone in the cavi.

I would think the new cobalts are better about that sort of thing. And if so, are both the 2.4 and the 2.0 ready for these kinds of mods?

Do they make a radical boost cam for either cobalt motor yet?

Basically, what are the weak points of both motors?

 

Only things i think either car really would HAVE to have for 400hp, is pistons, clutch, axles.

those are the weakest points.

 

If you are gonna build like that... just get a base model balt and go from there... you're gonna be replacing a lot anyways... and all the GM drag cars that are making big 4-cyl power use the 2.2L as a base anyways.

 

uhoh a ss/sc admits to losing to a 2.2...
jk
lol

 

is the 2.2 a dual overhead Cam? I remember the 2.2 cavaliers (non ecotech) were push rod motors.

But the big sport compact series cobalts are 2.2?

 

they have 2.2 cobalt build books which let you build your 2.2 upwards of around 1400 hp if u take it all the way haha, but they have ranges, stock-250, 250-500, 500-750, and so on or something along those lines

 

wow, so basically i should buy a base model 2.2L cobalt abd build that... never would have thought... why are they doing the 2.2? anyone know?

 

i would research alot more before you make your choice.
also keep in mind that the 2.2 pcm is not tunable yet...

 

you can get a used cobalt with the 2.2 for less than 10k lol

 

ya if you're going for high horsepower invest in the GM ecotec book and then make your decision, just my .02.

 

i will buy one (ecotech build book) monday for sure. I'm assuming they are available at the dealership. Jut the fact that they have a book from GM is very promising. Don't have to engineer everything this time around

 

It is true that the 2.2 ECM hasn't been cracked yet... perhaps the only drawback.

Maybe you should look at the 2.4... there have been big gains made with the turbo... and the VVT is another bonus.

 

if you are looking at saving money>2.4 if not>2.0.

 

Well to let you know im building my car for 400+whp right now. The 2.2 is very easy to work on and has the books to guide you along the way. For 400hp, all you need is forged pistons, rods, and better head studs. If you want 600hp, its the same but they recommend better sleeves. That doesnt include tranny work tho.. .we will see what it requires here soon.

 

Also consider what you are going to do with the car.. I mean you are doing this for drag, or? The SS models have a much better suspension, etc.

If you're doing a total build for drag though, yeah - I'd suggest 2.2, your vehicle cost is lower so more $$ for mods..

 

Extreme or not, if your buying a new car ...

SS/SC Dealer Installed Stage 2 = GM Warrantied Horsepower

SS "modded out engine" = Factory Warranty VOID

I'm not into voiding a warranty on a new car that I'm still making payments on.

 

i doubt anybody building for that much horsepower is warrantied by a dinky warrranty that gm doesnt even stand by anyways.

 

If you get a dealer to install St. 2 on an SS/SC ... it's Warrantied.

Plain and Simple.

It's put in WRITING, so if you don't like the service that a particular is giving you - you can easily fight it (or just go to another dealer).

But the Warranty is fully intact and remains on your vehicle ....

 

Displacement > *