08 TC vacation at ZZP
05-30-2012, 12:23 PM
#1
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 07-28-08
Location: Omaha Ne
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
08 TC vacation at ZZP
To start off things, let me give a little history on my adventures with the cobalt SS. I originally had a 06 SS/SC, and in early february of 08, my friend was driving my car for I was too drunk to drive, we were heading down an open road in the middle of nowhere in IOWA going to his old place. He actually had the car opened up and we were doing about 145mph, we slowed down some for a bend in the road, well low a behold a deer decides to jump out, he swerves the car, jumps the ditch on the side of the road and then slid about 50 yards into a field stoppin a foot before a tree, when I opended my door it hit the tree. My right rear tire broke off and stayed in the ditch, the right front was bent up under the front like folding a wheel under for hoovering like in back to the future. It was dark and could not see too much else. Later at the dealership it was taken too, I found the left side of the car, the wheels were pushed out about an inch, basically shifted the whole undercarriage over, totaled. Insurance payed off the lease and gave me 2000 back, it only had 12000 miles on it. I knew the turbo was close to coming out, so I called the dealer to see when it was going to be released. I travel on the road alot programming robots so a car was not that immediatley important at this time. I was on the road for the next 4 weeks basically calling the dealer every so often to see if the TC was ready for ordering. March 6 rolls around and I am at the point that I just need to get a car, was wondering if the TC was ever going to be released. I walk in to the dealer on March 6 and my sales guy tells me you can now order the TC, I put the order in and do the waiting game.
While I am waiting, I actually do a job up in Auburn Hills MI where my company retrofited grippers on 6 robot at a company to basically transfer the ECOTEC block through machining centers from raw block to finished, was cool but that company ended up loosing the job from GM because they could not get the quality GM wanted, nothing to do with the robots.
June 6 2008 I picked up my brand new fully loaded imperial blue Cobalt SS/TC, since then till May 21st 2012 I have modified some, adding the trifecta tune and so fourth, my signature shows my mods before trip to ZZP. But I have always wanted to go fully built on the motor, the best of the best, all the way. Setup a trip to ZZP to do my dream.
Here is the Mod list.
Ecotec Forged Short Block (ZZ-ECTFSB) (girdled block)
Option 1: Add ZZP neutral balance shafts
Option 2: Fidanz aluminum flywheel
Option 3 ATI SFI turbo balancer
Option 4: Add Carrillo rods
Option 5: Weisco pistons
Model: 2.1L LNF direct injection
LNF Ported Head, Cams, Tune-Combo
Model: Larger fuel pump lobe
LNF Head Gasket (GM-12589346)
Headstuds for Ecotec (ARP-231-4701)
LNF Turbo Upgrade (ZZ-LNFTBUG)
Option 1: Recirculated wastegate dump
Option 2: Spun metal catted downpipe 3" Exit
Option 3: 250-400whp with manual boost control
Option 4: s259 extended tip && 46mm wastegate
Option 5: I already have the GN S1 3 Bar MAP Sensors
In car high/low Boost switch
LNF5 Fifth Injector Controller (Item# ZZ-LNF5-INJC)
Aeromotive Stealth Fuel Pump
GM F35 transmission (ZZ-F35TRANS)
Option 1: Upgraded 4.45 final drive gear ration
Redline MT-90 Manual Trans Fluid
ZZP Stage clutches
Model: Stage 4 plus
Option 1: Upgraded Throwout bearing
ARP Flyweel Bolts (ZZ-ARPFWB)
Brand Penn Break In Oil (BP-009-7150)
LSJ Oil Filter (GM-1258025)
Coolant
Aeroforce Intercepter Scan Gauge (AF-CN402)
Option 1: CN
Option 2: Dual
cobalt A Pillar Triple Gauge Pod (ZZ-3POD-CBLT)
LNF Valve Cover with Carbon graphic
Installation of all parts
Dyno tuned.
One note about the tranny, I originally thought that ZZP had a tranny already ready for the build with no limited slip diff, so I bought a Quafe limited slip diff and sent it to ZZP for installation so the tranny would be ready when I got there, then I find out that the tranny that they thought they would use did not have the speedo connection, so basically they rebuilt my tranny in a couple of day, but I alread had a LSD in my original, but went ahead and installed new LSD anyways. Now I do not know if the stock TC do use the quafe LSD I got, but my torque steer now is less then what it was before, even with my new big power.
Basically dropped my car off early morning May 21st, I was hoping it would have started the following wednesday, but do to the tranny rebuild the car was not started till 5:30pm ish Friday evening. Got it on the dyno and between Tim and Matt, they broke the engine in and then Matt started tuning, I was surprised, they just opened her up hard. We drained the rest of the 93 I had in the tank and switched it over to E85 and they started tuning, at one point, around 25 or 26 psi, the Dyno hit 525whp I believe, have not got the last dyno results from Tim yet, will post when I do get them, or maybe Matt can post them for me if he wants. Finished Dynoing around 9pm, Matt gave me a little ride and he hit the high boost just right that it almost felt like a 200 shot of nitrous, very very happy.
Get back to the shop after the little test run and basically looking over the engine and there is a sound of a vacuum leak that later turns out to be a blown out EVAP solenoid, but while Matt was searching for it the car dies, ended up having to pull the fuel pump out of the gas tank, one of the lines blew a hole in it, they corrected with a better shorter and thicker tube and put it back together, left there at about 11pm that night, cannot say enough about ZZP for working that late to get it done and their great professionalism in general, if I ever do have problems with the car, I will definetly just ship it back up to them, they have my buisness for life.
From there I drove to my friends house in South Bend (2 hours), slept for maybe 3 hours, could not sleep, then drove home to Omaha Nebraska, monitoring my E85 Station App on my phone to make sure I get home with E85, 8 hour drive. Then basically if I was not sleeping at home this weekend I was tooling around in the car, getting the feel of how she drives now and basically figuring out how to use the high/low boost switch, already put an a## raping on a couple mustangs and a brand new Charger SRT8, I should not have for it was a waste of time, but you can also say it was just a training race to get me use to my car.
In all, I fell in love with the car all over again, I will never get rid of her, the first new car I ever bought, the old SS was a lease and many cars before that were used or leased, but this is my official first new car buy, I will never get rid of her, just keep modding. As of now I am actually thinking maybe in a year a reunion up to ZZP to put in the 6speed into the tranny, maybe an upgraded compressor wheel, and hopefully stage 2 cams if they are done with testing by then.
Thats is all for now.
While I am waiting, I actually do a job up in Auburn Hills MI where my company retrofited grippers on 6 robot at a company to basically transfer the ECOTEC block through machining centers from raw block to finished, was cool but that company ended up loosing the job from GM because they could not get the quality GM wanted, nothing to do with the robots.
June 6 2008 I picked up my brand new fully loaded imperial blue Cobalt SS/TC, since then till May 21st 2012 I have modified some, adding the trifecta tune and so fourth, my signature shows my mods before trip to ZZP. But I have always wanted to go fully built on the motor, the best of the best, all the way. Setup a trip to ZZP to do my dream.
Here is the Mod list.
Ecotec Forged Short Block (ZZ-ECTFSB) (girdled block)
Option 1: Add ZZP neutral balance shafts
Option 2: Fidanz aluminum flywheel
Option 3 ATI SFI turbo balancer
Option 4: Add Carrillo rods
Option 5: Weisco pistons
Model: 2.1L LNF direct injection
LNF Ported Head, Cams, Tune-Combo
Model: Larger fuel pump lobe
LNF Head Gasket (GM-12589346)
Headstuds for Ecotec (ARP-231-4701)
LNF Turbo Upgrade (ZZ-LNFTBUG)
Option 1: Recirculated wastegate dump
Option 2: Spun metal catted downpipe 3" Exit
Option 3: 250-400whp with manual boost control
Option 4: s259 extended tip && 46mm wastegate
Option 5: I already have the GN S1 3 Bar MAP Sensors
In car high/low Boost switch
LNF5 Fifth Injector Controller (Item# ZZ-LNF5-INJC)
Aeromotive Stealth Fuel Pump
GM F35 transmission (ZZ-F35TRANS)
Option 1: Upgraded 4.45 final drive gear ration
Redline MT-90 Manual Trans Fluid
ZZP Stage clutches
Model: Stage 4 plus
Option 1: Upgraded Throwout bearing
ARP Flyweel Bolts (ZZ-ARPFWB)
Brand Penn Break In Oil (BP-009-7150)
LSJ Oil Filter (GM-1258025)
Coolant
Aeroforce Intercepter Scan Gauge (AF-CN402)
Option 1: CN
Option 2: Dual
cobalt A Pillar Triple Gauge Pod (ZZ-3POD-CBLT)
LNF Valve Cover with Carbon graphic
Installation of all parts
Dyno tuned.
One note about the tranny, I originally thought that ZZP had a tranny already ready for the build with no limited slip diff, so I bought a Quafe limited slip diff and sent it to ZZP for installation so the tranny would be ready when I got there, then I find out that the tranny that they thought they would use did not have the speedo connection, so basically they rebuilt my tranny in a couple of day, but I alread had a LSD in my original, but went ahead and installed new LSD anyways. Now I do not know if the stock TC do use the quafe LSD I got, but my torque steer now is less then what it was before, even with my new big power.
Basically dropped my car off early morning May 21st, I was hoping it would have started the following wednesday, but do to the tranny rebuild the car was not started till 5:30pm ish Friday evening. Got it on the dyno and between Tim and Matt, they broke the engine in and then Matt started tuning, I was surprised, they just opened her up hard. We drained the rest of the 93 I had in the tank and switched it over to E85 and they started tuning, at one point, around 25 or 26 psi, the Dyno hit 525whp I believe, have not got the last dyno results from Tim yet, will post when I do get them, or maybe Matt can post them for me if he wants. Finished Dynoing around 9pm, Matt gave me a little ride and he hit the high boost just right that it almost felt like a 200 shot of nitrous, very very happy.
Get back to the shop after the little test run and basically looking over the engine and there is a sound of a vacuum leak that later turns out to be a blown out EVAP solenoid, but while Matt was searching for it the car dies, ended up having to pull the fuel pump out of the gas tank, one of the lines blew a hole in it, they corrected with a better shorter and thicker tube and put it back together, left there at about 11pm that night, cannot say enough about ZZP for working that late to get it done and their great professionalism in general, if I ever do have problems with the car, I will definetly just ship it back up to them, they have my buisness for life.
From there I drove to my friends house in South Bend (2 hours), slept for maybe 3 hours, could not sleep, then drove home to Omaha Nebraska, monitoring my E85 Station App on my phone to make sure I get home with E85, 8 hour drive. Then basically if I was not sleeping at home this weekend I was tooling around in the car, getting the feel of how she drives now and basically figuring out how to use the high/low boost switch, already put an a## raping on a couple mustangs and a brand new Charger SRT8, I should not have for it was a waste of time, but you can also say it was just a training race to get me use to my car.
In all, I fell in love with the car all over again, I will never get rid of her, the first new car I ever bought, the old SS was a lease and many cars before that were used or leased, but this is my official first new car buy, I will never get rid of her, just keep modding. As of now I am actually thinking maybe in a year a reunion up to ZZP to put in the 6speed into the tranny, maybe an upgraded compressor wheel, and hopefully stage 2 cams if they are done with testing by then.
Thats is all for now.
05-30-2012, 10:55 PM
#11
Former Vendor
Thanks for coming out to our shop, Arick. It was nice meeting you and also nice to have a serious budget to work with on your car. It really let us go with all the best parts to turn your car into a beast. I don't remember if the highest pull was 528 or 538whp, but it was one of those. It seems like it was 538 at 28psi.
Don't hesitate to ask if you need anything or have any questions.
Don't hesitate to ask if you need anything or have any questions.
05-31-2012, 12:26 AM
#13
Senior Member
Awesome write up. I actually read all of it and quickly. It flowed really well haha. Sick car man you really have it built up right. 500whp should be a monster, are you on stock wheels?
05-31-2012, 07:08 AM
#18
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 07-28-08
Location: Omaha Ne
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have Dunlop Star Specs on my stock rims, which I will be looking for a new set in near future, I actually want to find a tire that maybe has a 5000 life but still legally streetable to match this power but also road coarse worthy, I have a 2 3/4 mile road coarse I take her too.
05-31-2012, 07:20 AM
#19
Senior Member
Very nice build man! From having this build exactly and experiencing it, enjoy it and have fun! It's nice to see another bring serious about the car. 
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post