I posted a few nights ago in the Lounge and got some decent feedback. Anyway, I just bought (less than a week ago) a 2009 Cobalt SS with 19K miles. I would rather stay under my factory warranty, so keep that in mind.

I'm pretty set on getting the GM Stage 1 turbo upgrade for about $700 installed. But what to do about the other $1300? I'm gonna do what I can to call a dealership to see what would void the warranty but I've read in a few places on here that if you upgrade the intake and/or exhaust, the warranty would not be void. Anyone know for a fact on this?

I am looking to get 300+whp and I'm pretty set on getting an AEM CAI, DP and cat-back. I've listened to quite a bit different types of exhaust and I like MPx and Magnflow the best (on my ears...I can NOT sound rice). Does anyone prefer one over the other? Any real HP difference between the two? Also, once I get the GMS1 upgrade...would I still be able to use a Trifecta tuner? (I like that the cars CPU can be reflashed so the dealer would have no idea it was tuned)

If I had GMS1, AEM CAI, MPx or Magnaflow DP + cat-back...would this be over 300WHP? Forgive me if I've asked questions already asked a million times in the past already...(plz spare me the comments about the graphics...don't know if I will keep them or not)

 

$2000 on bolt on... 300HP.. should set your goal on 320HP IMO

Also for a bit more cheese $3000 turbo kit upgrade... 400hp

So the question is, how much money you want to waste? The GM stage tune doesn't work with BOLT ON's very well or after-market parts in general. And would be pointless, almost.

AFAIK exhaust upgrades on the turbo are also terrible terrible price/ performance ratio. Something more suited for the supercharged balts, or unless you have money to burn and want your car to not sound stock.

Anyhow, someone here should be able to make a proper list of bolt ons to look for..


Id say


Downpipe $200 (10-15hp?)
Tune by trifecta $500 (30-50hp?)
Intercooler to take 24psi all day long $350 (probably no difference, but peace of mind for the aggressive tune)

Should be close to your goal for 300hp ;\

 

The thing that gets really confusing is. If you do any mods other than the GMS1 it will void PARTS of your warranty NOT the whole thing.

Examples - You put on on intake and 2 weeks later your MAF is broken - They wont cover this because of the intake modification.

You put on an exhaust system and your transmission goes - They would had a hard time proving that your exhaust system caused your transmission to go.

Now the more mods you do......... the more the dealership will try to put the blame back on you. THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO PROVE THAT YOUR MOD IS WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM.

Period

 

Cobalt & Ion ---> ZZ Performance

This should explain,

"If you plan on ~300WHP being the most you're going to want out of the car, start with a ZZP PCM (a tune, similar idea as the Trifecta I mentioned)

The next thing would be a good downpipe, like our LNF specific downpipe:"





"gains are minimal for replacing the stock exhaust until you are making 350+whp."


Anyhow, tool around on these forums long enough and you will get a good idea of what vendors are into the cobalt scene, and what parts to go with.. etc..

Good luck

 

/bump

Ok, say I forget the pipe dream of keeping it under factory warranty...

What would get me the most HP (and dependable being a daily driver) for $2k? If I go with a Trifecta tune, would it even be worth it to do a GMS1 first? I see alot of people with both but then I read that I could have problems down the road if I do a few mods beyond doing a gms1...don't know what to believe.

Again...forgive my turbonewbieness. I am trying to become a converted american muscleist. All I've had before were Z28's and a Mach 1. (F$@& you gas prices) So plz be patient with me.

 

Id just get a tune, downpipe and intake, so you can easily remove the parts if you ever need to go to the dealer. and your car will be a lot quicker than stock.

 

I see in your tag that you have both the GMS1 AND a Trifecta tune. Is it a huge benefit to have both? Or do you need the Trifecta on top of the gms1 because of all the other bolt on mods?

 

go get the trifecta canned tune. cost 200. Totally safe. play with it for awhile and if it is enough power for you which it should be, spend your money on appearance, sound, and suspension mods.

 

The gms1 gives vince more to work with. Its a better base file. I highly suggest getting gms1 and then trifecta

 

For $2000 you just about get full bolt-ons, a tune and coilovers.

That's the route I'd go with $2000.

If you are really interested in working on your car, you might want to look in to HP Tuners and doing your own tuning. For not that much more money than Trifecta, you can buy the software and scanner and learn to tune your own car.

I tune my own car, which is great cause I cut out the middleman, my tune is custom for my car, I can log it all the time, tune for any little thing I might want, and I've learned a whole lot about cars in general just from teaching myself what to do.

That's my .02 anyway. I'd much rather know what's going on in my car than trust in the abilities on someone else. Although there are some real good tuners out there.

EDIT: Also, if you want GMS1, you can install the sensors and the tune yourself with Hptuners. But that would definitely make it hard to get a warranty honored.

Tint the windows too

 

you should just loan it to me Lol