divorced, cash monies to spend
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Joined: 10-14-10
Posts: 52
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From: savannah
divorced, cash monies to spend
ok so my marriage bit the big one unfortunately but the silver lining is that the true love of my life, Black Betty, is still here for me.
so, down to buisness. my car is a 2010 cobalt SS with AEM cold air intake and GMS1 Turbo upgrade. i have $2000 to spend max. through research it seems the biggest gains would come from header/dp/exh so thats what im interested in buying. i have a couple tabs open in my browser with full carts of ZZP and Hahn and i have a couple questions to ask
1. What is the general consensus on best quality parts as far as companies go?
2. Can i bolt aftermarket headers and back without a tune for an extended period of time without damaging my vehicle?
3. Obviously id get more power from a tune, but will i notice considerable power with these parts and no tune?
4. Are there any good canned tunes? (the general consensus seems to be NO)
im asking because ive had two compadres blow up their engines from a poor tune so im skiddish about tuning my baby which is still under 20k miles and dear to my heart
thanks fellow cobalt homeys
p.s. chalked up another win for cobalts everywhere last weekend when i smoked a newer model GT 5.0 Mustang. i really love these cars.
so, down to buisness. my car is a 2010 cobalt SS with AEM cold air intake and GMS1 Turbo upgrade. i have $2000 to spend max. through research it seems the biggest gains would come from header/dp/exh so thats what im interested in buying. i have a couple tabs open in my browser with full carts of ZZP and Hahn and i have a couple questions to ask
1. What is the general consensus on best quality parts as far as companies go?
2. Can i bolt aftermarket headers and back without a tune for an extended period of time without damaging my vehicle?
3. Obviously id get more power from a tune, but will i notice considerable power with these parts and no tune?
4. Are there any good canned tunes? (the general consensus seems to be NO)
im asking because ive had two compadres blow up their engines from a poor tune so im skiddish about tuning my baby which is still under 20k miles and dear to my heart
thanks fellow cobalt homeys
p.s. chalked up another win for cobalts everywhere last weekend when i smoked a newer model GT 5.0 Mustang. i really love these cars.
can i haz $ ^_^
1. What is the general consensus on best quality parts as far as companies go?
you mean manifold?
2. Can i bolt aftermarket headers and back without a tune for an extended period of time without damaging my vehicle?
you mean manifold?
3. Obviously id get more power from a tune, but will i notice considerable power with these parts and no tune?
you need a tune or more i suggest a tune ^_^
4. Are there any good canned tunes? (the general consensus seems to be NO)
HPT with a good tuner>trifecta>hpt so called tuners
1. What is the general consensus on best quality parts as far as companies go?
you mean manifold?
2. Can i bolt aftermarket headers and back without a tune for an extended period of time without damaging my vehicle?
you mean manifold?
3. Obviously id get more power from a tune, but will i notice considerable power with these parts and no tune?
you need a tune or more i suggest a tune ^_^
4. Are there any good canned tunes? (the general consensus seems to be NO)
HPT with a good tuner>trifecta>hpt so called tuners
Senior Member
Joined: 07-04-10
Posts: 898
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From: Calgary
just enough for this bad boy........im saving to get in my car by springtime. 
ZZPerformance - ZFR Turbo #ZZ-ZFR
ZZPerformance - ZFR Turbo #ZZ-ZFR
1. What is the general consensus on best quality parts as far as companies go?
ZZP and TTR both have fair pricing on full exhausts and typical bolt ons, just depends what you like really
Powell for anything suspension (for at least sway bars at minimum)
2. Can i bolt aftermarket headers and back without a tune for an extended period of time without damaging my vehicle?
you have a turbo, so therefore you dont have a header. Its a manifold
Yes you can bolt a downpipe and catback untuned without issues. Your downpipe may throw a P0420 code which runs your long term fuel trims 4-5% richer though if its not cleared (i know this from experience)
so I'd recommend a tune, but wouldnt call it necessary
3. Obviously id get more power from a tune, but will i notice considerable power with these parts and no tune?
You should notice some power. GMS1 has learndown disabled
Note: better gains will be had if retuned
4. Are there any good canned tunes? (the general consensus seems to be NO)
In the order of what I would do if I'm understanding your situation correctly. CANNED TUNES SUCK!
1) find a good cobalt shop like ZZP or PerformanceAutoWerks if your close by
2) Find a reputable LNF HPtuner if any are local
3) Go trifecta
4) HPtune it yourself but it takes a lot of patience and reading before doing so
ZZP and TTR both have fair pricing on full exhausts and typical bolt ons, just depends what you like really
Powell for anything suspension (for at least sway bars at minimum)
2. Can i bolt aftermarket headers and back without a tune for an extended period of time without damaging my vehicle?
you have a turbo, so therefore you dont have a header. Its a manifold
Yes you can bolt a downpipe and catback untuned without issues. Your downpipe may throw a P0420 code which runs your long term fuel trims 4-5% richer though if its not cleared (i know this from experience)
so I'd recommend a tune, but wouldnt call it necessary
3. Obviously id get more power from a tune, but will i notice considerable power with these parts and no tune?
You should notice some power. GMS1 has learndown disabled
Note: better gains will be had if retuned
4. Are there any good canned tunes? (the general consensus seems to be NO)
In the order of what I would do if I'm understanding your situation correctly. CANNED TUNES SUCK!
1) find a good cobalt shop like ZZP or PerformanceAutoWerks if your close by
2) Find a reputable LNF HPtuner if any are local
3) Go trifecta
4) HPtune it yourself but it takes a lot of patience and reading before doing so
Your best bet is to do muffler delete. Saves alot of money and sounds great. Go with the ZZP catless downpipe. With these cars there is no use getting a full exhaust, the stock works and sounds great. I would say go with a new tune. I know you have your reservations about getting a tune, but find someone reputable and go with that. Go with charge-piping and intercooler also
If you want to keep things simple and stick with GMS1 (which I would say is the safest canned tune), then get a hi-flow catted down pipe, hot side charge piping, and an intercooler. If you don't want just power mods, look at springs and a rear sway bar (for the best handling, a Powell rear sway bar with the Powell YYZ springs).
If you do get a custom tune (get it last so you don't have to retune for every mod), then get a catless down pipe, and the rest is the same as above.
Or, as mentioned above, $2,000 is enough to buy a ZFR which can be bolted on to your existing setup and net you the most power out of any of these options.
If you do get a custom tune (get it last so you don't have to retune for every mod), then get a catless down pipe, and the rest is the same as above.
Or, as mentioned above, $2,000 is enough to buy a ZFR which can be bolted on to your existing setup and net you the most power out of any of these options.
Senior Member
Joined: 02-13-11
Posts: 8,047
Likes: 0
From: Olney, MD
1. What is the general consensus on best quality parts as far as companies go?
Turbo XS... for the price NOTHING matches it...
i have had bolt ons from almost every other company out there and nothing beats Turbo XS. And now i finally have full bolt ons from Turbo XS
2. Can i bolt aftermarket headers and back without a tune for an extended period of time without damaging my vehicle?
no one really gets an aftermarket header for our car... not much of a gain from what i have heard...
3. Obviously id get more power from a tune, but will i notice considerable power with these parts and no tune?
yes you will notice a HUGE difference.. car will run better
4. Are there any good canned tunes? (the general consensus seems to be NO)
umm.. no gms1 is good?? haha
if you have an hp tuner around you. get a tune from chevycobaltss3, if not buy a trifecta cable and get a tune from trifecta. BNR is having a sale on it right now.
full bolt ons from turbo xs and a trifecta tune would cost you roughly 2k...
click my signature for more info on parts
Turbo XS... for the price NOTHING matches it...
i have had bolt ons from almost every other company out there and nothing beats Turbo XS. And now i finally have full bolt ons from Turbo XS
2. Can i bolt aftermarket headers and back without a tune for an extended period of time without damaging my vehicle?
no one really gets an aftermarket header for our car... not much of a gain from what i have heard...
3. Obviously id get more power from a tune, but will i notice considerable power with these parts and no tune?
yes you will notice a HUGE difference.. car will run better
4. Are there any good canned tunes? (the general consensus seems to be NO)
umm.. no gms1 is good?? haha
if you have an hp tuner around you. get a tune from chevycobaltss3, if not buy a trifecta cable and get a tune from trifecta. BNR is having a sale on it right now.
full bolt ons from turbo xs and a trifecta tune would cost you roughly 2k...
click my signature for more info on parts
Last edited by damastah; Nov 15, 2012 at 04:15 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: 02-13-11
Posts: 8,047
Likes: 0
From: Olney, MD
are you joking omni??? ZZP is no where near as good has Hahn's DP... in terms of quality and airflow...
just by looking at the downpipes i can tell you which one will flow better...
but honestly... Turbo XS is the way to go
cheaper than Hahn. but just as good quality (some ppl say better)
i was a huge Hahn fan boy, i wanted full bolt ons from Hahn cuz i saw how good their quality was... but once i saw Turbo XS's products... and the price.. i learned nothing beat it...
duck sauce... if you want. you can send a PM to Turbo XS, i am pretty sure they will give you a discount if you order a lot of bolt ons at once.
just by looking at the downpipes i can tell you which one will flow better...
but honestly... Turbo XS is the way to go
cheaper than Hahn. but just as good quality (some ppl say better)
i was a huge Hahn fan boy, i wanted full bolt ons from Hahn cuz i saw how good their quality was... but once i saw Turbo XS's products... and the price.. i learned nothing beat it...
duck sauce... if you want. you can send a PM to Turbo XS, i am pretty sure they will give you a discount if you order a lot of bolt ons at once.
A lot and you will need New clutch, probably the whole rotating assembly minus the crank, build you head etc
Oh and a lsj trans because yours will take a **** after a few pulls lol.
Oh and a lsj trans because yours will take a **** after a few pulls lol.
Last edited by ampzor350; Nov 15, 2012 at 04:40 PM.
I did full bolt ons minus FMIC for $300 buying used soooo if OP is budget shopping searching classifieds is the way to go
Senior Member
Joined: 08-19-09
Posts: 7,665
Likes: 7
From: Windsor NS
ok so my marriage bit the big one unfortunately but the silver lining is that the true love of my life, Black Betty, is still here for me.
so, down to buisness. my car is a 2010 cobalt SS with AEM cold air intake and GMS1 Turbo upgrade. i have $2000 to spend max. through research it seems the biggest gains would come from header/dp/exh so thats what im interested in buying. i have a couple tabs open in my browser with full carts of ZZP and Hahn and i have a couple questions to ask
1. What is the general consensus on best quality parts as far as companies go?
2. Can i bolt aftermarket headers and back without a tune for an extended period of time without damaging my vehicle?
3. Obviously id get more power from a tune, but will i notice considerable power with these parts and no tune?
4. Are there any good canned tunes? (the general consensus seems to be NO)
im asking because ive had two compadres blow up their engines from a poor tune so im skiddish about tuning my baby which is still under 20k miles and dear to my heart
thanks fellow cobalt homeys
p.s. chalked up another win for cobalts everywhere last weekend when i smoked a newer model GT 5.0 Mustang. i really love these cars.
so, down to buisness. my car is a 2010 cobalt SS with AEM cold air intake and GMS1 Turbo upgrade. i have $2000 to spend max. through research it seems the biggest gains would come from header/dp/exh so thats what im interested in buying. i have a couple tabs open in my browser with full carts of ZZP and Hahn and i have a couple questions to ask
1. What is the general consensus on best quality parts as far as companies go?
2. Can i bolt aftermarket headers and back without a tune for an extended period of time without damaging my vehicle?
3. Obviously id get more power from a tune, but will i notice considerable power with these parts and no tune?
4. Are there any good canned tunes? (the general consensus seems to be NO)
im asking because ive had two compadres blow up their engines from a poor tune so im skiddish about tuning my baby which is still under 20k miles and dear to my heart
thanks fellow cobalt homeys
p.s. chalked up another win for cobalts everywhere last weekend when i smoked a newer model GT 5.0 Mustang. i really love these cars.
am i the only one who read this and finds it hard to believe that a GMS1 cobalt smoked a newer 5.0? lol
