Hello, I just purchased a 2009 Cobalt SS Turbo on Friday Jan 16, 2015 and next thing I knew it was in for GM Stage 1 the following Friday Jan 23, 2015. The car currently has a K&N air filter and is completely stock other than that. I am looking for advice on any mods that would be recommended with the stage 1 tune.

ZZP Intake Tube - Was looking at this option to get more airflow and maybe more sound?

Exhaust?

Thanks in advance for any incite and help! I just registered for the forum today.

 

Welcome aboard.

Aside from the zzp intake tube, that would be about all I would do with a gms1 for performance. You can go with a catted dp, but you run a chance of tripping a dtc. Once you start modding beyond that point (short of a cat back exhaust and charge pipes), a custom tune is strongly recommended.

 

Welcome. I would toss the K&N and go back to a paper element. Then I'd get some high flow cats. See how the car sounds with just the HFCs. You might like it.

 

I'd say fist, replace all plastic with hard pipe. Upper , lower inter cooler pipes and intercooler itself, replace em. They break. If u want sound , k&n intake. Get Powell oil separator to keep valves clean, catless down pipe, unless u got restrictions, then catted. Buy hp tuners and get a good hp tune. After all that done, save for bigger turbo and possibly tranny

 

^^ His post struck me as someone looking for recommendations on mods to do just with his gms1 tune, not so much for a future 400+whp setup. Although I could be wrong.

 

Hey! Yes, I'm looking for just basic mods to go with my stage 1 tune and to leave it at that. Not looking to invest too much money into the car as I'm only 20 and paid $10450 cash for the car which left me low on money trying to save for a down payment on a condo. I'm not looking for any crazy mods or aftermarket tuning I would like to stick with the safe stage 1 GM tune as its enough power for me and I need the reliability. I autocross and do the occasional track day in the summer. I've heard that the charge piping has a chance of breaking which I hope doesn't happen. Just looking for basic mods that wont throw off the tune. Would you recommend the ZZP intake tube and maybe a cat back?

Thanks!

 

Most of the said is just safety mods so nothing snaps, the downpipe will add power. The hpt if you want to get more power out of the stock turbo. Bigger turbo/tanny is just somthing when u get bored of the stock turbo.

 

The upper charge pipe has a chance of breaking (lower I a pretty stout piece) and the intercooler end tanks have a chance of breaking. There's quite a bit of info floating around on the topic.

The intake tube with the stock air box is all you will need with the gms1. A cai and catback are noting but sound mods at your power level and will do nothing notable for performance. The biggest power gainer on this car, other than a tune, is a dp. Again, there is quite a bit of info floating around about these topics.

Not for nothing but I've been doing this for quite time so, yes, I'm more than fully aware of this. I think you might have missed the point of the matter, but thanks.

 

What these guys said k&n sri and an optional zzp down pipe. And you will be good to go

 

I personally think there is no need to replace the intercooler and charge pipes on the stock turbo. Been running a 23 psi tune for 2.5 years without issue.

 

I would say since your sticking with gms1 just leave it as is. Maybe do suspension mods instead

 

Will the ZZP intake tube make any difference at all?

 

Just because you haven't got burnt doesn't mean you should play with fire.

I prefer the reassurance of knowing I'm not going to blow a hole in my IC or CP's at any given time, but to each their own.

It's supposed to, but only a couple HP.

 

You act as though I'm driving some sort of ticking time bomb- charge pipes blowing up has happened to like what, two or three people on here?

 

oh will then almost same thing, change all plastic garbage including intercooler, get k&n intake. and highflow catted downpipe. or catless from zzp so u don't throw codes.

 

I would definitely get a metal intercooler. I ran the stock pipes for 5 years without issue.

 

Running high boost, yes I believe the IC is a time bomb. CPs too but to a lesser extent.