Hey guys, just wanted to know a few things about the Cobalt SS. I've read the bulletins and such, so please don't say refer to X, cause chances are I've read it. I noticed the modifications on your SS's, and I have a few questions.

Keeping in mind, I'm a previous Mustang GT guy, so 4 bangers aren't my territory. Just curious, I see the pulley upgrades, the exhaust system and such, is there a way to get a ot of torque out of the motor? Again, I know, it's a 4 banger, but I love torque. HP doesn't matter a whole lot, I'm confortable with 250 RWHP, but I know kill for 300 RWTQ. Would changing the supercharger out do the job?

Also, I know typically 4 bangers come with that high pitched exhaust. Any way of changing that to a low tone (almost V8-ish)? Headers? Clue me in guys, like I said I'm new to 4 bangers, coming from a V8, I want to have both sides of the arguement.

I appreciate it.

 

Well first if u didn't know the cobalts are front wheel drive. 2nd, the balt is kind of low on TQ, so u would have to do a lot of modding to get 300fwtq. Someone on here got to like 276 or something like that in wtq, but that is the highest that I have seen. As for a V8 sound out of our car we would need better cams and gears(I think???).

 

Gears wouldnt do anything for sounds lmao.

Also to the original poster.

No matter what you do, your never gonna get it to sound like a V8.

No the car doesnt have the same kind of torque a V8 would. But it had Gobs more than any N/A 4cyl has.

I am also a mustang guy. I have an 89 GT and a 91 LX 4cyl. And I love the Cobalt alot more.

Anyways, Take the car for what it is....Its a blown 4 banger FWD coupe. Comparing it to mustangs is pointless.

 

 

you really don't need 300lbs-ft....the car is lighter then a Mustang V8 (not too much compared to some years) I drove a S/C Ss and it felt very torquey to me....just push down a little and it takes off.

 

I know gears do nothing for sound. That was just one of times when I say or type things that came out wrong. Thats why I don't give much input. I'm just tring to give what little info I have out to be helpful.

 

Yeah sorry guys, I knew it was FWD. I'm used to saying RW, it's an old habit I need to kick now. I love torque as a general rule. As long as when I punch it, I can power shift 2nd through 4th. I also dig the whine of a supercharger, so that's a definate plus.

Is torque steer a problem? Can the single exhaust be converted to dual with a Y setup? Can I take a sharp turn relatively fast, or do I need bigger sway bars?

Sorry for the questions, I wanna make sure I get a quality car. Will small modifications beat a SRT 4? Or does that car completely destroy an SS S/C no matter what happens.

 

Why go with a dual exhaust? The SS/SC handles great for what it is. Ive beaten srt's stock but its all about the driver. a smaller pulley or stage kit can make it easier for you to win.

 

The ss/sc is a little car, so even if the numbers aren't so good on the torque, it'll throw you back in the seat. It's rather nice

 

tq steer isn't much of an issue if you get the posi option for it.

if you are looking for tq, the bolt isn't it...and trying to make it a la v8 is just not gonna happen, it will never sound like a v8 unless you add 4 more cylinders. If you want tq stay with the v8 or maybe look around for something else with w a turbo v6...

now, for a 4 banger, and concidering I drove a Focus SVT for 3 years, let me tell ya, when I first steped in the boosted Bolt, it put a smile on my face, as soon as that gauge went to 12psi, and broke loose 1st with ease, I thought "that is one cool lil car, this is going to be fun"...and let me tell ya, I have a BLAST autoX'n with that thing (granted never took the SVT around cones...but)...the car is around 2800lb, chevy under rated it too... it handles good, but I think it could use some springs to really make it shine (again comparing it to the SVTF, but not a fair comparison for i think the 2 cars would be in 2 diff SCCA class due to wheel base diff). The blower whine is just fun, people look at you werry "did this sound came out of...that?"... so compare it with other of its class (aka other 4 bangers) and you will see that little car is packing up some good punch!



for tq "fixes" I use the bellow stallion

 

i use to own a 05 mustang v6 before this car and trust me i was just like u but trust me man ur going to love it and thanks for leaving the dark force and read about ur ecotecs man there alot of torque for a 4 banger. this site made me learn alot about this car and itll definately help u out.

 

I'm going to get rediculed for leaving V8s for 4, but as long as I can drive with the best of em' that's all that matters.

Ok, the car doesn't handle good, add what, Edlb springs? Sway bar?
I want a bigger whine out of the S/C, 2.8 pulley? Any of you guys have another type of S/C?
So no dual exhaust, but what would you guys recommend?

I drove one the other day. It does get up and go, I'll tell you that. Clutch is nice and easy. Torque steer is there, I made sure to test that around a turn, but it's not that bad. Shifter is a lil' tight getting in the gates, but who cares. I didn't test the brakes though. I mean really romp on it. Other than that, I'm impressed.

 

I'm sure any suspension work would help alot (lowering, sways, or struts) with the handling.

From what I can tell... a cai randomly makes the whine come out ALOT.

And my personal choice for exhaust would be corsa touring... (so many people would disagree and agree, it's a matter of your choice.)

 

Correct me if I am wrong but the S/C handles awesome from the factory. It'll out corner a Mustang or Camaro.

A cold air intake will make your s/c very loud. And a touring Corsa exhuast is gives the deepest tone.

 

the cobalt ss s/c is one of the most neutral handling fwd cars out there. the thing flat out handles its ass off.. of course suspension modifications will no doubt help it more but stock its amazing. o and i take turns very fast all the time.. which is why my front tires are already bald

IMO, if u dont want the farty 4-cyl sound, someone on here installed a borla turbo-xl muffler with 2.5" piping replacing the 2.25" portion of the exhaust and it sounds bad-ass.. burbly, but subdued. considering the muffler is 19" long... definately the route im taking.

as for torque, its no torque monster, but definately throws u back when u get on it, esp when a pulley is added. the car is only 2800 lbs so that obviously has a lot to do with the feeling of the car.

i also feel that the CAI's are overrated on this car. they arent restrictive and i never like CEL's and for an extra one-two HP, i dont feel its worth it (esp with the price difference b/t just a filter and a full intake)..so i would just do the airbox mod with a cone filter. the supercharger screams like you want it to and there isnt any problems with CEL's and what-not

 

hmm on which autox? that's a very bold statment.
on a short track I'm as fast as a Mustang GT (although I'm a novice driver -- a prety good one, I'd say, since a pro driver in my car was only 1 sec faster than my best average time). Now make that course a lil longer, and it's a diff story. I would say the Bolt handles AS good AS a GT or Z28/SS...also those cars have a diff wheel base (longer one)

you aren't going to beat good camaro/mustang drivers with the bolt, but you'll worry them...

 

Driving / racing is all relative to your setup. If you do mods you will out do alot of stock v8 cars out there. If you can test drive one that will say it all in itself. These cars will run low 13's to high 12's with kits from www.INTENSE-Racing.com There are plenty of aftermarket parts out for this vehicle already and many more to come. This includes, aluminum flywheels, clutches, pulleys, PCM's, Fuel Injectors, Axles, sway bars, polyurethane mounts, torque dampners.

I really love mine, its super quick and traction is always a problem

 

stock VS stock your talking? Good drivers can make all the difference, I agree.

Mustangs/Camaros are all about straight line power.....you could whip thorugh the corners but they aren't great at it.

And they weren't tuned at the nuremberg track....

Ultimatley RWD is superior but that doesn't matter if the chassis is not as good or the suspesnsion

 

the best feeling is when ur passing a corvette well the one i raced was like a 93 or 94 i know it was a pretty shitty year... but they guy thought he was gonna just smoke me and he passed me going at a good clip i slammed 3rd cought up and passed him at around 130 and seeing his face drop completely cause the little 4 cylinder just caught up to him and kept going was a good feeling but i love corvettes i cant wait to own a new z06 this car does what it needs to do till i can afford the z06 thought ull b happy with it good luck

 

Ok good, you guys are giving me some good ideas. I've also checked out the problems some of you have had. I know all cars have their problems, but is there anything major that I should be worried about?

My biggest thing would be to make the whine of the S/C louder, and put on an exhaust system that doesn't have that farty sound to it.

I've aleady added a Cobalt SS S/C wallpaper. It's a matter of time now.

 

I used to have a 2001 Mustang GT, automatic. I can tell you that the Cobalt would definately hold its own to the Mustang. I even upgraded the suspension on the Mustang (lowered, shock/struts, subframes) and I bet the Cobalt (stock) would hang with it through the turns. I was just like you wanting a ton of torque in my next car, but I'm glad I got the Cobalt...it's the most fun I've ever had driving.

 

How much is the insurance for you guys? I'm in California, I looked up a few basic rates and I see about 1600 for a year. I know my Mustang was 1600 for 6 months, so it's definately a better cost. What about gas? 91 needed? I know it's a 13 gallon tank, what is that, 250 miles average? I need nitty gritty details guys. Sell this car to me.

 

I'm 23 and I pay 1500 a year(full coverage of course).
As for gas, you can run regular in it until you decide to get stage 2 from GM. Not sure about the Intense kits in the way of gas but I'm sure they require premium as well.

 

alrite i'm gonna toss my input in here

1)YOUR NEVER GOING TO GET THE TQ OUTTA THIS 2.0 THAT YOU GOT OUTTA THE STANG'
how ever i can say that even with that lack of tq your still gonna woop up on them...alot.

2) you could make a dual exhasut but theres not much of paint to it considering we only have 1 header...this only need for 1 exhasut pipe...your size and muffler choice is your to make. I have a 3in with a dynomax ultra-flo on it and its loud but it never gets that ricy high pitch tone to it.

3)the balt handles DAM good stock but with a simple swap to so pro-line springs shes 100X better!

4)with a pully swap say down to a 2.9/2.8 on the stock fuel system with an moded Air-box that blower SCREAMSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

5) some poeple have looked into doing blower swaps but none has happend as of yet...once that swap happens to a twin-screw blower the doors are rely gonna open for power out put on these cars....also with that pully swap and an intake you'll beat stock-very/close to stock srt-4's if you can drive.

ummmmm i think that covers it all

hope that helps.

 

If you want torque, and you want a 'v8ish' sound...umm...get another mustang. I won't speak to the torque but you're not going to get a v8 sound.