Hey guys, new to the site. bought an 06 SS/SC 8 months ago and since have gotten whooped by a stock evo and thats enuf. I have been looking at ZZP web and their kits are much cheaper and more optioned than the GM. So i want to know from u pros what kit S2 or S3 and what options? Do i need to add exhaust to reef the benifits. I appreciate the help guys.

 

If you want to be an Evo killer, you pretty much have to go Turbo. TVS will do the job on most evo's. But Evo is the cobalts big brother. So it's an uphill battle. S3 would be better becuase you need a 2nd heat exchanger if you plan to mod.

 

You will be very hard off to pull a evo on gm stage kit.. Definitely go S3 ZZP Kit with E85 or meth and a custom tune

 

Well it wasnt that much of a difference between us, it was a 60 roll and we were dead nuts till 100 he had me half car then 120 2 car lengths. So what injector size for the ZZP S3? dual pass? ZZP tensioner or smaller belt? Thanks for the responses

 

Evo needs a Driver mod. =-P

I think 50# come with it. I would recomend 60#. 80# are better =D

You have bolt ons yet? CAI, header, DP, Exhaust?

Dual pass is highly recommeneded for 2.9 and below

I've never installed a pully belt so I can't answer that.

DEF GO E85 IF YOU CAN

 

If you can get E85 in your area you might as well get 80s.. Dual pass is a plus.. and I'm sure the oversized tensioner is better.. Ive heard ppl have belt probs

 

How much do you have to spend?

E85 will change the game if it is available to you.

 

no E85 very close. So 50#ers should be fine right? i dont wanna go too big and kill my MPG if i dont need to. They say on ZZP that 42# is for stage 2 so i assume 50 for S3. Im pretty familiar with custom tunes for big mods as i had in a cobra but how much diff is there from ZZP flash and a custom tune in this caliber of a car? The guy i usually visit for mods/dyno stuff doesnt do a lot of tuning but what would he need to be able to tune it? software/programmer?

 

Well i would love to get away with spending $700 on parts, but i can go up to 1500 if need be but this stuff is cheap compared to the 28k i put in my last car. But thats why its gone and im in a 4 banger now, impressive lil car i must say.

 

Hey Duffman, if i did go E85 do have to upgrade my fuel pump? the only thing done to the car is a no name intake. My dyno guy says E85 all the way. Might look into it, do you know what it takes? is a custom tune required?

 

for one the evo isent the cobalts big brother and it isent an uphill battle to beat an evo
op go read and then read some more then make your own informed decision

 

Yah, The Evo is def the big brother os the S/C balts. The Turbo balts can run w/ the Evo pretty well....

I don't know much about E85 I do believe volsfan is on E85 and could answer those questions. I am building TVS. So if you need help going that route I could help a little. 50# should do well, but people still get 25 MPG w/ 80#. Just when you have the small pully and an awesome tune you like to "play" a little more (less gas milage when you love that WOT feel!). HP Tuners is a good tuning software. Alot of people here can help tune you. Trifecta from what I hear is a step up from HP. 700$ will get your Balt getting up and going. With that budget I recomned the S3 from ZZP as your start with a CAI and Exhaust. Then get your Header and DP. Remember, you don't have to buy everything at once. There are ussualyl some good group buys on this web site. Send vendors E-mails, sometimes they can help hook you up with a extra discount. ZZP and TTR are ones I highly recommend!

 

great advice duff, props brotha.

 

Also, be weary when that guy decides to mod his evo. They can make some big power!



Mrbelve is also correct in READ, read and read and read. Keep asking questions, and keep reading through the hundreds of pages on here

 

Trifecta is not a step up from a HPT if you have a good knowledgeable tuner... And if a stock TC Balt can hang with EVO.. A lightly modded SC can too.. I havent personally ran an EVO but I wouldnt be worried unless it was an EVO X.. As far as mileage it will go down with E85 but its worth it IMO

 

$1500 is plenty of money.

Get the ZZP Stage 3 Kit, 2.7", shorter belt, S3 Heat Exchanger, 80# injectors/E85 tune, Dual pass end plate.

$735

Also order their Phenolic IM spacer

- LSJ Phenolic Intake Spacer #06-02-00753

$100

ZZP CAI

ZZPerformance - ZZP 3 inch Cobalt CAI #06-02-01185

$200

and 3" dp to bolt into a 2.5" catback

ZZPerformance - 3 inch Stainless Cobalt/Ion Downpipe #

$159

Get a Bad-Mab short ecotec header.
BAD-MAB.com

$189

So that is just short of $1400 in parts. Get a good dyno tune and find that evo again.


You can make over 300whp on the stock fuel pump and E85. You can get a base tune from ZZP in their stage kit but a custom tune is the way to go.

 

sounds like a great package, but the E85? can ZZP tune me for that to start? and i think you missed the pricing for the catback.... so outside of the ZZP S3, how much HP gains with the exhaust bolt ons?

 

You don't HAVE to have a cat-back. They are not 100% necessary. Opening up the exhaust flow closest to the engine is more important.

ZZP has E85 base tunes as an option in their S3 kits.

There are not a lot of gains to be made with Exhaust bolt-on unless you are tuned for them.

 

lol blind leading the blind..glad atleast two legit guys have helped!!!

 

reaper, whats your thoughts?

 

Well ebristol made a good list, and Mr.B gave good advice. To me just to have the car in "running form" get the zzp S3 just bc its a package deal. I would do 2.5 pulley tho with meth injection an then get a retune. Same Mods vs Same Mods the winning factor will always be the tune. Id buy the stuff that would have the biggest impact on my tune tho first. Like the manifold spacer, option b and dual pass plate are good to have but deff not make or break with me. I buy reputable intake, standard meth kit nuthn fancy(boost actvt switch), avg priced header/dp combo(catless), S3 H/E, Ngk tr6 or 7 plugs, Gm stg 2 Belt, oversized tensioner pulley, #60's, 2.5 or 2.4 pulley(need blower spacer for this pulley it helps) ...yes a 2.4!!! Port blower inlet, An then Go tune the hell outa it and make power!!

 

Wont a 2.4 pulley overspin the blower? and OP definitrly get all the cooling mods and make sure your IC pump is working

 

At some point yea it may scream a tad bit louder. I wanted a car that was peppy from 40-100mph and thats wat I built. Everyone so quick to bash the lil eaton and go tvs or turbo I guess to prove sumtn but then again idc how much power I could make I'll still chuckle when someone ask me wat kinda car I drive. Cobalt lol

 

Lol I feel you I love the low end of my 2.6 and my tunes not dialed in yet

 

don't forget the clutch...stock clutch sucks!!!