No hate here. LOL

I could have had it done for $200 ... but it just wasn't right under the circumstances.

But whatever the price, the St. 2 is definitely worth it.

 

A quick note here regarding St. 2 and shifting ...

The way I always used to shift when driving in a performance orientated manner was:

1) Lift off gas
2) Depress clutch
3) Shift into next gear
4) Lift off the clutch while very quickly getting on the accelerator

Now shifting like this before St. 2 was installed caused me no problems. But doing this after St. 2 was installed now causes moderate clutch slippage (not bouncing off rev limiter, but still noticeably slipping).

So to avoid the above, I change #4 where I must now do this:

1) Lift off gas
2) Depress clutch
3) Shift into next gear
4) Lift off the clutch where I almost pause a second after the clutch is engaged
5) Then hit the accelerator

Now this begs the question:

• Was I shifting too aggressively to begin with?
• Or is this a sign of the clutch being glazed/worn (even though I only have 4k on the car)?

What do you think ...

 

It might be something that has been happening over time due to your driving style. A few weeks ago I got some decent clutch slip in my car which only has 6,000 miles on it. I changed my driving style and took it easy for a bit, shifted at 3,500/4,000 rpm and now my clutch grabs like it was new.

Also, now that you have S2 you may be spinning alot more, if your spinning and your tires are moving at X speed but your really moving at Xspeed - 10, when you let the clutch out your very likely to get some slip when doing "sprited driving".

 

I've got to admit, the clutch on our 'Balt is one of the weirdest that I have ever experienced.

Well, I've had it happen when shifting from 2nd to 3rd as well. So the tires were definitely NOT spinning at that speed when I made the gear change (70mph).

I find these little "idiosyncrasies" in a vehicle to be quite irritating. And if it doesn't go away or it gets worse, I can easily see a Spec 2 clutch in my future.

Yup ...

 

The clutches on these cars are ridiculously sensitive and finicky. I've had mine slip from a 2-3 shift, a 1-2 shift.. Other times (in the same night might I add) i've chirped 2nd and had it grab perfectly fine on the 2-3 shift. It's weird, but that's just the way they are I guess.

 

That's EXACTLY how they are! LOL

But I know for sure that I can't (won't?) put up with it for long.

So I can already see where my Holiday check is going to be spent (and I have yet to purchase all-season tires!).

Dang ...

 

Yeah the clutchs on these cars are very sensitive. When people on here fight about how they suck and then some argue saying they can take the horsepower, I think they mean they are just that, too sensitive. On my old car, I shifted between 2,500 and 3k all the time and it slipped more and more frequently. On this car, been shifting at 3,300 or 3,500k all the time and its been good so far. Only at 2,600 miles so far, so still too early to see how it does. But yeah, got my stage 2 installed yesterday and OMG is it nice. Crazy to take 2nd up to 70 too, lol. Imo, I think it shines on the highway, it doesnt take much throttle to see it go from 60-90 like it did. Im kickin myself in the ass that I didnt get it on my other car sooner, lol. But yeah, to all the people that ask is stage 2 worth the money...totally.

 

Yea i know, I got paid finally today so im skipping school monday to go get mine installed!!! i cant wait. I think i'll be doing good having a stage 2 cobalt and paying for everything at the age of 17. oh and does anyone know how hard gauges are to install?? i just got the zzperformance colormatched triple pillar and autometer cobalt series gauges,(AirFuelRatio,Boost/Vacuum,Oil Pressure) they say its just 3 wire hookup for the fullsweep style,but ive never done it myself. im pretty sure i could figure it out with the instructions when i get them in, but just wondering if anyone has done it.

 

Youll be good with stage 2. Ive never done gauges personally but from what ive read they aren't that much of a hassle.

 

AMEN!

And to me, "sensitive" is a synonym for "weak/poorly designed".

Glad someone understands ...

You got that right! 2nd gear in our car w/St. 2 rules.

Pulls...Pulls...Pulls.

 

The guy that sells them on ebay told me mine would be here in a week, I also ordered Nates 2.85" pulley.. I cant wait to get that on.....OH I almost forgot, to get mine installed here in digby, Nova Scotia is gonna cost 220 taxes in.....YYYYYAAAAYYYY....

 

Just be careful with that pulley on there... ive heard 2.9 is the lowest safe pulley you want tp put on stage 2 tune... of course many people have put a 2.8 on there but with problems

 

This has been a continuing argument, but yet again do yall know anyone that has had problems with their ss due to running a 2.8in pulley with the gmstage 2?? Ive searched through this site like crazy and all i have found is people that have been running this combination for a while, some almost 2 years and havent had one problem. Of course you might want to do some cooling mods, but who floors their car at every corner and revs it to red line through each gear everyday?? no one, cuz they'd blow up your car. so if you don't do that, then you should be fine

 

I believe im below sealevel, so I will be safe from what I know...

 

You can't just rev the engine to create boost or see how much boost your car makes


The engine has to be under load & they would have to be driving the hell out of your car to see the max boost you're making.......so then if they did find out, then you would have to ask them why the hell they were driving the **** out of your car

 

My concern is that max boost output is recorded on the car's pcm.

If that's the case ... then you're screwed.

 

This is all true, but considering the dealership where i bought my car has no clue about the stage 2(which is why im going somewhere else to install) i would bet money on it that they have no clue what the stage 2 max boost is, cuz when i first bought the car they didnt know what they stock max boost was.they are idiots, i just was pretty muche forced to buy cause they sold it to me for 18,499

 

You'll be fine then

When they pull up the VIN it'll say Stage 2 is installed on the car anyways, but if they don't know what it is then it won't matter....it's just still under warranty is all that matters

 

Well i just got home from the dealership from my stage 2 install today. I must say it is pretty nice, however i think people over exaggerate a little from the power increase. Its definetly noticeable and better then stock, but its not that dramatic of a difference. Although you can stay in 2nd gear till 75ish mph. To get its full potential ima need way better tires, solid mounts, torque dampner, and lowering springs, then it'll be a hell of a lot more noticeable in first gear. but the best thing yet is, I no longer have a check engine light from my cold air intake. I have droven a lil over 100 miles on it since the stage 2 install and no CEL yet, hopefully never cuz i had it since the first 15 miles when i install the intake.....overall it is worth it. Especially for $400!!!!

 

Well, your "seat of the pants" feel must be way different than mine.

Because I noticed a TON of difference. I mean WHOLE LOT.

And that's not over exaggerating it one bit ...

 

Yeah...I didn't get into it too much with the car after it was first installed, but it's a pretty big/noticeable difference

Just watching the boost gauge go further made me happy...lol

But the power is TOTALLY there

 

Totally!

 

Yea when i was driving this morning (about 65 degrees out) there definetly was a noticable difference, but yesterday it was 85 degrees which could be why i didnt notice to to much. However my check engine light did come back on today. does anyone know how to get rid of this?? or what cold air intakes do not throw CEL codes???

 

Ok scratch that lost post by me. Today i changed my spark plugs to the NGK Iridium 2 Steps Colder that I got from ZZPerformance.com(two thumbs up by the way) and I have to say there is much more of a dramatic difference in my car. It runs sooo much smoother, cleaner, no more hesitation or wrong idleing and/or misfiring.The car runs better then it was brand new, and after i installed them my check engine light went away and hasnt came back.I would highly recommend these plugs for anyone with stage 2!!!! oh and it was about 50 degrees out tonight, and the stage 2 runs completly insane at that temperture. Its a must have!!!

 

Usually the plugs are only needed when you go down to a smaller pulley size

Cuz if they were needed, GM would've thrown them into the kit (since they are still warranty-ing it & your car)

But if it runs better....good for you!