jmelton327

Ok I bought the car a few months ago rebuilt the engine and threw it all back together it had aftermarket headers cat back exhuast with Flowmaster muffler, injen ram intake and I believe that is it, I have not done these upgrades they were already there, we'll I feel like the car falls on its face, I need some power and I need to know what direction to take I do not have the money saved at the moment so if there's some small cheap things I can start with while saving that would be great, this is not my daily driver Its just a fun car, so if any of you could throw out some ideas for me that would be awesome I heard from somewere I may be able to put the 2.4l intake on it to add a little but I'm unaware of this, thank you in advance for any help given

Jesse

iTrader: (4)

That looks like a 2007-08. I'm going to tell you right now a tune will be what makes the car not fall on its face, especially with an automatic. The spark timing in the areas when you step on the gas are negative values. Changing those really wake the car up. Also messing with the transmission side of the tune can help if you're auto.

FYI if you decide to buy the HP Tuners tuning software I have no problem helping you figure out a NA(I don't do turbo/supercharged tunes) tune so you don't have to pay for a tune AND the software.

jmelton327

Thank you very much and it is a 5 speed and u hit it on the head it's a 2008 model, I didn't realize just tuning it would help that much if that's the case I do i a small program but idk if it will let me tune it and I have never tuned a car before so I would probably be better off taking it somewere locally

Dipped_Cobalt

best upgrade is to get a super/turbocharger...

breds2k

iTrader: (1)

Take my advice, here is what I did.

2007 2.2 Auto
Intake $200
Header/downpipe $400
Exhaust $160
Tune $200
2.4 manifold $100
2.4 TB $100
B&M shift kit $50
Total $1210

Suspension:
FE5 packed $300? I forget (struts/shocks)
Megan Springs $200
B&G springs $200
New Fe5s and stock springs another $300 after B&G blew my FE5's
Total $1000

With the suspension work I did the car was low, and rode like ****. With the engine work I did I went from what like 130whp to 165whp? Car was still slow as **** when put in perspective, I did all that they lost to a stock S/C and said the hell with this.

Point I am trying to make as I did this piece by piece as a broke kid. WRONG I could've taken the $1000 in suspension money I threw around and gotten a great set of BC Coilovers that rode great and handled great. and MOST importantly for this thread. I could've gotten a used M62 Supercharger kit for $1000-1500 depending on parts there are usually plenty available and easy for an auto to make 200-250whp depending on how aggressive you go after with cooling/pulley.

I should have done those to too start with and been happy! Take my advice please! (Several people told me this when I was in your position and I did not listen! Would up with a slow car that rode like crap! )

jmelton327

Thanks for the advice I agree, and honestly this is what kills me about the car is having to go big or go hime, don't get me wrong I want to throw a supercharger in it but it's going to be awhile for that so u guess I'll just have to wait or trade for somthing faster I'll have to determine that, but the suspension I found a full megans coilovers set, are bc better than megans, they are not far off in price is why im asking

Jesse

iTrader: (4)

Don't forget

$800-1000 for forged rods/pistons
$300 for new timing chain set
$300 for head gasket kit.

08+ NA Cobalts had weaker rods and pistons, so I wonder how much the engine could take. Most aftermarket companies recommend forged pistons after 230whp on 08+ 2.4 and 2.2 engines.

jcobaltss

Buy my supercharger setup so I can go turbo lol

jmelton327

Na? Naturally aspirated?

jmelton327

I wish I could afford to right now once the girls honda is payed off I will be looking to buy some goodies, if I keep the car that is all depends man

Jesse

iTrader: (4)

Yes. In 2006-2007 the 2.4L had forged stuff. 2.2L never came forged in this car. 2.0SS all came forged. In 2008 they started using weaker rods.

breds2k

iTrader: (1)

Well with whats already done id just get a tune next, I didn't think anything of the 2.4 manifold swap. Waste of $100.

Just find someone to HPtune the car, that's your only bet of a cheap increase.

jmelton327

Yea sounds like the best choice for now, I have been thinking about it alot lately and what all I'm after, I would love to.go fast and I would love for the car to look awesome, but who wouldn't. With this said it's going to cast me a good little bit, and it's not what I have to spend atm, and there also comes the point of how much do I like this body style, I wish the car was wider, so do I trade it for somthing else or keep going at it with the cobalt and maybe get the look I want, I would love for it to be campered out and fenders rolled and basically slammed, but the money u have to put in to achieve this in a cobalt seems step, that and the expertise of fabing somthing together I do not have, so there goes more money and finding the right person for the job....mmm mmm mmm decisions decisions lol

no_ss

iTrader: (2)

Any car will cost money to stance out...

But IMO cobalts look wide when they're stanced out.