Hey guys, so I am boosted with the zzp stage 2 kit and have been tossing the idea around of rebuilding my 2.2 LAP. I've been looking around and people say they want to rebuild their LAPs but I cant find any threads. I know they are the similar to the L61 just that the LAPs have VVT.

The main factor im trying to weigh out is to rebuild my motor BEFORE something potentially goes wrong OR just wait it out and see if something does go wrong. If i would rebuild my motor before anything substantial happens i would do pistons, rods, and rings which brings me around $1000? If it wait for something to go wrong i would have to replace whatever breaks + rod, pistons, and rings. IF it does die on me i would assume the connecting rod would snap causing more damage to the motor correct?

Just trying to weigh my options before i make a decision, all relevant input is greatly appreciated. thanks guys

 

Also, does anyone know how difficult it would be to rebuild? Only thing im a little nervous of touching is the VVT and cams, last time i touched my head the VVT got messed up and the cams were off 1 tooth, nothing broke though

 

Dude, I must see videos of your car. I want the exact same turbo kit. What'd you do for tuning?

 

lol im getting a lot of people saying this lol. i didnt think it was that rare to turbo the 2.2L i guess it is lol. i had Vince at Trifecta performance tune my car. great guy, great price, and great tuning

 

Hey guys, im still thinking of doing this but i have some questions about the VVT and timing in general. When i pull the motor and start to take it apart. do i have to put the motor in the 10 and 2 position and at TDC? or does it matter since im gonna be putting new rods and pistons and rebalancing crank?

 

cams at 10 and 2

 

what if i get new cams?

 

Cams are hard to come by. I guess u can use le5 cams but I haven't seen anyone with them yet. I'm interested in them too. Im also interested in building my bottom end eventually. so i could use the information as well

 

id wait for cams. Just throw in some valve springs for the time being.

If you were to leave it till it pops the thing that would go would be the rods. A rod shouldnt really hurt the head at all (the piston will the take the force of it)

There isnt anything special about VVT. It like other DOHC motor. Just have to get your markings correct.

Move engine to TDC then mark the cams position.

 

well cuz i had problems with my VVT being off before and shop that fixed it said i mustve turned the actuator when i took my head off so i really dont wanna mess it up again. it probably was their problem when they fixed my actually timing that they moved the VVT but ill never know.

 

I wouldn't worry about cams, not yet anyways.
Worry about rods, pistons, head gasket, studs and bolts, and rod bearings.
Then you're good to go.

 

yea im not going to get cams if i end up building. just saying i dont wanna mess with timing and in case i do is there a way to retime the motor from scratch you know? instead of keeping everything in the same spot. i.e keeping the gears locked together or something

 

all the crank balance shaft gears having timing marks on them just find the right timing procedure and you should be fine lining up the cam gears is a little pain in the ass

 

Are the internal parts strong enough to reliably put a lot of miles on this engine once it has been turbo'd-or would I be better off to buy a complete motor 2.0, and just swap my 2.2LAP out? From what I understand, the cylinders are sleeved in the 2.0LNF, stronger rods, ect-just stronger internal parts. Conversely, on the LAP, the internal parts are going to wear much faster under the strain of being turbo'd. I do not go to the track, and am not even that hard of a driver, I would just like to have more power when I need it-I drive a lot of miles with my job. I looked at the zzp turbo kits, and the cost of that vs buying a complete engine is about a wash-with the kit maybe being a little more.

 

Also, is the transmission behind my 2.2LAP the same as the auto trans in the turbo'd HHR's? Does anyone know that? Thanks

 

i dont u think u can JUST swap out motors. many people have brought it up and its been determined that u need do a lot more then just a quick swap. My LAP has been boosted for over 12000 miles in a year and so far so good and im a...moderate driver... i think lol.

 

you could, but it would be a PITA. I believe nobody has ever done it. Be better off building your block

 

Similar, different gear ratios otherwise the same.

 

yo rcarr, how many PSI you running on the kit? And have you dynoed yet? I'm around 7-7.5ish set with boost controller, I have the 2.5inch catted DP and 2.5inch exhaust with muffler but no resonator. I have not dynoed yet, just wondering for comparison. If I dyno under 230whp I'm slightly turning up the boost until I get like 235ish WHP lol. I know our blocks are good for max 250ish HP, gm build guide doesn't specify if that's WHP or not but I know a handful of people running between 235-250WHP on the stock 2.2 for 1 year to 3 years with no problems yet.

As for rebuild, I am also debating this. BUT, there is a place like 30 mins from me that has a TON of wrecked cobalts with perfectly good 2.2 LAP engines with low mileage for about $400. I was thinking investing in one, then forged rods, pistons and valve springs in it and calling it a day (plus gaskets etc) then swapping it in to replace my stock 2.2 LAP after I finish.

 

watsup, im running 8 psi and my car dyno'd at 235whp and 250 ftlbs. damn thats awesome no place around here really has any wrecked LAPs but that is a good idea about getting a decently new motor andbuilding that then just swapping. if i do a rebuild that is most likely what i will be doing. lemme know how it goes

 

you may get to it before I do. Trying to weigh the pros and cons of doing it or just saving the money for the next car I get, even though I'm still keeping the balt as a daily.

But I do have the GM build book that explains how to replace/install the pistons and stuff so shouldn't be too bad, mostly getting the right tools I think. I'm going to dyno my cobalt as well, I think I'm just under 8, might boost it to exactly 8 like you to get the same kind of whp.

How big is your dp/exhaust? mine are 2.5"

 

mines 2.5 as well. i think im gonna buy the build book. where do u get it just google it?

 

another member emailed it to me. I think it's just one section though cuz I have like one that is for building internals and another that has some engine specs/list of failure horsepowers for each stock 2.2 component. Think it's more for the L61 but same thing more or less.