Soopahmahn

Hey all,

I've been looking around and have seen the information on Westers ECM mods (15hp gain) and Injen CAIs (5hp?) etc. - but seems like not a lot for $700 or so. How much would one have to spend, and what on, to hit about 200hp? Nitrous sounds like fun but it seems crude, ricey, and I know it can be dangerous to your engine and is often detrimental over time (though of course a proper set-up is pretty safe).

I am what I would call mechanically inclined but I've never modded my own car in any way. I have an '06 SS auto coupe. I also am a fan of the way it
sounds currently - a bit louder would be fine, but I hate that farty Civic sound. Is that just a by-product of having a monster exhaust tip?

Suggestions?

IonNinja

nitrous is not ricey, wtf

it is going to take quite a bit of mods to hit 200hp...bolt ons + some headwork (aggressive cams, stronger valvetrain) + a tune might net you 200 crank hp.

bigworm

werd, what ion said. search the forums you'll find alot that you can do to get 200hp NA/rwhp easy. But for someone thats a self proclaimed newb, ask yourself if you want to LEARN how to make things run better or if you just want a better car? if its the last, just trade-in for the SS/SC and add some bolt-ons

either way, start with tires and oil. you'll notice a big difference if you do your research.

celicacobalt

i think getting 200 hp at the engine is pretty easy but getting 200 hp at the wheels is gonna be a challenge with no power adder

NJHK

Suggestion...

Modifications don't add up exactly like that...so try not to add things up like that as far as changing things to your vehicle.

unkillsam

Not picking on you but 200 Rearwhp is impossible in a Cobalt

NJHK

lol I didn't even notice this one...

snobird

bigworm my honda civic has 400 hp its awd and my cobalt is rear wheel drive with 1,000 hp i put the j body vtec 8 cyl in and its amazing. call the gm dealer and ask about the vtec v8 real wheel cobalt. its specail order

GTP

I dyno'd at 168 to the wheels (around 198 or so flywheel) with just an ECM tune (vector) and CAi (injen). Now add the ZZ Performance header and 3 inch catless downpipe with a good 2.5 inch cat back (twin loop ftw) and I'll bet I am near 210-215 at the flywheel and shooting for 180 at the wheels.

LewiSS

[call the gm dealer and ask about the vtec v8 real wheel cobalt. its specail order[/QUOTE]

Here's a pic of the 1000 HP factory RWD Cobalt. The factory doesn't sell many because of liability issues (it's hard for most soccer moms to see around that big hump in the hood). I love driving mine, but it's a pain to re-pack the chute after every stop light. Plus I've never been able to hear the Pioneer stereo. I complained to the dealer and they say the loud exhaust is "normal." The air conditioner only works on cold nights. I can't get the window to roll down. All in all, lots of comfort problems. But it is mildly quick (6.663 @ 207.62 in the quarter). I'm thinking of adding the 2.0 blower to pep it up a bit, and maybe nitrous. What do you all think?

http://www.acdelco.com/html/kj_racecar.htm

Seriously, I'm looking forward to seeing this car in action in 2 days at the NHRA Nationals here in Denver. If I get some pics I'll try to post them.

bigworm

typo.
but regardless, 200whp is possible.

joeworkstoohard

from 171 to 200 is a HUGE jump. i don't think that you could do it without some sort of supercharger... or... a cam swap and major headwork.

Blown 4-banger

Fatalis has a ion 2.2 L and hes prolly got about 200 hp, hes running a 50 shot-o-nitrous

slowion2

lol Fatalis is my bitch

<3 hahahaha

wow that's not bad at all dude, but I think 180whp is a bit generous. then again, with how restrictive the stock manifold is, 12whp from that and exhaust isn't out of line if tuned.

GTP

Thanks Vinny. I know its going to be a stretch but a Catless DP might do it. How's things btw? Did you eversell the ZEX kit? I was interested but alas autocrossing and having to take it in and out would be a PIA.

slowion2

I had a Zex kit? at some point? Sorry dude I really don't remember talking to you prior unless I'm out in left field again, still at work after all

You know I have been looking at SCCA and as long as the bottle is out they're ok with it, at least down here, so it seems to be ok, but hey keep doing what you're doing, seems to be working so far.

IonNinja

Care to post your dyno? Thats the highest #'s I've seen before...highest I saw previously was about 10whp less than that.

JohnnySasakiMGS

Corsa Performance Exhaust, Touring Edition. Not too loud, great deep tone and not ricey at all. $615 shipped from www.intense-racing.com

UnstableSS

wait a few and see what hahn is doing .. they have stage kits for the sol ... up to 343 WHP with all stock internals on the 2.4.

Soopahmahn

I'm definitely not going to just trade in my car for the SS/SC. I hate the wing and I prefer an auto for city driving. Anyway, I'm not beyond getting dirty, my old man and I have hit the garage a million times playing with his WS6 Trans Am. I've just never modded my own car and I know little about the sport compact scene in general. My opinion is that the 2.4L is the best engine to work with because it offers the most stock HP and has the most displacement (plus VVT of course). I'd like to keep the car a sleeper. Any opinions on which N2O kit is the most reliable etc.? Dry/wet system?

p.s. somebody put me on the list for one of those 1000rwhp cobalts, that would be awesome.

Brandon97Z

iTrader: (1)

Those are dyno jet numbers are they not? I wonder what mine would put out on a dynojet vs. mustang dyno

slowion2

I may be mistaken, but a mustang reads lower than dynojet if I'm remembering correctly.

Brandon97Z

iTrader: (1)

^^^yeah your right

PpAzZ1101

You fail to mention that this is more than a bolt-on mod. You're talking about a staged turbo kit. And you're also talking well over $4k to get to that point.

And if you read up on it... Hahn is pushing 343WHP with stock internals.... but they aren't going to recommend doing that. While they dynoed at 343WHP, the engine won't last long at all on the road with that kind of power and no internal modifications.

GTP

Probably about the same as mine. Only thing you have on me right now is the axle back. But I am doing mine in a week or so along with the ZZ Perf. header and 3 inch catless Downpipe...plus a HP tuners retune/update of the (Vector) tune from Rob (Fast06SS).


My dyno chart was posted a while back on a Pittsburgh thread. As a matter of fact it was around 90 degrees and humid as hell, so I am betting it would dyno a bit more in better weather.