I hate to make this post because I like the way the GMPP Performance Intake looks! The GMPP Intake IMO is the best appearance intake made for the Cobalt.

However, I just installed the K&N intake for the 2.4 on my SS/NA and it is a different animal!!!!

While I was installing red "hump" couplings I got from Modern Performance to make my GMPP intake "prettier" I found that the plastic intake part has an opening barely 2 3/8" ID. That my fellow Cobalt 2.4L owners is a choke point on the GMPP intake -- especially for the 2.4L (The dealer installed the intake on my car before I bought it so I didn't see it before this).

I always wondered why I couldn't hear the intake noise over my exhaust -- I had an 06 LS with the GMPP intake and could hear the intake over the GMPP Performance Exhaust. I also felt that my 2.4L had more, but something seemed to be holding it back. The GMPP Intake was the culprit!!!

I purchased a K&N 2.4 Intake from Cobalt Addiction (best price I found) and just installed it. I took it for a ride and now I can hear the intake over the exhaust -- and the car feels stronger (noise has a way of making you think you are faster). the fact that I can hear the intake when I couldn't hear it with the GMPP shows me that the K&N is the better of the 2 intakes. The K&N is nearly 3" ID all the way through. The GMPP is nearly 3" ID too except for 1.5"-2", at the tube end, of the plastic TB part -- it is only 2 3/8" ID!

In the center is the GMPP TB Plastic tube, on the left is the GMPP tube, on the right is a Spectre 3" elbow (Same as K&N TB elbow)-- I was going to try and fabricate a better intake but decided to go with the K&N intake


https://www.cobaltss.net/gallery/fil...take_parts.jpg

My new K&N intake installed:


https://www.cobaltss.net/gallery/fil...ompartment.jpg


GMPP -- IMO best looking. Might be adequate for the 2.2 and 60MM TB, but it is a restriction for the 2.4 and 68MM TB!


https://www.cobaltss.net/gallery/fil...rtment_003.jpg

 

K&N, Injen> gmpp

oh and update your siggy

 

yes the K&N is the only intake designed for the 2.4L so that could explain the decrease in size of the tubing on the other intakes. I just love the sound of my K&N, and it looks badass too.

 

Can only do one thing at a time

Done!

Check pics above.

 

im interested in seeing a dyno between the two, see what the actual hp difference is

 

Latest I've read is that the GMPP adds 6 hp (GM site) and K&N claims 15.9 hp. This is my first K&N purchase...in the instruction package it has a gaurantee: If you run a dyno (with base line) within 30 days of purchase and their product doesn't provide similar results they will give you your money back (including taxes paid). I can feel and hear the difference with the K&N over my GMPP intake. When I would pass a car on a 2-lane highway and had it WOT I could tell that with the GMPP my 2.4 wasn't "all-out". Felt and sounded like I was only part throttle -- the 2 3/8" hole the TB has to suck through is a definite restriction -- wish GMPP would fix that! Remember too that the GMPP Performance intake was specifically designed for the 2.2L Cobalt.

I have CED's Random Tech 2 3/4" cat-back exhaust -- it is a LOUD exhaust when WOT. With the GMPP intake I couldn't hear the intake over my exhaust. With the K&N intake I can now hear the intake over my exhaust -- that is a big difference.

 

"Latest I've read is that the GMPP adds 6 hp (GM site) and K&N claims 15.9 hp."

i highly doubt any intake would give u that much maybe on a v8 but not on a n/a 4 cylinder. i have the k&n intake and love it but i dont think that there is that much if any noticeable increase in perormance. maybe 5 hp and that would go for any intake.

 

Interesting you should say that....Redline TV had an 06 LS on their show and installed the GMPP exhaust and the Injen intake. They ran a baseline dyno test (125 whp) and after each item was installed they ran a dyno test to see what the gains were...8 HP for the GMPP exhaust and 7 more HP for the Injen intake for a total of 15 extra wheel horsepower - 140 hp. Do you think they just fudged everything on TV?

K&N makes the claim -- I don't. My 2.4 screams now in a way it never has before. I hated the way it lazily accelerated with the GMPP intake. My 06 2.2 screamed too but with the GMPP intake -- and would have out accelerated my 2.4 until now. After owning my 06 2.2 and all the GMPP parts on it, the first time I was WOT with my 07 2.4 I was disappointed (actually I'd rather have had the performance of my 2.2 back)! Now my 2.4L performs the way it should for the "SS" moniker on it.

 

it doesnt help that u put an oversized exhuast on it. 2.75" catback for a bolt on 2.4? too big, u just lose power.

 

I'm still in awe that some people keep saying that...My Cobalt came with the GMPP touring cat-back exhaust on it (dealer installed) and I was not happy with it. I still run through the same DP/cat so the flow is the same until that point. The statement that a bigger pipe kills power MIGHT be true at part throttle but at WOT it is a different story. Backpressure is a myth...and it is interesting that cars running at a dragstrip usually run open headers --so stating that a smaller exhaust pipe diameter will give me more power is like saying to all the drag racers in the world they could go faster with an exhaust system...

 

http://www.gmhightechperformance.com.../photo_16.html

6.8 WHP
4.6 WTQ

on a dynojet, not mustang dyno though
this has been looked at more than once........


K&N and Rebel will give you the best gains in my opinion.
3'' intake all the way, but Rebel pulls out slightly colder air and is made in one piece (no necking nor connections)

 

you lose low end torque, its no myth, theres a reason why the common exhuast recommended by professionals and manufactures is no bigger then 2.5 for a lightly modded N/A cobalt.

Your car isnt a drag car pushing 600+ horsepower so comparing your 170hp 4 banger to one isnt much of an arguement

 

Everything you do to a car is a trade-off...if I lose SOME low end power I certainly gained it on the top end. Since under acceleration I will be in the low RPM for just a few seconds and the rest of the time in high RPM conditions the larger exhausts works well.

Their are 2 main reasons an exhaust system exists on a car 1) get the exhaust away from the driver/passenger for obvious reasons 2) keep the car quiet because it's the law. Your engine will make the most power it will ever make with an open/unrestricted exhaust...PERIOD. I have raced street cars on the dragstrip and IN EVERY CASE they were quicker uncorked. I timed them with and without exhausts hooked up. These were cars with L6s and V8s from 150 hp to 450+ hp. I stopped listening to "professionals" long time ago when I actually put larger exhausts on my cars and timed them at a dragstrips and found the "professionals" do better "writing" than "doing". I found that the "professionals" aren't so professional. I'd rather modify my car the way I want to and enjoy the benefits...and continue to let the "professionals" write about why it won't work.

 

my K&N is coming soon. but i think i get a discount on the price through my dad's company that he works for. we shall see

 

Post pics!

 

You know its funny that you say that cause thats the size thats recommended for the Solstice/Sky which has the same 2.4L engine. I remember reading that on one of the forums I'll see if I can find it again.

QFT I never understood why people with the SS/NA's put the GMPP cat-back exhaust seeing as its slightly smaller than the stock exhaust for the 2.4/2.0L engines. In reality your probably losing power not gaining it.

 

I can tell you this...I'm glad my automatic shifts into 2nd on its' own when I have the selector in "L" because it goes through 1st fast enough now that it would be easy to over rev the engine if it didn't!

If you could find it that would be some good information.

 

How is the jet chip does it make a difference and by how much

 

x2..

 

Well I couldn't find what I was looking for, (the recommendation for 2.75" piping although I did find that some of the forum vendors sell exhausts with that diameter pipe) I found something on a Sky forum that I thought was interesting:

 

I was told by a dealer that K&N has the oil on the filter that will get on the MAF sensor making it fail. Is this true or does the filter that is made for the 2.4 not have oil on it? That is the only reason that I went with the gmp intake but not to impresed with it...

 

i ordered my K&N today! i am paying $205 shipped and it's brand new straight from the K&N factory.

 

you shouldnt throw a code at least i havent. the problem that people have with the oil on the air filters from what i hear is that they get a little too happy with the recharge kit and put to much oil on it. i havent had to use the recharge kit on mine yet so i cant say to much from personal experience. the k&n air intake system should work fine and not throw a code they are a very reputable brand and have done lots of research with their product so ur dealer is full of **** and was just trying to get you to buy the gm intake not saying its bad i hear good things about it,but if ur not impressed with it swap the filter on your intake to a K&N i dont think you will be disapointed, also i noticed for gm intake where the filter is it isnt as opened up as much as the k&n so maybe make some modifications if just the swap doesnt do it for you that may help it a bit.

 

The Jet performance Module (I have the stage 1) gets rid of the acceleration lag below 4K RPM -- that's the biggest difference I could tell with my "butt dyno". After you have it in a while and get used to it you begin to think it doesn't do much -- then try taking it out and you'll really realize the difference it makes!!! I would buy it again, knowing what it does for me.

I haven't had a CEL yet either -- and I've put my foot into it enough that it should have sucked any oil by now . The filter comes ready to install -- you can smell the oil but you can't feel it. It's not dripping wet and if you rub your hand on the filter it leaves no oil on your hand.

 

Because its not all about size ( giggity giggity) its about FLOW, and the GMPP flows much better then the stock exaust on the 2.4. you are def not losing power, i love this ricer view point that i want my exhaust as big as i can fit under the car, **** why dont u just run 6 inch pipe the whole way


the prob with the "wet" filters is no matter how carefull you are with the oil, some of that oil get sucks thru, this oil will collect on the MAF, then the oil collects the dirt and dust the filter didnt get, so you wind up with a dity covered maf. not as bad on a N/A but iw will still make you car run like crap after a while.... dry filters for the win


and there has been many dyno thread reguarding all the intakes, and they all put out about the same HP, loud doesnt men more power