LNF Swap in LSJ Cobalt
11-08-2012, 10:52 PM
#1
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LNF Swap in LSJ Cobalt
My nearly mint 05 SS sits in my garage where it has been for the last 18 months. With 65k on the ODO, I busted her, then got consumed building a business (And I did build that Mr President 
)
Anyway, every time I walk our of my garage I see the damn car and miss driving it so I did an impulse buy..
Complete LNF Turbo Ecotec and Trans 2009 Cobalt SS Test Miles as New | eBay
$3000 seemed like a hell of a deal for everything and as it turns out, the complete package has virtually no mileage on it as you can tell from the pictures. Supposedly this vehicle was used as an emissions test car and then got parted out. Dude was going to put it in his Lotus but ended up selling the car before he had a chance so now it's mine.
While the engine is still out, is there anything I should do such as clutch or any mods to the turbo? It looks like I'll still need a inter-cooler and piping solution but I'm not sure what else until I get into it. I'm sure most of you know what I'll need so if anyone wants to chime in with suggestions that would be cool.
I think my power goals would be around the 380-400WHP range which is what my other car is doing and would make for an interesting race between the two.
)Anyway, every time I walk our of my garage I see the damn car and miss driving it so I did an impulse buy..
Complete LNF Turbo Ecotec and Trans 2009 Cobalt SS Test Miles as New | eBay
$3000 seemed like a hell of a deal for everything and as it turns out, the complete package has virtually no mileage on it as you can tell from the pictures. Supposedly this vehicle was used as an emissions test car and then got parted out. Dude was going to put it in his Lotus but ended up selling the car before he had a chance so now it's mine.
While the engine is still out, is there anything I should do such as clutch or any mods to the turbo? It looks like I'll still need a inter-cooler and piping solution but I'm not sure what else until I get into it. I'm sure most of you know what I'll need so if anyone wants to chime in with suggestions that would be cool.
I think my power goals would be around the 380-400WHP range which is what my other car is doing and would make for an interesting race between the two.
11-09-2012, 12:10 AM
#4
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I have never done it...but i cant see it as being that hard...but it would be tedious. issue is stuff related to the body control module/ecm of the 09 that was not present on the older cobalt's. things like abs,pretty sure you would have to swap the entire harness.
11-09-2012, 12:32 AM
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from waht I've seen before, you have to swap out ecm an a couple dif things like these other guys said.. but i can't see what came with the listing.. but if you got everything for 3K.. good deal? 
have fun, grab a bigger turbo, axels, cams, valve springs, tune, an let loose
have fun, grab a bigger turbo, axels, cams, valve springs, tune, an let loose
11-09-2012, 08:27 AM
#12
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11-09-2012, 08:27 AM
#13
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I didn't realize the description is unavailable to read, sorry. This drivetrain includes the Engine with all accessories intact, manual MU3 Trans, Engine Harness, Ecu, O2 Housing, Downpipe, Catalytic Convertor, brand new Axles, etc.
It was professionally removed from the vehicle so hoses and wires were not cut like a junk yard would do. Supposedly it is drop in ready but we all know how that goes.
I was going to order a used LSJ and build on it a little but I couldn't find one for less than $2k. $3k seemed like a good deal for this LNF so come hell or high water, it's going in. As a result though, I'll have a bunch of LSJ stuff for sale soon. I'm sure the stock supercharger and intake manifold may be of interest or the Brand new TVS I have in it's original crate along with the stock pulley and a 2.7". I'll post these items in the appropriate forum once I'm ready to sell them. My fiance and I plan to run the SRT and SS down the track next year. Should make for some good youtube video if nothing else.
Here are some pics. You can see how clean it is and no rust on that turbo manifold yet.
It was professionally removed from the vehicle so hoses and wires were not cut like a junk yard would do. Supposedly it is drop in ready but we all know how that goes.
I was going to order a used LSJ and build on it a little but I couldn't find one for less than $2k. $3k seemed like a good deal for this LNF so come hell or high water, it's going in. As a result though, I'll have a bunch of LSJ stuff for sale soon. I'm sure the stock supercharger and intake manifold may be of interest or the Brand new TVS I have in it's original crate along with the stock pulley and a 2.7". I'll post these items in the appropriate forum once I'm ready to sell them. My fiance and I plan to run the SRT and SS down the track next year. Should make for some good youtube video if nothing else.
Here are some pics. You can see how clean it is and no rust on that turbo manifold yet.
11-09-2012, 05:04 PM
#14
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Thread Starter
I just thought of something else. I pushed the car out of the garage today to make preparations for the removal of the LSJ when I was looking at the ECM. There appears to be 3 connectors. One going to the firewall, one looks like for the engine, and the other I haven't discovered yet. I wonder if the 09 ecm is going to connect to the other two connectors? lol.
See what impulse buying does? Oh well, like I said before, it's going in even if I have to put an LSJ head on it..I'd hate to do that though.
Teaser pic... Still looking new under the hood
See what impulse buying does? Oh well, like I said before, it's going in even if I have to put an LSJ head on it..I'd hate to do that though.
Teaser pic... Still looking new under the hood
11-09-2012, 06:14 PM
#18
^ wheres the fun in that? thats not " Hot rodding"
i like it, im sure there will be more involved than just an ECM, im sure you will need the harness as your car doesn't have VVT to start with, never mind the added sensors on the TC.
Good luck and keep us updated!
i like it, im sure there will be more involved than just an ECM, im sure you will need the harness as your car doesn't have VVT to start with, never mind the added sensors on the TC.
Good luck and keep us updated!
11-09-2012, 06:42 PM
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you need the whole ecm harness and the bcm and harness. aswell as lnf knuckles for the lnf axels as they are slightly bigger and have a diff spline count. search on here, there is 1 or 2 guys that have done it, and they know what exactly you will need and maybe will even help you.
11-09-2012, 07:00 PM
#21
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Thanks man. I didn't know the axles were different. This is why I posted so that I can get a heads up on this. I was kind of joking about the LSJ head on there but I could actually swap out my LSJ internals to the LNF block from what I'm told. That would defeat the purpose of having a new motor though so lucky for me one of my better points is computers and wiring. I can make this work. There are some junked TC's around I can pull part off if need be.
11-09-2012, 07:03 PM
#22
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you need the whole ecm harness and the bcm and harness. aswell as lnf knuckles for the lnf axels as they are slightly bigger and have a diff spline count. search on here, there is 1 or 2 guys that have done it, and they know what exactly you will need and maybe will even help you.
11-09-2012, 07:26 PM
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lol if the search function didnt suck so much im sure someone would have posted a link already to the other guys build. i know it took him awhile bevause he was one of the first, if not the first. and he found out the hard way that a whole cars harness was needed lol
11-09-2012, 07:39 PM
#25
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She's been sitting for 18 months and
