I thought I would share with you all a little I have learned in my shopping for replacement facias. For those that don't know, a facia is the piece of body plastic that covers the front and rear bumpers of the cars.

Every Cobalt front facia will fit any Cobalt model. An SS/SC facia will fit on a base, and vice versa. It really is that simple. The trick is in the parts that attach to the facia afterward.

There are only two basic styles of facia. There is the base and LS facia, and then there is the SS models facia. The base/LS version has the three matching design grills across the front and a simple straight rear. The SS and SS/SC use a different style with the sweeping fog light design up front and the rear has a full length notch.

Now for the extra parts. Lets start with a base coupe. The grills on the base model are molded right into the facia.



When you move up to the up-level base cars (LS in 2005, LT after that), the grills are separate, removable parts.



This is how they can make the fog lights an option, by installing different grills to house them. The rear facias are identical depending on whether you have a coupe or sedan.

When you get the SS, it gets a little more interesting. If you look at an SS and SC right next to one another. In the front you will see that the SC has no front grill, and a lip kit attached to the bottom of the facia.



On the SS, there is a grill installed, but no lip kit.



They are the same identical facia. So you SC guys, if you wanted to, you could buy a grill insert for an SS and put it in your SC.

The lip kit of the front and rear facias on the SS/SC attach to the facias via slots cut into the facia's themselves. If you have an SS, those slots are not cut. So, you couldn't just attach the SC lip kit without cutting some holes.



The rear is similar. The SS and the SC simply use a different insert in the full length notch across the back. The SS uses one that just fits the notch while the SC has a full lip.

This got me thinking about two things. First, how big of a deal would it be on a base coupe to cut out the molded in grills and install the LS inserts if somebody wanted to? Second, on the SS and SC models, it would be really easy to put a clean looking dual exhaust on the cars if someone would develop a new insert for the rear facia that had two exhaust cut-outs. And it would be really cheap on the SS, since its not a painted part.

So, there ya go. If you wanted to put an SS facia your base model, go right ahead. Hope that helps.

 

Not sure if you wanted to mention in this article for anyone that is unaware, the front and rear valances (extensions on the front and rear bumpers) from the SS/SC will fit ONLY the SS/SC rear and front facias. The reason for this being the front and rear fascias are notched out to accomadate the tabs which are part of the front and rear valances. In short, if you buy ONLY the SS/SC fascias you will have these god awful notches showing on the front and rear of your car where the valances would have been . The ONLY way they will fit on non-ss/sc fascias is if you make the modifications to them yourself which could end up with some pretty nasty cracking of the plastic not to mention a hosed part if you mess up the measurements .

Thought I should clear this up in case someone decided to go with the SS/SC bodykit on their vehicle.

Thanks again Halfcent...really can't wait to see the car when all is said and done .

Permafried-

 

i had every intention of putting the SS/SC front and rear fascias on my base coupe... now I know how to do it.

Scott

 

Excellent write-up!

I'm actually in the process of deciding what to do with my LT appearance-wise, so this info will help me a good bit.

Ideally I'd like an SS 'body kit' (not sure whether SS/SC or 2.4), but then again I may end up with the '06 LS front fascia. I like the body-colored inserts better than the black 'grilles' mine came with. Still very undecided...

Any idea of the price of these various parts?

 

i thought halfcent was saying that if you have a 2.4, you can take off the rear mesh part and just install the lower valance from the ss s/c. am i wrong or is that what you meant?

 

That is one thing that I did talk about. On either of the SS models, they have the same facias, front and rear. The only difference is the lip and grill insert on the front, and the valance on the back.

 

i like the rk sport kit on your LS ... i am going to be doing that to mine very soon too

how much was it shipped, painted and installed altogether ?

 

someone should turn their SS/SC body into a base model look alike, talk about a SLEEEPER... lol jk

 

Do you have any idea how SICK that would be?
It's like toting around a tactical nuclear device in a shopping cart!

Scott

 

That would be an awesome sleeper seriously... so halfcent you are thinking all i need to do to my 2.4L SS is buy the lower extensions and they should fit my SS bumpers? i want them but i don't want to buy them if i need two new bumpers, not in the budget yet...

 

Let's make sure we talk in correct terms, it will avoid confusion. Any SS lower "extensions", "inserts", "lips", "valances", or even "grills" will fit any SS model "facia". Not bumper. A bumper is an external steel part. They are only still common today on trucks. Passenger cars now have facias which cover first a styrofoam or plastic filler that in turn covers a steel reinforcement.

I know, I know, symantics. It's kind like when people call their deck lid a "trunk", we all know what they are talking about even though they use the wrong name.

If you want to play with your installation without spending any money yet, just get up under your car and investigate the removal of your valances. That way you can see how it comes off, and more importantly how the new one will go on.

As for my RK Sport Kit, I got it with free shipping and a discount just for mentioning their advertisement here on CobaltSS.net for about $600 and the paint and install was also right around $600. So $1200 total.

 

The RKSport kit WIL NOT fit the SS models. Just an FYI to save you the money

 

This thread isn't about aftermarket compatibility, just GM parts. But to go one step further, neither the RK Sport or the Razzi kit will fit an SS. They are lip kits molded to the base/LS facia shape. You could get it to fit, but would have to replace your SS facia with a base model one first.

Again, there is a difference between a facia and the parts you attach to it. Some of the kits out there right now are complete facia replacements, like the Gravana kit.

 

My car is supposed to arrive tomorrow around lunch at the dealer so after i sign papers and drive it a while, i'll do some investigating in the garage. seems to me like my 2.4L ss fascias will hold the s/c valence. we'll see.

 

hey guys how u doin i i have 4 door base model and my front bumper got a lil screwed up and i went ahead n ordered the ss bumper for my car im just worried about the coupe and 4 door different i already measured it out and it seems like it would fit did any one does this yet id like to find out.... greatly appreciated tom

 

or i could just supercharge my base model for a hell of a lot cheaper lol

 

Okay, this is an old thread, I know, but:

Does anyone know how much GM wants (even if it's just an approximation) for either of the SS fascias (front and rear, SS or SS/SC)?

I know it's probably a lot, but I really don't want to go with a fiberglass kit, and I'm not too big of a fan of the grip tuning kit (are there any other urethane [or better quality material] kits out right now?).

 

You could easily price out those parts at either your GM dealer or a body shop.

I actually kindda like the Grip Tuning kit.

 

Updated with pictures.

 

hey just bought an 07 lt coupe with no fog lights. i have those plain grills with no slots to house factory fogs. i was wondering where i could get the kind that you have as well as the factory fogs (including wiring). also, how much trouble would it be to make this change?

-thanx halfcent

 

ooooo my car is number 1

 

The wiring is a bit off topic. Try a search, there are other threads.

As far as where to get the facia, that would be a parts counter. Or a junk yard if you can find one.

You will find it easier and cheaper to simply install after-market foglights.

 

ok thanx guys

 

How well does the SS/NA front fascia line up with the sides from the LS? Is the front noticeably lower now, or can you even tell a difference in the heights of the two? I've never seen one without the SS side skirts, so I don't know how it would look.

I'm asking because I'm thinking about doing this to mine this summer, too. I'm tired of how bland my front end is. I really like the SS front fascia, but don't want to go for the SS/SC fascia+lip, because that would require me to get everything else (the rear fascia and the side skirts) or I think it would be too noticeable, and that would be a little bit expensive for my tastes.

Maybe some side pics would be helpful if anyone has 'em?

 

That's good. I'm definitely going to do this, now. Thanks for listing all the part numbers in the post with the pic, too. There isn't anything else (other than the paint and maybe fogs) that I would need, right?