Hi all. New owner of a 05 Cobalt SS/SC. It needs some love, and I am still trying to find out what has been done to it before looking at upgrades. As far as I can tell, only a new exhaust and the gears have been changed.

I am new to manuals, so I may be using the wrong terminology. This should explain, though. Sorry it is sideways.


Also, the clutch is fairly heavy, but since I haven't driven a stock SSSC, I don't know if this is normal. Everything else looks stock (intake, blower, pulley, fuel injectors, etc).

My main question is if anyone has seen this shift pattern before. Is there a distinct advantage/disadvantage to this set up over the stock? Am I a complete noob and this is stock? The car is also loud, ridiculously loud. A simple exhaust switch should not make that much of a difference over the stock exhaust.

Any feedback would be helpful. As I said, this is my first manual, my first cobalt, my first SC car, so I am still learning more and more every day.


Shift Pattern

 

Maybe adjusting your cables will help get the pattern back to where it should be

 

So this is just a change in the shift pattern and not different gearing? Sorry, ive only driven and even looked at manuals for about two weeks now.

 

Well that happens when you change shifter. Like me I have an aftermarket and I had to adjust it for it to feel like stock the only one that isn't close for me would be 5th gear but I got used to it already

 

Thank you. That explains it. The previous owner did something to the shifter. Ill probably wait until i can install a short throw to address it.

 

Yup it's probably that or the car had one and the other owner took it off before selling

 

You said it looks stock otherwise? just to confirm, the pulley is pressed on, not bolted on? and the injectors that stick up under the fuel rail cover are green tipped right?

 

Yes, injectors are green, pully is over 3 1/4, ill double check later on how it is attached, intake is stock (i put a k&n drop in filter)

 

Correct. Pulley is pressed on, not bolted.

 

Guessing previous owner put a catless downpipe (catalytic converter) on

 

Thats a good point. Cat delete would explain it (though i hear its negligible gains on a sc).

At some point this weekend, I'll try to get under there and really look at the exhaust system.

 

A good downpipe/cat delete is a solid 10hp upgrade on these cars, but you need a good exhaust to keep the rasp down. If it's crazy loud there's probably an aftermarket exhaust or at least a deleted muffler or something.