I attended an event a nopi and the classes depended on how many power adders you had.

 

okay now I understand, racing class. Thanks.

 

Well if your going to race in classes, why don't you just save the extra 5 grand spent on properly fabricating a twin charger/installation/tuning..and just go with a complete build. Buy a stock LSJ block (about $800), install Wiseco low compression pistons, crower rods and new OEM bearings for about $1500 dollars. Fabricate and install an M116 blower, plus bolt-ons ($3000), put a hotter cam in the head ($400) and boost the motor to about 25psi. It can easily handle 25psi with forged components, and might I add, the M116 is hardly in its efficiency range at that pathetically low boost.(Speaking in terms of the blowers capability) Buy a water/methanol injection kit for racing ($300) and rip apart just about everything in your class. Use HPTuners software with 900cc injectors(together about $750) and make a simple tune for the car, easy, done. Making 500+whp. Port the head later on, and you now have a car that can hang with 9 sec. bikes. If you have the money and ***** to race a brand new car, go ahead and do it right. Race a brand new car with the proper racing mods.

With that aside, I'm just trying to make a 12sec street car utilizing the stock components of the block while still making near 400hp. Totally different set-up. I personally will baby my car, cause that's the only way you can keep a car modded that much running good 6 years down the road.

And for all of you technical people out there, yes, I know. 500whp will also require a much better clutch, axles, and a reputable coilover system due to the insane amount of torque and power. But most importantly, an insane driver. To be a successful racer you damn near have to be perfect at everything and you must have a large bank account stowed away for the fried piston rings, and snapped rods for those 8500rpm mis-shifts.

 

or, for that kind of money, buy a cobra kit car, throw in a 540 big block, and run 9's on motor, with an auto, anytime you want, and have no tuning problems whatsoever!!

just an idea...

 

Sorry for the somewhat rude post, I just got a little irritated about people talking "racing" with these brand new cars. It's just not wise. It's not even wise of me to modify to car even alittle. Anyways, if you have the money, go right ahead. Do crazy things to the car, money can do that. But if your like me, and you make hardly enough money to afford the nicer things in life, stay away from huge mods, unless this car is your "play car". Such things like block rebuilds, head jobs, high boost appl. , race clutches, etc. etc. are not for the faint of heart, nor the broken wallets. Stick with simple mods that improve reliability hand in hand with power. Such as finding a way to boost less, with less heat, yet make more power. That's what I'm doing, to imporve reliability and yet have more fun haulin a**. My 2 cents...

 

why has nobody done cam swaps yet? everybody wants a bigger blower, or a bigger intake, or a tune, but nobody talks about porting and polishing their head, or changing cams, or even converting to a turbo. why?

 

Everyone has the car they want to drive and race, and it's not always a big block chevy or ford. But...I agree with you, if I wanted to have ball bustin acceleration, I'd go with a unibody Chevy with a big block built all the way up, and maybe throw a 400 fogger system on there to make things a bit "scary".

 

oh I agree with you Adam, using your only car to RACE and DRIVE is somewhat stupid. I have been down that road, it sucks, especially when you break. And you WILL break!!

 

Nobody tries this because these cars are too new. It hurts to mess with a brand new motor with less than 50k miles on it. It hurts man. Cause you KNOW your messing with the integrity of the block when you do. And besides, most of these people are looking for a "quick and easy" bolt-on 100hp set-up. They don't want to do their homework, nor put in alot of work and money. That's just the way people are. No one wants to wait or take risks, just want the power right now, and with little effort.

 

I also learned the hard way.

 

if thats the case, then NX, NOS, and various other companies have kits ready to bolt-on! Go ahead kiddo's, spray your brand-new cobalt, see what happens when you dont research.

Adam and I will be at half track watching parts fly off and catching others with baseball gloves !!!

 

So adam0416 where are you getting your parts because you quote prices I have never seen before and I have been looking. $800 for an LSJ block? Buy a bunch and start selling them because you found a gold mine. Seriously tell me where to buy these inexpensive parts because I am the kind of guy that you and big_mike were talking about. I am spending tons of money to be able to race my new car. I am not leaving anything alone with my engine. As for buying something to race "why"I want the Cobalt to kick Vette & Viper ass with. I want to see the looks on their faces because chances are they are not crazy enough to mod out their new car.

ps nitrous doesn't enthuse me at all.

 

but the point remains, and flame me if you wish, but you buy a 20k car, and put 20k into it, thats 40,000 to beat a corvette by maybe a car length when he spent the SAME amount of money, is sippin on a slurpee, watching Gone With the Wind on his DVD player, in his automatic, while you are rowing gears, on your drag radials, spraying the 100 shot.

Dont seem to make much sense, financially, to me. Will it get you respect? SURE. Will it get you more money, girls, or fame? NO.

 

Meh... ok I don't hang with the big crowd.. I am a budget driver I suppose. I like the car. And I will drive it as long as I do. When the power isn't enough I will go to a stage 2 or stage 3 (if gm has one out) that keeps me under warranty and gets me the extra power I am looking for.

I love reading about this kind of stuff. Because of we do the R&D, prove it to GM and they make the stage kit available that makes it something that I can have bolted on to increase my power.

Course at 350+hp I would need new drive shafts and tranny.

 

I won't be spraying, I am happily married and I don't drink slurpees. I can't buy a new Vette for the cost of what I am spending and an inch is winning, a car lenghth is decimating when it is 4 vs 8 cylinders. Being that close at the finish line is going to be even more deflating for the Vette\Viper because they will have to see me nevt to them wondering "why is that pos sitting there still" It brings a tear to my eyes as I just think about the fun of it all. I am doing this for fun. I am not going to be a profession racer just a weekend warrior who "has" the money to do this, instead of wondering what I would do if maybe somewhere later I had the money. I am 46 and this year I get to build and have a bit of fun and next year I get to have lots of fun and fix some broken pieces. Along the way this community gets to have the advantage of learning from my success\failure.

 

I would share with you where my source is from, and if I did...you'd know who it is right away...if your an import fan. BUT, I won't tell you because it will hurt my chances of getting my prototype kit for CHEAP, because YOU might be ready to mod sooner than I am. I can get an LSJ block for $800, I even have the option to choose between 8 different blocks. The demand for an LSJ is so low right now, you shouldn't pay more than a grand for those blocks. And the thing about the Vette/ Viper situation. Dude, there Vettes, there Vipers...theres a very good reason why they are 2 to 4 times the price of the Cobalt SS/SC. Because what you start with in the Vette and Viper is what you'll end up with after headaches and money spent on the 20,000 dollar Cobalt. Dont't get me wrong, I love the Cobalt SS/SC, I'd have it over the other two any day, but not because it IS or could be BETTER, because in all honesty, that's false. I'd have it because it fits me, and because insurance is MUCH cheaper, and I won't have a 1000 theives trying to steal it, or key the nice pretty paint that the cars come with. And I'm also fond of 30mpg driving, unlike the other two "supercars" you mentioned. I like your goals, I really do. Just be careful once you start, very careful. And also...if you come across an 06' Z06...don't bother, cause he'll only remind people like us why it's important to have that big engine/RWD set-up. That car will simply haul, even stock. It's darn near a race car altogether. And you also asked about these prices I've given. They are very feasible prices to find...I actually think I might've overpriced a few.. If you know the right people, you could do everything for under $4500 dollars. Just depends on what you want I guess. The water/meth injection is really only $300 and will give you bunches of power. Plus the M116 blower is only about $1500 dollars, and I suppose it would cost another $1500 to get everything fabbed and installed. If you need help finding sources for your car, I can help. I can't guarantee anything, but I can help you find the folks to do it. PM me and I'll tell you what I know.

 

Well Spoken...

 

And dont get me wrong, I completely support your decision and respect it. I am 32 and also have the financial means to do whatever my heart desires but I am also the type to think everything through. I used to be carefree, like yourself, and ended up blowing a lot of money for very little gain. So now, I research, research, research and when I think I have done enough, I do some more.

I look forward to your progress and your results, like im sure the rest of the board does, but for those just starting out, wondering what car to get, how to build it, etc., they need to know about all their options.

Dont you agree?

 

I'm very willing to help you guys out. I'm rather young, but I started this kinda crap when I was even younger. And I have been studying cars, particularly 4 bangers for about 3 years, probably a few hours a week, maybe even 4-5 sometimes. I've learned a thing or two, and now I know how to make a fast car faster...you let the pro's handle it. Reliability is PARAMOUNT to me, and it should be to everyone with a budget and of course, a street car. Cause you don't want to kill yourself because your car wasn't up to the challenge now do you?

 

Thats why when you build a car, you have to understand there is more to it than engine. There is also suspension, brakes, driveline, tuning, tires, rims, exhaust, etc. Cant just throw 900hp into a Cobalt and think its going to perform as well as stock, just faster.

And thats why I raise the issues I do, I have been there, done that, dont want to see anyone else waste their money or time.

 

Now thats all done how`s the prototype coming along? I agree with alot of you. but i dont like the vette or the viper. ( just to flashy for me i guess). any ways, I race my car because i like the challange of useing small displacment. Anyone can but a small block in an rx7 (or whatever else) and go fast. its not that hard. You know what im saying here?
So what if the car breaks. Thats an oppertunity to find better things. Any ways just my 2 cents.

 

I guess what I am getting at is, do you want to waste all your money, efforts, resources and time to be the trendsetter? Or wait for the aftermarket to come out with a kit, that costs 1/10 of what you invested?

If all you want is speed, handling, braking and all around performance, get a performance car! If you want good gas mileage with "ok" performance, get a cobalt.

Nobody buys a minivan with the dreams of making it a 9 second terror that can beat vipers and vettes.

 

I am not so sure of that mini van comment. There is a 10 second mini van out here and even though I wouldn't do it it is cool that he did. I have made my intentions to build my car long ago. I have researched over and over and over and then I listen to the pros again and again the researched some more. I don't have all the answers but I am building this car past the point I plan on taking it. I have run into set backs, complications and obstacles. Yet I still go forward. I am not just doing the engine. I am looking at doing all affected components and upgrading them, and again, preferably with components that will handle more than I am going to throw at them.
I really like the look of Vettes and Vipers and many other cars but I too am not a flashy type person and I don't have any need to be cool. Vettes and Vipers and Porches are fast and they are expected to eat the competion. Cobalts are just supposed to be quick and cute. I bought my Cobalt because I liked the looks and the 205 advertised hp. I came to love my car. I will not sell it ever and in the 08 model year I will buy another Cobalt for the not bad gas mileage.

 

its like, we both are typing, saying what is on our mind, but neither one of us is HEARING the other person. odd.

Lets see if I can put it in lamen's terms: if I was a millionaire, and wanted an economy car that was quick, I would get a cobalt. If I wanted a four-wheeler, I would get a Hummer. If I wanted a *****-to-the-wall sports car, I would get a Z06, or a Koenigsegg, or a McLaren F1. I would not buy a Hummer, dump 50k into it, just so I can beat a WS6.

But let me reiterate, these are MERELY my thoughts.

And finally, there are a lot of kids on here who just bought these cars. they are looking at doing one of two things. Either appearance or performance. For the ones that are doing appearance, well, best of luck. But for the ones doing performance, they need guidance, a sense of direction, a leading hand. We cant really let them think that all they gotta do is go out, buy a turbo kit and some 300lb injectors, get a tune, and they will run 9's. This aint fast and furious, this is real life, where kids get hurt or even killed just for a thrill.

Ya feel me?

 

I hear what you are saying but if you noticed one thing we aren't the same person. It doesn't matter what big_mike would in a different part of the world. You want help people you say, and that is fine but accept that some will listen but not follow your advice.
Building an outrageous gas burning Cobalt is what I chose to do. I don't want a vette I don't care about F1. I want a really fast Cobalt. I am not a trendsetter, I am just fulfilling my own want. Lets also be clear that the likelihood of being at the street legal drag races and getting a chance to race vettes, vipers, 9 second hummers and mini vans won't happen often enough and I don't care about that either. I am out to have fun. I couldn't do this when I had kids at home but I can now. There are lots of cars that are very quick that I would not build. A 9 second Vega? Why? Because that guy\gal wanted to thats why.
So the kids who buy whatever and do whatever to it that is their choice. I am not saying that they can do something unrealistic. If you go back and read past threads you would find that I tell them just the opposite. There is no quick fix for speed and doing things half assed leads to failure, heartbreak and wasted money.
Now if we can't agree lets agree to disagree and big_mike please continue to help people just let them make a decision that you wouldn't make. Free wil is okay. Really.