GBRunner24's I should've just bought an SS "build"
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Catted 2.5"
Well....the leak wasn't the flex joint. Installed the new ZZP downpipe and fired it up....same thing. So I picked up the exhaust manifold gasket to try that on my next day off. If it's not that and the header is cracked, well then **** me sideways with a cactus I'm out of ideas haha.
Downpipe. I got too excited and didn't take any photos in the morning before I put it on. Idk how anyone can complain about ZZP, the quality on this stuff is top notch. Welds are perfect and fit is great. Huge difference up top too! Even compared to the LSJ pipe compared to the stock 2.2.
I should've gotten a pic of the difference between the stock 2.2, LSJ, and ZZP pipe with them sitting next to each other. I'll take a new sound video here soon, whenever I fix the damn leak.
Anyway, I took the two old pipes I had back to ZZP for $100 in store credit, which I think is a pretty decent deal considering cats only sell back to the yards for about $35 now. Decided to pick up the Aeroforce Interceptor gauge I've been planning on. Awesome little thing that reads all sorts of different parameters. Definitely recommend it. Went with the white face and it matches my gauges perfectly.
LOL lined up with the big boy toys at ZZP
ZZP Sema ATS
I really need to start getting my real camera out again to take photos for all this, I'm back to a phone with a slightly potato camera while my other one gets fixed.
Downpipe. I got too excited and didn't take any photos in the morning before I put it on. Idk how anyone can complain about ZZP, the quality on this stuff is top notch. Welds are perfect and fit is great. Huge difference up top too! Even compared to the LSJ pipe compared to the stock 2.2.
I should've gotten a pic of the difference between the stock 2.2, LSJ, and ZZP pipe with them sitting next to each other. I'll take a new sound video here soon, whenever I fix the damn leak.
Anyway, I took the two old pipes I had back to ZZP for $100 in store credit, which I think is a pretty decent deal considering cats only sell back to the yards for about $35 now. Decided to pick up the Aeroforce Interceptor gauge I've been planning on. Awesome little thing that reads all sorts of different parameters. Definitely recommend it. Went with the white face and it matches my gauges perfectly.
LOL lined up with the big boy toys at ZZP
ZZP Sema ATS
I really need to start getting my real camera out again to take photos for all this, I'm back to a phone with a slightly potato camera while my other one gets fixed.
Last edited by GBRunner24; Mar 26, 2015 at 10:50 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Any suggestions for a color for my second set of wheels? I'm getting them blasted/powder coated this coming weekend and I'm clueless on what color. I'm kind of thinking a bright dark gold but not sure.
These are the wheels in question.
These are the wheels in question.
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Welp...Badmab was cracked. I can either get it welded (not sure exactly where the crack is), or sell it for a little cheaper to recoup some costs. Badmab claims they have a lifetime warranty on their products, however since I purchased it second hand I'm not sure if they'd warranty it. So instead of putting the stock manifold back on I hoped over to ZZP and picked up one of their headers. The primaries are longer on the ZZP, however I wasn't able to notice any difference power wise. NO MORE LEAK NOW! Although I believe the gasket after the downpipe does need to be changed, and my resonator may be blown, sounds a little too raspy now.
I made sure to douse it down with brake clean after install so hopefully none of my fingerprints were baked in. I also took the amazing day we had a cleaned 'er up real good and went out and took some photos. I think I should be able to get to those tomorrow and toss 'em up.
I made sure to douse it down with brake clean after install so hopefully none of my fingerprints were baked in. I also took the amazing day we had a cleaned 'er up real good and went out and took some photos. I think I should be able to get to those tomorrow and toss 'em up.
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Yup they will give you $50 in store credit for a downpipe with a cat still in tact. I thought that was a rip off because 6 years ago I remember junk yards giving over $100 for a cat, but after looking into it most places will only give you about $35 now.
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Sooo...I think the flex joint on my ZZP down pipe is leaking. When I replaced the header it fixed the ticking sounding leak, however I've had an ever increasingly loud leak since I've installed everything. I have the worst luck with these small things. I've replaced all gaskets along the exhaust path and it wasn't that. Ugh.
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Took some photos after a much needed cleaning
Also yes I realize that my tail lights need a good wet sand and polish. I didn't realize how rough they looked after this winter.
Also yes I realize that my tail lights need a good wet sand and polish. I didn't realize how rough they looked after this winter.
Last edited by GBRunner24; Apr 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Drove over 400 miles all over the east side of the state to pick up a bunch of parts yesterday.
-Picked up a blue rear SS/SC bumper real cheap. It's a little scratched up, but it needs to be stripped down and painted anyway. Thanks Josh Saranas!
-OTTP Hardcore rear sway bar. Noticing a huge difference already!
-Got everything to complete my black interior swap. Black cloth rear seats, awesome custom fabric wrapped A and B pillars, all interior panels in black. Thanks Mike!
-Grabbed another LSJ downpipe so I could take the ZZP pipe back to them to have them machine the flange flat. That's where the current leak is at. What a pain in the ass. Thanks Kevin White!
Current game plan is to have the front and rear bumpers painted within the next 2 weeks. Hopefully the wheels are back from coating by then and I can toss everything on at the same time. I really want this thing to be leak free and looking totally different before Gridlife in late May.
-Picked up a blue rear SS/SC bumper real cheap. It's a little scratched up, but it needs to be stripped down and painted anyway. Thanks Josh Saranas!
-OTTP Hardcore rear sway bar. Noticing a huge difference already!
-Got everything to complete my black interior swap. Black cloth rear seats, awesome custom fabric wrapped A and B pillars, all interior panels in black. Thanks Mike!
-Grabbed another LSJ downpipe so I could take the ZZP pipe back to them to have them machine the flange flat. That's where the current leak is at. What a pain in the ass. Thanks Kevin White!
Current game plan is to have the front and rear bumpers painted within the next 2 weeks. Hopefully the wheels are back from coating by then and I can toss everything on at the same time. I really want this thing to be leak free and looking totally different before Gridlife in late May.
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
So I got the ZZP down pipe off last night and back to the LSJ pipe. Sooo nice not having any sort of leak now, but man that ZZP pipe makes it sound so much meaner. I need to find time next week to take it back to them and get it machined.
Also slowly getting around to getting the black interior in and buttoned up. So far I've got the rear seats in along with the passenger A pillar. Drivers side A pillar will go in tonight before a cruise out to a big meet in Holland, MI.
Wrapped A-pillar. I need to paint the little bolt cover black.
I also plan on redoing my interior trim. I think I'm going to go with a gold similar to what my wheels will be.
Not the greatest pic, but the back seats. I need to grab some black rear headrests and figure out a way to reupholster the back deck thing in black as well.
Need a full day off to finish putting in the b/c pillars, back panels, and kick panels to finish it off. It's already looking worlds better.
Lastly, does anyone have experience reupholstering the headliner in these cars? It was fairly easy to get out and do in my old Saturn, so I can't imagine it would be much harder for this platform.
edit: Also wanted to toss in a few pics of the OTTP sway bar. For base model Cobalt's it's by far one of the best investments handling wise. Give's it a whole different character
H&R's are looking a little ugly. For some reason the previous owner had painted them silver it seems. Exhaust is holding up pretty well for an eBay unit. Nothing more than surface rust. The tip is ugly though, so I'd like to somehow refinish it.
Also slowly getting around to getting the black interior in and buttoned up. So far I've got the rear seats in along with the passenger A pillar. Drivers side A pillar will go in tonight before a cruise out to a big meet in Holland, MI.
Wrapped A-pillar. I need to paint the little bolt cover black.
I also plan on redoing my interior trim. I think I'm going to go with a gold similar to what my wheels will be.
Not the greatest pic, but the back seats. I need to grab some black rear headrests and figure out a way to reupholster the back deck thing in black as well.
Need a full day off to finish putting in the b/c pillars, back panels, and kick panels to finish it off. It's already looking worlds better.
Lastly, does anyone have experience reupholstering the headliner in these cars? It was fairly easy to get out and do in my old Saturn, so I can't imagine it would be much harder for this platform.
edit: Also wanted to toss in a few pics of the OTTP sway bar. For base model Cobalt's it's by far one of the best investments handling wise. Give's it a whole different character
H&R's are looking a little ugly. For some reason the previous owner had painted them silver it seems. Exhaust is holding up pretty well for an eBay unit. Nothing more than surface rust. The tip is ugly though, so I'd like to somehow refinish it.
Last edited by GBRunner24; Apr 18, 2015 at 11:40 AM.
Did the rear sway make that big of a difference on a base? I put one on my redline the same time I did my springs and shocks/struts. So it was hard to say.
Been debating on upgrading the suspension on my 03 Ion just for the fun factor of a daily.
Been debating on upgrading the suspension on my 03 Ion just for the fun factor of a daily.
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI