Hello from Grand Rapids, MI area/New Cobalt owner
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Hello from Grand Rapids, MI area/New Cobalt owner
Hey everyone! Glad to be here! I've cruised the forum for a couple days looking for mods/suggestions on my newly purchased Cobalt. I have a 2007 Cobalt LS w/ 77k miles on it. I was looking at a few SS's, and would have preferred one, but the deal on this one was too hard to pass up. I will post a few photos when all this snow/salt goes away, but it's basically option free past auto locks/windows.
A little info about myself. I'm 23 and residing in Allendale, MI right off the GVSU campus for my west side folks. I'm from the Flint area originally and have always been into cars. I'm an amateur photography and a manager at Target Mobile in Holland, MI. I'm a huge tech geek as well. This Cobalt will be my 5th car, and hopefully I can get back on track with some mods. My last two have been mostly stock because of money issues. If you're in West Michigan let me know! Also a huge craft beer fanatic, and avid drinker! haha
Here's a rundown of my past cars...
#1 1998 Saturn SW2
Turned 16 and got handed down the grandparents' Saturn wagon. Mint condition. A bit of my original ricer phase, but everyone goes through it. Lowered it, installed new stereo and subs, strut bar, intake, exhaust, rims/tires and the good ole' slush box it came with. Most reliable car I've ever had haha.
#2 1993 Saturn SC2
Best car I've ever had. Sold my wagon and purchase this. 5 speed, loaded, and a total piece of ****. Clutch went out within 3 days of owning it. Blew the engine being a teenage fool and racing a V6 mustang. Spent the summer learning way too much and completely rebuilt the car. Rebuilt slight high comp engine including dual intake cam mod; ported intake mani, TB, and CAI intake; OBX header/downpipe with custom side exit exhaust; redid the whole interior; redid entire stero system; plenty of weight reduction; and kept it totally sleeper. This car is still my favorite even though I sold it 4 years ago. Greatest learning experience of my life
#3 2004 Chevy Colorado
My grandfather left me this car in his will, and since I was up at college I tried to be responsible and sold the Saturn. Didn't do much with it, but it was totally loaded. Ended up blowing the engine doing donuts at The Tail of the Dragon with my Saturn car club. Paid for a new engine and kept driving it. Redid the stereo system as always, popped on an intake, intalled an electronic exhaust cut-out, and eventually lowered it 2". The time eventually came where the gas mileage from the inline 5 got too bad for my job, then the tranny blew. It was time to sell it.
#4 2005 Ford Focus ZX3
Never really took many pictures of it, since it stayed mainly stock and was a little boring. 5 speed and got me the gas mileage I needed. Painted a few things, redid sterero, lowered with Eibachs, and exhaust. Then all of a sudden a month and a half ago my friends and I were headed back from Chicago and it started misfiring. Come to find out "something" happened and the exhaust valves got fucked and there was no compression on cylinder 1. With a full time job, full time school, and full time life now in the middlle of winter in Michigan I just didn't have time to fix it, nor a garage to even attempt. On to the Cobalt!!!!
#5 2007 Chevy Cobalt LS
Auto
What I'm looking to do is nothing crazy, but just make the Cobalt a little better. I'll probably pick up another early 90's Saturn coupe for the fun beater, and I'll keep this one the decent daily driver. I would like to; Lower it, Intake, Strut bar; exhaust (not full cat back probably just muffler); stereo; interior pieces/re-painting; gauge faces; wheels/tires; and possibly a tune? I know ZZP is about 15 minutes away from me so this may change. I do have a couple question though...
-Is an Auto to Manual swap fairly easy? I can do an auto to manual swap on Saturn's in about 2 hours, but I'm sure it's a bit more difficult in more technology advanced cars.
-Is there anything to do about the terrible electric power steering? I've been driving my sisters 06 Cobalt for the past few weeks while I found a new car and I hate the power steering in these cars! It has terrible feedback, especially in the snow.
-Best lowering springs? Are there any H&R's for the Cobalt? I'm not a huge fan of Eibachs
-Is there a small lip spoiler for the Cobalt's? Mine is wingless and I feel like it needs a small lip spoiler.
-Is the SS/SC bumper compatible with the LS's? I'd love to grab one for the better looking front. Quite frankly I believe the non SS's look very....meh.
I'm going to love being part of the community and will appreciate any and all input. Please flood me with information! Also here's a couple links to my various social networks...
Flickr: GBRunner24's Photostream
www.facebook.com/gbrunner24
Instagram: GBRunner24
Twitter: VogtPhoto
Thanks guys, and nice to meet you all!
A little info about myself. I'm 23 and residing in Allendale, MI right off the GVSU campus for my west side folks. I'm from the Flint area originally and have always been into cars. I'm an amateur photography and a manager at Target Mobile in Holland, MI. I'm a huge tech geek as well. This Cobalt will be my 5th car, and hopefully I can get back on track with some mods. My last two have been mostly stock because of money issues. If you're in West Michigan let me know! Also a huge craft beer fanatic, and avid drinker! haha
Here's a rundown of my past cars...
#1 1998 Saturn SW2
Turned 16 and got handed down the grandparents' Saturn wagon. Mint condition. A bit of my original ricer phase, but everyone goes through it. Lowered it, installed new stereo and subs, strut bar, intake, exhaust, rims/tires and the good ole' slush box it came with. Most reliable car I've ever had haha.
#2 1993 Saturn SC2
Best car I've ever had. Sold my wagon and purchase this. 5 speed, loaded, and a total piece of ****. Clutch went out within 3 days of owning it. Blew the engine being a teenage fool and racing a V6 mustang. Spent the summer learning way too much and completely rebuilt the car. Rebuilt slight high comp engine including dual intake cam mod; ported intake mani, TB, and CAI intake; OBX header/downpipe with custom side exit exhaust; redid the whole interior; redid entire stero system; plenty of weight reduction; and kept it totally sleeper. This car is still my favorite even though I sold it 4 years ago. Greatest learning experience of my life
#3 2004 Chevy Colorado
My grandfather left me this car in his will, and since I was up at college I tried to be responsible and sold the Saturn. Didn't do much with it, but it was totally loaded. Ended up blowing the engine doing donuts at The Tail of the Dragon with my Saturn car club. Paid for a new engine and kept driving it. Redid the stereo system as always, popped on an intake, intalled an electronic exhaust cut-out, and eventually lowered it 2". The time eventually came where the gas mileage from the inline 5 got too bad for my job, then the tranny blew. It was time to sell it.
#4 2005 Ford Focus ZX3
Never really took many pictures of it, since it stayed mainly stock and was a little boring. 5 speed and got me the gas mileage I needed. Painted a few things, redid sterero, lowered with Eibachs, and exhaust. Then all of a sudden a month and a half ago my friends and I were headed back from Chicago and it started misfiring. Come to find out "something" happened and the exhaust valves got fucked and there was no compression on cylinder 1. With a full time job, full time school, and full time life now in the middlle of winter in Michigan I just didn't have time to fix it, nor a garage to even attempt. On to the Cobalt!!!!
#5 2007 Chevy Cobalt LS
Auto
What I'm looking to do is nothing crazy, but just make the Cobalt a little better. I'll probably pick up another early 90's Saturn coupe for the fun beater, and I'll keep this one the decent daily driver. I would like to; Lower it, Intake, Strut bar; exhaust (not full cat back probably just muffler); stereo; interior pieces/re-painting; gauge faces; wheels/tires; and possibly a tune? I know ZZP is about 15 minutes away from me so this may change. I do have a couple question though...
-Is an Auto to Manual swap fairly easy? I can do an auto to manual swap on Saturn's in about 2 hours, but I'm sure it's a bit more difficult in more technology advanced cars.
-Is there anything to do about the terrible electric power steering? I've been driving my sisters 06 Cobalt for the past few weeks while I found a new car and I hate the power steering in these cars! It has terrible feedback, especially in the snow.
-Best lowering springs? Are there any H&R's for the Cobalt? I'm not a huge fan of Eibachs
-Is there a small lip spoiler for the Cobalt's? Mine is wingless and I feel like it needs a small lip spoiler.
-Is the SS/SC bumper compatible with the LS's? I'd love to grab one for the better looking front. Quite frankly I believe the non SS's look very....meh.
I'm going to love being part of the community and will appreciate any and all input. Please flood me with information! Also here's a couple links to my various social networks...
Flickr: GBRunner24's Photostream
www.facebook.com/gbrunner24
Instagram: GBRunner24
Twitter: VogtPhoto
Thanks guys, and nice to meet you all!
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Thanks man! I used to drive by ZZP every single day from one of my old jobs, and have always meant to stop in. I do believe now that I have an Ecotec I'm sure to drop in there!
#1 1998 Saturn SW2
Turned 16 and got handed down the grandparents' Saturn wagon. Mint condition. A bit of my original ricer phase, but everyone goes through it. Lowered it, installed new stereo and subs, strut bar, intake, exhaust, rims/tires and the good ole' slush box it came with. Most reliable car I've ever had haha.
Turned 16 and got handed down the grandparents' Saturn wagon. Mint condition. A bit of my original ricer phase, but everyone goes through it. Lowered it, installed new stereo and subs, strut bar, intake, exhaust, rims/tires and the good ole' slush box it came with. Most reliable car I've ever had haha.
I used to have a 97 SW2 that my parents made my buy off them. Ended up paying $3,000 for a 97 with no rust, only 67k miles on it and I sold it before it even hit 100k miles which was the biggest mistake I ever made. No one ever believed me but those 1.9's are pretty peppy for a grandma grocery getter!
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Thanks for the warm welcome guys! I know I'll fit in here, and it looks like there's a good amount of knowledge to go around. Anyone have some answers for the couple questions I had? Also grabbed a quick picture of the new 'Balt in all it's stock glory. Unfortunately it is plagued by the blown front speakers many cobalt seem to have. Waiting on brackets/speakers from Crutchfield now.
Right? They aren't powerful at all, but being made of plastic they're nice and light. Slap on an intake, exhaust, and a tune and they're fun little things!
So cheap too! My plan is to make the Cobalt fun and enjoying to drive everyday, and pick up a cheap 1st gen SC2 again to autocross/have fun with.
So cheap too! My plan is to make the Cobalt fun and enjoying to drive everyday, and pick up a cheap 1st gen SC2 again to autocross/have fun with.
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Haha I have seemingly bad luck with cars. The SC2 was my fault, mis shifted and blew the head gasket. The Colorado was definitely my fault, doing donuts at the Tail of the Dragon starved it of oil and broke a rod. The Focus wasn't my fault, as far as I can tell, the plugs that were in there were last replaced by the dealer I bought it from and they were too long. I was accelerating up the on-ramp and I lost compression on cylinder 1, missing quite a bit. Traded it in without ever looking too much into it. Either way I hope this one doesn't blow up! haha
Senior Member
Joined: 01-21-12
Posts: 6,894
Likes: 94
From: Calgary
Well come to think of it I've blown the build engine in my mazda twice and I destroyed everything on my winter beater corsica. Didn't damage anything on my LE5 cobalt or my LNF yet. So i'm not much better
Because young.
Hey Tyler, it is RedHotFTW! from 6s.
I remember pretty much all of the threads about all of those cars lol.
Welcome.
Right off the bat, no, an auto to manual swap is not easy on these cars like they were on our s-series. There is not anyone (that didnt put in a whole new custom swap) that has done one that I know of. This is one of the things that truly is cheaper to buy the car like that from the factory. You would be a pioneer if you go for it.
Yes the SS and SS/NA bumpers will swap right onto your car.
I love my SSC springs from ZZP
Hey Tyler, it is RedHotFTW! from 6s.
I remember pretty much all of the threads about all of those cars lol.
Welcome.
Right off the bat, no, an auto to manual swap is not easy on these cars like they were on our s-series. There is not anyone (that didnt put in a whole new custom swap) that has done one that I know of. This is one of the things that truly is cheaper to buy the car like that from the factory. You would be a pioneer if you go for it.
Yes the SS and SS/NA bumpers will swap right onto your car.
I love my SSC springs from ZZP
Thread Starter
Joined: 01-31-14
Posts: 450
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Hey Cory! Thanks for the info. I believe I'm leaning towards the Eibach Pro Kit or the SSC's. The sportlines seem like the drop I'd like, but I'd like to keep close to stock ride. In fact I believe I'm going to swing by ZZP in a few and get some knowledge/parts there.
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