I can't build fast cars, but I can drive 'em. I bought a base Cobalt so I could add all the extras I wanted, and make a hot American tuner instead of sooping up a rice burner. But what is the first thing I can do to add speed, and maybe stay within the boundaries of my warranty?
intake
exhaust
will void emissions warranty but you wont need that in your first x amount of miles
If your concerned about voiding the factory warranty you might want to familiarize yourself with the Magnuson Moss Act. US Code - Title 15, Chapter 50, Sections 2301-2312
Legally, a vehicle manufacturer cannot void the warranty on a vehicle due to an aftermarket part unless they can prove that the aftermarket part caused or contributed to the failure in the vehicle (per the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. 2302(C)) . For best results, consider working with performance-oriented dealerships with a proven history of working with customers. If your vehicle manufacturer fails to honor emission/warranty claims, contact EPA at (202) 260-2080 or www.epa.gov. If federal warranty protection is denied, contact the FTC at (202) 326-3128 or www.ftc.gov. Granatelli Motorsports goes into more detail on this Federal Law.
As for speed the top speed of the car is limited by the Powertrain Control Module. Depending on which model of the Cobalt you buy determines the top speed of the car. The SS Supercharged Cobalt's according to GM press releases are supposed to top out at 145 MPH. External to the engine you have headers, intakes, engine pulleys, throttle bodies. Suspension wise you have wheel/tire upgrades, sway bars, shocks, springs, urethane bushings, strut braces. Internal engine parts you've got cams, pistons, rods, adjustable camshaft gears. You might want to turbo the car, install a NOS setup (I'd recommend a WET system). Or if you could find a supercharger system from a Cobalt you could possibly put it on. Check out the GM Sport Compact Build Book
http://www.gm.com/company/gmtunersource/html/race_shop_build_book.htm
and research what you want to do, how much you want to spend, etc. Until aftermarket programmers like HP Tuners come out with software packages for 4 cylinder engines, unless you know how to reflash the PCM in your car, you'll get to the speed limit of the PCM faster than anyone else, but once you get there, you won't be able to go any faster.
i have the same car as you and am looking for mods, only im not as concerned with my warranty
-intake: weapon r and AEM seem to be the best models out, weapon r is a little questionable regarding quality
-header: pacesetter has a 4 to 1
-exhaust: borla, magnaflow, dc sport....i am going with magnaflow personally but they just upped the price
if you want to be a little brave and go with some forced induction, hahn is going to be coming out with a turbo for the 2.2L cobalt next spring, they will also be coming out with one for the SS/SC.
ok guys.. i got the same car and i have modded it already into the car a little over 2k..
i got an aem CAI-- if u dont mind a CEL for the first like 2k miles its awesome.. u can hear it and feel it its awesome
i got the Dc sport exaust.. sounds AWESOME and u can feel it b\c u are almost going a 1\2 inch bigger in the diamater of the exaust pipeing
also lowering springs .. eibach, they dont do much for the speed but they make handleing the car alot nicer, and a strut bar.. same thing
I'd sell it and get the S/C model...
I'd have to disagree with TwISteR because I have a base model cobalt and I bought it for $10 grand and I've put only like $6 grand into it and I smoke my friend that has a SS/SC model and he spend $21 grand on his.
So total i spent like $16 and he spent $21 and my insurance is much cheaper than his and neither of us have any wrecks or tickets on our records. We both use 92+ octane also. Now he wishes he would have done what I did since I saved about $5 grand by doing what I did and my car is faster than his.
http://www.j-body.org/forums/read.php?f=2&i=318797&t=318797
Might I inquire what you did to your car for 6 grand that's got you running that fast? Did you put a turbo kit on, or the GM Supercharger upgrade with tuning?
yes, i got a turbo kit n all kinds of other things. that little message was from like 3 months after i bought the car n had it beatin SS's. now ive got over 20 grand into it n its a lil faster than before n i got nitrous. now im thinkin about upgrading the turbo but im still not sure if i wanna do that yet
Does anyone make intakes and exhaust mods for the cobalt supercharged?
Nick Jackel wrote:yes, i got a turbo kit n all kinds of other things. that little message was from like 3 months after i bought the car n had it beatin SS's. now ive got over 20 grand into it n its a lil faster than before n i got nitrous. now im thinkin about upgrading the turbo but im still not sure if i wanna do that yet
How exactly are you running a turbo? You must not be street legal anymore because there still is no turbo kit out for Cobalts. Custom done with aftermarket ECM?
<A HREF="http://www.cawpin.com">
<IMG HEIGHT=100 SRC="http://www.cawpin.com/images/carpics/thumbs/Jeep_new_04_th.jpg"></A>
well i have 2 cobalts 1 is rally yellow and the other is blue both r stock the yellow one has a full body kit from rksport and hood with custom wing and wheels r IGW its a LS and the blue is a Lt with all options bone stock i took the power windows door locks key fobs mirors and the cruse heated seats and full black leather intier from the LT and put it in the LS all that only cost me 2800.00 that was for the price of the car its a direct bolt in interchange so now i have a better options than the SS and only 15000.00 in the hole car. the LS body is done now for performance. ow yea the blue is a salvage title it rolled with only 5081 miles on the car im putting it back to geather with the stock LS intier its gray
