Need horse power...help... Cobalt ls 2.2l ecotec

[gary09]

I WANT TO GET AS MUCH HORSEPOWER AS I CAN WITHOUT SPENDING AN ARM AND A LEG. I ONLY WANT TO SPEND 1500-2000 AND A GOOD FULL TURBO KIT IS LIKE 3000. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS. THIS CAR IS A 2008 WITH ONLY 8,000 MILES. IM IN IRAQ AND WANT TO GET THE PARTS BEFORE I GET HOME SO I CAN PUT THEM ON SOON BECAUSE IT IS MY EVERYDAY DRIVER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[J-Ri]

I would suggest you save for a while and just buy one of the "expensive" ones. Performance is one thing you can't really go cheap on. I have a supercharger on my Cavalier that cost close to $3k, it's a GM Performance Part, one of the last available anywhere as a kit for the Cavalier. It has the same pieces that the Cobalt SS (up to '07, then they went turbo) has, but the PCM calibration only works for Cavaliers. You may be able to find the parts for a Cobalt SS and have the PCM calibrated as an SS. You'll have money in a professional install for any turbo (or spend $650+ for the tool to tune it, and then risk blowing the engine if you do it wrong), while the supercharger is an easy bolt on. I'm an automotive technician and did mine in 8 hours with a few custom modifications because I didn't really like the way many wires and a hose had to run so close to the fan and belt. From what I've read about them, nobody took more than 3 days to install the supercharger. You can get the supercharger to 240 HP with a few extra modifications, which is 10 HP less than what GM says the engine can safely handle, so unless you're going to upgrade the pistons/connecting rods/crankshaft, you can't get much more power than the supercharger puts out. With a turbo, the engine and turbo share the same oil, so if the turbo would blow, you get chunks of metal into your engine oil. You also have to allow the engine to idle for 30-60 seconds (the range I found while researching it) before shutting it off or the oil will overheat in the turbo and "coke"

The cheapest performance boost is Nitrous Oxide, but I personally don't like the thought of running out of power before I run out of gas I may add a 50-75 shot on top of the supercharger once/if I start taking it to the drag strip (after upgrading to forged internals of course)... but it's expensive, from what I read about $5 in nitrous for a 1/4 mile run and you only get like 5 runs out of a bottle, then you have to spend $25 to fill the bottle.

The more parts and the more power you get, the less reliable your car becomes, consider this since this car is your daily driver. I've had my supercharger for about a month or two, and so far no problems, but be aware that the possibility is there. If you have an automatic trans, you'll want to have the fluid flushed every 20k miles to be safe. The autos barely hold up to the stock 2.2 if you go heavy on the gas. If you have a manual, be careful shifting. The synchros are a common failure, so don't rush the shift. The shift forks also have plastic tips which are known to break off, so that's another reason not to force it.

Since I don't frequent the Cobalt forum, feel free to PM me if you have any questions and I don't come back. This is not an invitation for everyone else to PM me about every problem you may have!

[KD5ILM]

I replaced a couple of components on my 2005 Cobalt. First the stock plugs bite. Replace them with Bosch platinum +4 plugs. Second, you can spend around $50 for a replacement K&N filter or almost $300 for the cold air intake kit that many manufactures make, even K&N. I changed the plugs early on a Saturday morning when the car was cold and that alone made a BIG difference. I have 2 kids and a wife so I don’t have the time to tinker too much with my car but those are a few items that I changed that make a big difference without breaking the $100 mark. There is a manufacture out there that sells an intake replacement kit that will allow you to put a 2.4L intake on that 2.2L motor. I am sorry to say that I can’t remember the web site I saw it on.

I just looked on the Bosch website and they make a "PLATINUM IR FUSION" +4 plug for the cobalt. I might have to take out the old +4's in my car and replace them. Good luck your Cobalt.
Mike.
4514 PLATINUM IR FUSION Do not gap. Gap is not adjustable. L4 2.2 (134) L61 GAS