Ross
Goblin Guru
Well this thread should get some opinionated posts. I started this thread after watching this debate video.
When I was looking for my donor, I was hoping for a turbo car (LNF) but was okay with a supercharged one (LSJ) as they were more commonly available.
I ended up with an LSJ after bidding on a few cars, and a few months of shopping on Coparts, IAAI, Facebook marketplace, etc. Was it the right choice for making HP?
Lets start with the Stock numbers:
So the LNF wins for stock numbers. If you don't want to build an engine, then the LNF is your HP winner.
If you are willing to build up the engine, where should you start?
Well the list above are the normal Cobalt donors for the Goblin, so these are where I started. Other options are available for engine swaps. (LDK, LHU, etc)
I generally suggest the LSJ, but the LNF can make just as much power, so it is a gray area.
LSJ pros:
- easier to find a donor car (generally cheaper than an LNF, but more expensive than the 2.2L cars)
- lots of aftermarket parts.
- it has port injection, so it is easy to buy bigger injectors.
- supercharger makes boost when you ask for it. No lag.
- turbochargers available to make big boost numbers... with lag.
- longevity. "I daily drive a 240,000 mile stock block LSJ, entry level turbo kit, 408hp at the wheel" 27:00 into this video.
LSJ cons:
- the supercharger makes 12psi boost (stock), 15psi with a smaller pulley, 18psi? if you buy a TVS 1320... but turbos make 20psi boost easily, 50psi is possible.
- The P12 ECU has no flex fuel support, so you can tune it for E85, but have to put in a new tune if you go back to 91 octane.
LNF pros:
- base hp numbers are best
- lots of aftermarket parts (except for fuel injectors, one option: Opel injectors are 15% bigger, and/or add a 5th injector in the intake manifold).
- longevity. Forged crank, forged connecting rods. Stock is cast pistons. I've heard they are good for 400 hp. Just like the LSJ.
- easier than the LSJ to get to 400 hp? as the LSJ SC tends to get to the 300's, but needs a turbo to get to the 400+hp range.
- the E69 ECU has inferred flex fuel, kinda?
LNF cons:
- direct injection means it has high pressure fuel lines, and I am not aware of any aftermarket direct injectors for making big HP... but you can add additional fuel with a 5th injector. I just learned about this option it the debate video above.
- the intake valves don't get washed with fuel, so they build up carbon on the back, and need cleaning.
- turbos have lag. smaller turbos (K04, S252) have less lag. Bigger turbos have more lag, and bigger boost numbers.
- hard to find a donor car/ more expensive
LE5 pros:
- has the bigger 88mm bore with 98mm stroke, so big 2.4L displacement.
- Justin Reed is running this block with a short stroke LSJ crank in it, making 2.1L displacement, and 607hp.
- the E67 ECU has a flex fuel sensor
LAP, L61 pros:
- easy to find cheap donors. I need help here, as I don't know a lot about these engines.
- The E37 ECU (late L61/LAP) has a flex fuel sensor
LAP, L61 cons:
- the block isn't quite as strong, but I have heard they can make 700+ hp, so still lots of hp.
- The E16A ECU (early L61): can't be tuned
When I was looking for my donor, I was hoping for a turbo car (LNF) but was okay with a supercharged one (LSJ) as they were more commonly available.
I ended up with an LSJ after bidding on a few cars, and a few months of shopping on Coparts, IAAI, Facebook marketplace, etc. Was it the right choice for making HP?
Lets start with the Stock numbers:
Engine | Year(s) | Model | Power | Torque |
LNF | 2008–2010 | Chevrolet Cobalt SS Turbo | 260 hp (194 kW) @ 5300 rpm | 260 ft⋅lb (353 N⋅m) @ 2000 rpm |
LSJ | 2005–2007 | Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged | 205 hp (153 kW) @ 5600 rpm | 200 ft⋅lb (271 N⋅m) @ 4400 rpm |
LE5 | 2006–2007 | Chevrolet Cobalt SS | 173 hp (129 kW) @ 6200 rpm | 163 ft⋅lb (221 N⋅m) @ 4800 rpm |
LE5 | 2008 | Chevrolet Cobalt Sport | 171 hp (128 kW) @ 6200 rpm | 167 ft⋅lb (226 N⋅m) @ 4800 rpm |
LE5 | 2006–2008 | Pontiac G5/Pursuit | 171 hp (128 kW) @ 5800 rpm | 167 ft⋅lb (226 N⋅m) @ 4500 rpm |
LAP | 2009–2010 | Chevrolet Cobalt | 155 hp (116 kW) @ 6100 rpm | 150 ft⋅lb (203 N⋅m) @ 4900 rpm |
LAP | 2009 | Pontiac G5 | 155 hp (116 kW) @ 6100 rpm | 150 ft⋅lb (203 N⋅m) @ 4900 rpm |
L61 Gen2 | 2007-2008 | Chevrolet Cobalt | 148 hp (110 kW) @ 5600 rpm | 152 lb-ft (205 N⋅m) @ 4200 rpm |
L61 Gen1 | 2005–2006 | Chevrolet Cobalt | 145 hp (108 kW) @ 5600 rpm | 155 ft⋅lb (210 N⋅m) @ 4000 rpm |
L61 Gen1 | 2005–2006 | Pontiac Pursuit/G5 | 145 hp (108 kW) @ 5600 rpm | 155 ft⋅lb (210 N⋅m) @ 4000 rpm |
So the LNF wins for stock numbers. If you don't want to build an engine, then the LNF is your HP winner.
If you are willing to build up the engine, where should you start?
Well the list above are the normal Cobalt donors for the Goblin, so these are where I started. Other options are available for engine swaps. (LDK, LHU, etc)
I generally suggest the LSJ, but the LNF can make just as much power, so it is a gray area.
LSJ pros:
- easier to find a donor car (generally cheaper than an LNF, but more expensive than the 2.2L cars)
- lots of aftermarket parts.
- it has port injection, so it is easy to buy bigger injectors.
- supercharger makes boost when you ask for it. No lag.
- turbochargers available to make big boost numbers... with lag.
- longevity. "I daily drive a 240,000 mile stock block LSJ, entry level turbo kit, 408hp at the wheel" 27:00 into this video.
LSJ cons:
- the supercharger makes 12psi boost (stock), 15psi with a smaller pulley, 18psi? if you buy a TVS 1320... but turbos make 20psi boost easily, 50psi is possible.
- The P12 ECU has no flex fuel support, so you can tune it for E85, but have to put in a new tune if you go back to 91 octane.
LNF pros:
- base hp numbers are best
- lots of aftermarket parts (except for fuel injectors, one option: Opel injectors are 15% bigger, and/or add a 5th injector in the intake manifold).
- longevity. Forged crank, forged connecting rods. Stock is cast pistons. I've heard they are good for 400 hp. Just like the LSJ.
- easier than the LSJ to get to 400 hp? as the LSJ SC tends to get to the 300's, but needs a turbo to get to the 400+hp range.
- the E69 ECU has inferred flex fuel, kinda?
LNF cons:
- direct injection means it has high pressure fuel lines, and I am not aware of any aftermarket direct injectors for making big HP... but you can add additional fuel with a 5th injector. I just learned about this option it the debate video above.
- the intake valves don't get washed with fuel, so they build up carbon on the back, and need cleaning.
- turbos have lag. smaller turbos (K04, S252) have less lag. Bigger turbos have more lag, and bigger boost numbers.
- hard to find a donor car/ more expensive
LE5 pros:
- has the bigger 88mm bore with 98mm stroke, so big 2.4L displacement.
- Justin Reed is running this block with a short stroke LSJ crank in it, making 2.1L displacement, and 607hp.
- the E67 ECU has a flex fuel sensor
LAP, L61 pros:
- easy to find cheap donors. I need help here, as I don't know a lot about these engines.
- The E37 ECU (late L61/LAP) has a flex fuel sensor
LAP, L61 cons:
- the block isn't quite as strong, but I have heard they can make 700+ hp, so still lots of hp.
- The E16A ECU (early L61): can't be tuned
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