Ian's 06 SS/SC Extended Track/City/Drag/Motocross/Whatever Goblin #359

[ARabidNull]

I checked this morning, that's a spiderweb or other stringy gunk. The upright looks fine once the crap is brushed off.

The weather in Texas is wacky right now (as seen in GoblinGal's posts) but it looks like the Austin area gets a break from severe weather for the next three days. I'm hoping to at least get the engine out during that time.

 

[ARabidNull]

I worked on the car this morning, although I ended up with more questions than getting something done. Let's start off with the positive.

Put together the engine hoist, which took longer than I expected.

I'm down to just a few connections between the engine and the rest of the car but I have questions. The video instructions in part 4 starting at "disconnecting the powertrain accessories" look very different than what I have, which makes sense. I have a supercharged engine.

If there's documentation about the supercharged engine that I can reference instead of asking questions, let me know.

First, I have two cables running into the engine. The bottom one looks like the transmission cable housing mentioned in the video, I don't know what the top one is. The throttle, maybe?

Another view of what I think is the throttle

The next question is what is this? I see Lonny move it out of the way in part 4 but I didn't see any instructions on how to disconnect it. I mean, it's straightforward but one of the reasons I'm building a Goblin instead of just buying a track car is to learn everything about it.

My heater hoses don't look like they do in the video. I see one hose that kinda looks like one. As you can see I tried to remove the line by moving the clip but it's still firmly attached.

Once I figure out these issues I'll be ready to drop the powertrain. If the weather cooperates, that'll happen tomorrow.

 

[snirtman]

I worked on the car this morning, although I ended up with more questions than getting something done. Let's start off with the positive.

Put together the engine hoist, which took longer than I expected.
View attachment 32532

I'm down to just a few connections between the engine and the rest of the car but I have questions. The video instructions in part 4 starting at "disconnecting the powertrain accessories" look very different than what I have, which makes sense. I have a supercharged engine.

If there's documentation about the supercharged engine that I can reference instead of asking questions, let me know.

First, I have two cables running into the engine. The bottom one looks like the transmission cable housing mentioned in the video, I don't know what the top one is. The throttle, maybe?
View attachment 32537

Another view of what I think is the throttle
View attachment 32534

The next question is what is this? I see Lonny move it out of the way in part 4 but I didn't see any instructions on how to disconnect it. I mean, it's straightforward but one of the reasons I'm building a Goblin instead of just buying a track car is to learn everything about it.
View attachment 32533

My heater hoses don't look like they do in the video. I see one hose that kinda looks like one. As you can see I tried to remove the line by moving the clip but it's still firmly attached.
View attachment 32535


Once I figure out these issues I'll be ready to drop the powertrain. If the weather cooperates, that'll happen tomorrow.

Someone else can chime in to confirm, but I think the two cables are both shifter cables. The aluminum crimped to rubber hose is an a/c line (not sure if its high pressure or low, but definitely a/c)

 

[Chubbs]

Yes, the two cables are both shifter cables for the trans.

Like snirtman said, that line is an ac line. Not needed.

The final hose is for the heater core I think. You'll eventually bypass it, but keep the hose. Some of them get cut to different lengths and reused. Not sure about that one.

There is no throttle cable. It's a drive by wire setup, with a servo motor in the throttle body.

 

[ARabidNull]

This morning I tried to remove the engine before a thunderstorm was predicted to hit us around noon. My friend Brit and I got the AC line, the heater core hose, and the exhaust disconnected. All the while it was sprinkling lightly. As we started figuring out how to disconnect the shifter cables the sky started opening up so we rushed to get the car covered and the tools put away.

We had been checking the weather radar for signs of rain heading our way the entire time so we were a little surprised by the downpour that hit us. Afterwards we looked at the weather radar and it showed the storm formed right above us as we were working. Since the weather report predicts the same type of weather at least through the day and possibly for the next three we decided to start again later this week.

 

[ARabidNull]

The weather and my work schedule finally allowed me to drop the drivetrain.

I then went to introduce the engine to it's new home. No, not the workshop, the Goblin frame in the background.

The fluid on the ground is from some rainwater that collected into the engine hoist.

That's all for today, but I think I can start stripping the interior tomorrow morning.

 

[ARabidNull]

Very late update...

For my birthday on May 30th I asked my friends to help continue the disassembly of the Cobalt. I ended up with four extra hands and not a lot of time to take pictures.

We managed to complete all of the interior disassembly. All that's left is the rear end. The weather in Austin has been extraordinarily hot for this time of year, add in extra work at my day job and I haven't been able to finish stripping the Cobalt.

The previous owner(s) modified the wiring.

This isn't a great shot of the crew that helped me but it's the only one I have.

I'm planning on finishing the disassembly this week, even if I have to get up at 5am to avoid the heat.

A new kink in my plan has come up: I'm officiating a wedding on the property on August 20th. I will be easily be done with the donor by then, but I will probably not be done with putting the Goblin together. Even if the stars align, I will definitely not have a road legal Goblin by then.

That leaves me with a question: can I scrap the donor and still register the Goblin in Texas months later?

 

[JBINTX]

Scrap that shell!!

 

[Joebob]

Scrap that shell!!

But keep a copy of the Title (front and back)

Joe

 

[Rttoys]

Keep the title. You’ll have to cut up the shell or the local scrap yard may not take it (Houston area law).

 

[ARabidNull]

A year later and no progress. Lots of excuses, though. I'm starting back up this week, and I have to solve some problems due to having the kit sit around all this time.

Problem #1: I asked people to help me finish taking apart the Cobalt for my birthday last year. They did an excellent job, except nothing is labeled, so I don't know where anything came from.

Problem #2: The frame is rusted, so I must clean it up. I've de-rusted small parts before, but nothing this large.

Problem #3: I pulled the dash but didn't take it apart yet.

I will start with #1 because I want to ensure I have everything off the donor checklist.

 

[Ark :D]

A year later and no progress. Lots of excuses, though. I'm starting back up this week, and I have to solve some problems due to having the kit sit around all this time.

Problem #1: I asked people to help me finish taking apart the Cobalt for my birthday last year. They did an excellent job, except nothing is labeled, so I don't know where anything came from.

Problem #2: The frame is rusted, so I must clean it up. I've de-rusted small parts before, but nothing this large.

Problem #3: I pulled the dash but didn't take it apart yet.

I will start with #1 because I want to ensure I have everything off the donor checklist.

If you plan to have the frame powder coated, typically the powder coater will prep the frame as part of the process.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Glad to see you back in build mode, was wondering if you had lost interest...

If you find donor parts that you don't recognize, post a Pic and the forum will help. I'm sure every part from a Cobalt has been seen by at least one person.

 

[ARabidNull]

Glad to see you back in build mode, was wondering if you had lost interest...

If you find donor parts that you don't recognize, post a Pic and the forum will help. I'm sure every part from a Cobalt has been seen by at least one person.

I do have trouble getting myself motivated, but a lot of my delay was just a year-long string of events that made it difficult to make any progress.

The biggest problem I'm going to have is identifying the bolts. Sometime this week I'll just pick up the pile of them and start going through them one at a time to figure out where they go. Expect a lot of pictures.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Don't lose heart, the pile of unlabeled items probably looks very daunting. But eating an elephant is one bite at a time, and you will get through this - may take some time to complete (I'm solidly past year 4 working on year 5 in my build).

 

[Chubbs]

Regarding the bolts, I did a terrible job labeling mine, and it wasn't that big of an issue. I basically threw every bolt that I had inside a box. When I needed a bolt, I went to the box.

Does this bolt fit? Yes. Good, it goes right here then.

As a general rule, I found it pretty difficult to use the wrong bolt in the wrong place. If it was the wrong bolt, it was obvious.

 

[Ark :D]

Regarding the bolts, I did a terrible job labeling mine, and it wasn't that big of an issue. I basically threw every bolt that I had inside a box. When I needed a bolt, I went to the box.

Does this bolt fit? Yes. Good, it goes right here then.

As a general rule, I found it pretty difficult to use the wrong bolt in the wrong place. If it was the wrong bolt, it was obvious.

Exactly this. I did an amazing job, bagging and labeling all my bolts, only to discover that it was mostly a waste of time later on. Labeling the harness connectors is a total other story though.

 

[ARabidNull]

That's good to know about the bolts. Thank you!

I'm considering having DfKitCar do my wiring harness since they're just two hours North of me. I want to get my Goblin on the track before the end of May. Hopefully also registered for street use, too, but I have no clue how long that'll take.

 

[Robinjo]

Try the harness and then they are there if you need it. I did a poor job labelling stuff and threw all my bolts in a pan together. You can make it.

 

[comegetjoe]

But eating an elephant is one bite at a time, and you will get through this - may take some time to complete

Aint that the truth. Hammer stuff out when motivation is high and get sections done at a time, video by video.
I had DF do my wiring, couple small complaints, but a couple nice surprises as well. Id have them do it again.