V8_Gobbler
Member
Hello, my name is Joe Vyverberg. I plan on using this car mainly as a streetcar but would love to autocross it as well.
A good friend of mine has Goblin #347. Ever since he let me take it for a ride I was hooked. I knew I just had to have one of my own, but I am not a fan of the cobalt powertrain. It does have its advantages and is definitely the best route for most people as this kit is designed to be basically a bolt in setup. However, I have a fair amount of experience with the LS platform and fell in love with the simplicity/reliability/power that these motors provide with basic modifications. I also am not shy of fabrication.
It started with researching what transmissions are preferred for a mid-engine LS swapped vehicle. It seemed the most cost-effective ones ended up being an Audi 6 speed 01X or 01E. The 01E's are more durable but are harder to find and cost more. Most Audis in Germany were FWD Transaxles only and here in the US they were AWD, so it is uncommon to come across a FWD variant of the 01X or 01E. I then settled on an 01X transmission which I had shipped from Germany to the US.
I reached out to Kennedy Engineered Products for providing me with a package that will allow me to mate a GM LS series motor to an Audi transaxle. They sent me everything I needed and were very knowledgeable on what I was trying to accomplish. I received a billet adapter plate, flywheel, pressure plate, clutch disc, throw out bearing and all of the hardware required. The clutch may be overkill but it will support up to 650 ft lbs of torque. Top notch quality products and instructions.
The motor was simple. I opted for a 100k mile Gen IV 5.3 which is an aluminum block (to keep weight down). I purchased it for $300 on Facebook marketplace. I started by stripping it down for inspection and cleaning. I gave it a quick cylinder hone and reused the crank/rods/pistons. I installed a BTR stage 3 camshaft kit and deleted the DOD. The cylinder heads cleaned up like new after putting them in my vapor blast cabinet. I also lapped each valve into each port in the head. Replaced every gasket while it was apart and gave it a nice paint job.
Another big piece of the puzzle is the rear suspension. I wanted something not too custom because if components wear, I want them to be accessible at a local parts store. I started looking at suspension of various cars. I then found the perfect doner for the rear suspension setup. The rear suspension from a C5 corvette fit my goal. Readily available parts that won't break the bank. The geometry and strength of the axles, hubs and tie rods I feel confident in. I found an entire Rear suspension and cradle assembly on eBay for $400 delivered.
As far as getting all of this to fit. Luckily my buddy mike has a goblin and I was able to take measurements from his car and visualize how to make this a reality. The wheel base will be longer but only by a desirable amount. The goal is to design the subframe to bolt into a goblin chassis with no cutting or welding on the factory chassis. The subframe will hold the motor/transmission/control arms and coil overs. The reason for this is if it would be desired by anyone. In the future I will be able to replicate this subframe for someone else and have the recipe for what they need to do what I've done by taking the fabrication work out of it.
I am very thankful for the guys at DF putting a custom package order together for me as there were a lot of cobalt specific parts that will not be required for the direction I am going with it. Cannot wait for the chassis to be delivered so I can start the fabrication process. Happy to be a part of this community and hope I can leave a lasting positive impression! If anyone has any questions, comments or ideas I would love to hear them as I am open to everything! I will try to keep active on here and keep updating as I go along. I have been taking photos of the process so far and will be dumping those in here when I get a chance!
A good friend of mine has Goblin #347. Ever since he let me take it for a ride I was hooked. I knew I just had to have one of my own, but I am not a fan of the cobalt powertrain. It does have its advantages and is definitely the best route for most people as this kit is designed to be basically a bolt in setup. However, I have a fair amount of experience with the LS platform and fell in love with the simplicity/reliability/power that these motors provide with basic modifications. I also am not shy of fabrication.
It started with researching what transmissions are preferred for a mid-engine LS swapped vehicle. It seemed the most cost-effective ones ended up being an Audi 6 speed 01X or 01E. The 01E's are more durable but are harder to find and cost more. Most Audis in Germany were FWD Transaxles only and here in the US they were AWD, so it is uncommon to come across a FWD variant of the 01X or 01E. I then settled on an 01X transmission which I had shipped from Germany to the US.
I reached out to Kennedy Engineered Products for providing me with a package that will allow me to mate a GM LS series motor to an Audi transaxle. They sent me everything I needed and were very knowledgeable on what I was trying to accomplish. I received a billet adapter plate, flywheel, pressure plate, clutch disc, throw out bearing and all of the hardware required. The clutch may be overkill but it will support up to 650 ft lbs of torque. Top notch quality products and instructions.
The motor was simple. I opted for a 100k mile Gen IV 5.3 which is an aluminum block (to keep weight down). I purchased it for $300 on Facebook marketplace. I started by stripping it down for inspection and cleaning. I gave it a quick cylinder hone and reused the crank/rods/pistons. I installed a BTR stage 3 camshaft kit and deleted the DOD. The cylinder heads cleaned up like new after putting them in my vapor blast cabinet. I also lapped each valve into each port in the head. Replaced every gasket while it was apart and gave it a nice paint job.
Another big piece of the puzzle is the rear suspension. I wanted something not too custom because if components wear, I want them to be accessible at a local parts store. I started looking at suspension of various cars. I then found the perfect doner for the rear suspension setup. The rear suspension from a C5 corvette fit my goal. Readily available parts that won't break the bank. The geometry and strength of the axles, hubs and tie rods I feel confident in. I found an entire Rear suspension and cradle assembly on eBay for $400 delivered.
As far as getting all of this to fit. Luckily my buddy mike has a goblin and I was able to take measurements from his car and visualize how to make this a reality. The wheel base will be longer but only by a desirable amount. The goal is to design the subframe to bolt into a goblin chassis with no cutting or welding on the factory chassis. The subframe will hold the motor/transmission/control arms and coil overs. The reason for this is if it would be desired by anyone. In the future I will be able to replicate this subframe for someone else and have the recipe for what they need to do what I've done by taking the fabrication work out of it.
I am very thankful for the guys at DF putting a custom package order together for me as there were a lot of cobalt specific parts that will not be required for the direction I am going with it. Cannot wait for the chassis to be delivered so I can start the fabrication process. Happy to be a part of this community and hope I can leave a lasting positive impression! If anyone has any questions, comments or ideas I would love to hear them as I am open to everything! I will try to keep active on here and keep updating as I go along. I have been taking photos of the process so far and will be dumping those in here when I get a chance!
