Brand new here: Questions about finding a doner and is this project right for me?

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Since you are walking the path into the Goblin community, let me offer my apology for taking your message intent the wrong way. I made a wrong assumption of your true intent. Let's try this again - welcome to forum. Please let us know if you have any questions about anything to do with the Goblin, donor or any ideas about mods you may be contemplating - good chance someone has tried it and can provide some information or tips.

 

[duthehustle93]

All good! I can definitely see how you saw it that way, and I appreciate it. I'm sure the community will be hearing from me plenty once I get started lol.

 

[CCascioli]

Welcome to the forums! I just want to throw out there that I used Uship.com to have my donor car delivered to me. If you are not familiar it’s a site that you post what you want shipped and people bid on the job. I had my donor delivered from 3 hours away for $400… if you are looking for a route that doesn’t require a lot of work on your part

 

[ah.b.normal]

First of all, "Project Car" and "Budget" cannot be used together in the same sentence. I mean, really, let's stay out of fantasy land. You are among friends here, no need to sugar coat it, we understand.

 

[dgfalk]

So today a doner popped up on facebook: "2009 Cobalt LS Coupe $2,000 Selling my 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. It has the 2.2 liter engine, 5 speed manual transmission, and has 164,000 miles. Everything on the vehicle works as it should. I’ve owned the vehicle since 2015 and have put about 60,000 miles on it."

I like that its a manual but the mileage seems a bit high, however Its only a few miles away. From the pics the interior looks amazing for this year/miles, the rocker arms are pretty rusted out on both sides. I really wanna jump on this one but what do you guys think?

 

[duthehustle93]

FWIW, we ran the Gambler 500 w/ a scrapyard cavalier Z24 that had 330k miles on the original engine+auto transmission. The engine I believe was an L61 (similar/same(?) to that 2.2) and it was pretty clear it's had a long life of not being loved. We did very little to get it running and promptly drove to oregon where it finished the Gambler 500 without a single issue. Afterwards, we knew the car was going to the scrapper (was worthless and wouldn't pass CA smog) so we tried experimenting with how hard it would be to kill it... we put wrong fluids in it, dirt in the transmission, neutral drops, every cold start was floored, ran it on hand sanitizer, etc and we couldn't kill it. I still wonder if we filled that engine with sand if it would have powered through it.

Point being, these ecotecs are tanks. It sounds like that car saw mostly highway mileage and if it has service records or proof of being loved, then I wouldn't be too worried about that mileage.

 

[Ross]

The 2.2L engines are everywhere. That doesn't seem all that special to me. If it was a 2.4L or a 2.0L SS Cobalt, then it would be special... but maybe that is just the inner racer in me.
Are you looking on Coparts & IAAI? Have you been looking long? I would recommend 2-4 months for Cobalt shopping... depending on your time vs money valuation. Guess I am cheap, as I am willing to spend time to save money. $2000 for a donor is good, but for an SS it would be great. It also depends where you live, as some areas are more expensive for cars.

 

[Robinjo]

I paid $2k for a running/driving SS/SC variant but that was before the Cobalt market got silly. I know the fear of not having a kit but you can modify your order with DF up to them invoicing and shipping. Also, the SC or Turbo items could be added on after delivery.

Short of it, I'd keep looking until you find the right one. Pay a little more for the platform you want, not just jumping on one you are making work.

 

[Ark :D]

A 2.2L NA Goblin is quick. The 2.0L SC and TC variants are quicker.

Early 2.2's (early meaning, 05 and 06 ... I don't think 07 is considered an early model) cannot be tuned. Later 2.2's, all 2.0's, and (I THINK) all 2.4's can be tuned. All this means is, if you pick up an early 2.2, you won't be able to add a supercharger or turbocharger later. If tweaking/upgrading will be a thing for you, then make sure you avoid early 2.2's.

2.0 supercharged donors and 2.4 NA donors I believe come with the strongest engines from the factory. 2.0 turbo donors are next in line for strongest engines, and everything else comes after those. Regardless of what engine your donor has, you'll need to build the engine a bit with stronger rods, pistons, etc if you want to make REAL power. This is not my area of expertise, so I'll cut it off there.

2.2's are everywhere, and are a dime a dozen, especially if you buy a wrecked one from Copart/IAAI. 2.0 SC and TC donors are getting quite scarce. I got lucky and paid $1700 for my totaled 2008 SS/TC with 78k miles, which started and ran. Since it was smashed in the front driver's side and was immobile, I needed to source new front suspension bits while building the Goblin.

Hope these tidbits help you some.

 

[Robinjo]

One cavate to Ark's post, 2.0 SC/TC are quicker and sound awesome......

 

[Ark :D]

One cavate to Ark's post, 2.0 SC/TC are quicker and sound awesome......

Funny you should mention that. One of my buddies insists my "big go cart" sounds like a tractor. Whatever you say, boss.

 

[Sluggonaut]

Funny you should mention that. One of my buddies insists my "big go cart" sounds like a tractor. Whatever you say, boss.

I mean, at idle he's not wrong. It sounds a lot different under load than it does at low RPM's.

 

[ah.b.normal]

There are many wiring differences between a S/C or T/C car VS a N/A car! To add a S/C or T/C will likely require a stand alone ECM, mucho tuning and additional wiring, probably from your "Charger" supplier. Maybe Fuel system, Exhaust and Intake changes as well? Possibly different engine cams? Though I know I could add someone's aftermarket turbo kit to my 2.2 Things would prove simpler for anyone to start with the Cobalt SS of your choice! On my visit to DF Goblin, Adam showed me an original unit of theirs, 2.2 Automatic. Yes it's not competition to a 2.0 Turbo but it is a now a car that the PMI(Polar Moment of Inertia) is behind the driver, above the drive wheels and it squirts from 0-60 way faster than it's Cobalt Donor ever could!(I think he said 4.5 to 5 second 0-60?) Imagine a car that weighs 2500# suddenly losing half a ton(-1000# A Goblin weighs about 1600# wet.) In the 80's and 90's Hot Rod magazine applied torches and other metal cutting devices to a 81 Cadillac sedan,(and once to a early 80's Vette) Without it's body and huge bumpers and luxo interior, a loss of about 1800# it became a 1/4 mile killer! Turning in 11 second 1/4 mile times. I believe 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds? If it can get traction, the same car lightened is always faster! The Vette they hacked up had to get a roll bar before it could be run on the dragstrip, it was instantly a sub 11 second 1/4 mi contraption.(FYI: a car that will go 12.99 seconds in the 1/4 mile is probably hitting about 110 to 120mph at the finish line. Usually 0-60 in about 4.5 seconds. Not many cars can run sub 4 second 0-60 and the quickest street exotics run ~3 and cost anywhere from $65,000 up. The sky is the limit! Feel free to check my numbers, but you get the idea.) So Imagine probably faster 0-60 than a new Vette for the price of a two year old off lease fully loaded Camry or less.(sorry, no A/C)

 

[Rttoys]

One cavate to Ark's post, 2.0 SC/TC are quicker and sound awesome......

And the SC are more betterer than the TC.

Shots fired

 

[Ark :D]

And the SC are more betterer than the TC.

Shots fired

Are you suuuuuuure about that?

 

[Rttoys]

Are you suuuuuuure about that?

Well ya. Because I have one.

 

[Ark :D]

Well ya. Because I have one.

Very suspect logic.

 

[Rttoys]

 

[Rttoys]

S comes before T in the alphabet, so it has to be better.

 

[Sluggonaut]

S comes before T in the alphabet, so it has to be better.

P for pssshhh comes before W for whine.