V1 Deciding on a Donor for my Car Draumr

[Hayden2053]

after some thinking, I have decided that it might end up being better and cheaper for now to get a manual base goblin/cobalt and later on get a ZZP supercharger kit and a cobalt SC to put on it which would put me roughly at 1100 saying I bought a used SC. The one problem I am not fully certain about is how much of the 2.2 or 2.4L engine I would have to replace to be safe running the SC and not end up destroying the engine. one person I was talking to about this commented that I could buy an already built 2.0 with a SC but they are very expensive and would not make doing this part worth it versus just getting a SC kit and car. I could get the SC kit and car for roughly 4,130 (that's with the SC kit minus 710 that the manual base is and a car for 3,500) and that would be cheaper than a fully new built-up engine from someone like ZZP or another manufacturer. what are your thoughts on this? Also for now my future goblins name is going to be Draumr which means Dream in the language from a book series I like and also in Icelandic by chance.

 

[Traé]

There are people here that have supercharged a 2.2, and probably a 2.4. @jirwin is one of them and @Robf supercharged a stock and turbocharged a built motor if i remember correctly. Read through their build logs. It is a great option to save on cash. The car and the kit will be cheaper all together. You will have to buy parts later on but you can save for that once the kit is done and you find out if you actually need more powah. Base models are everywhere and can be found with pretty low miles, manuals are a bit tougher but look on facebook at ALL options and verify if it is a 5-speed through pictures. The amount of 5-speed 2.2s and 2.4s i found while searching that were posted incorrectly was crazy. You will want to look for a base model that is newer than 05 or 06 as they are not able to be tuned unless you have a standalone ECM, you will have to research the exact cut off, but someone can chime in here. I was very close to buying a 2.4 but found an SS/SC for the same price. Still hoping I made the right decision as i found some weird stuff while tearing it apart.

Edit, Rob may not have a build log on here but he is on youtube and facebook on the goblin owners page.

 

[Joebob]

As one who added a supercharger to my 2.4L ....Auto... you are missing a few things.

• The weak link in the system is the engine internals roughly 220whp for the 2.2 and 250whp for the 2.4
• You will need a wideband O2 sensor +$200
• Goblin heat exchanger +$200 as the cobalt will not fit
• LSJ intake manifold ~+$400
• LSJ supercharger ~+$300
• Tuning of the cobalt for the supercharger +$300-$500 based on ZZP remote tuning or self tuning with HPtuners
• Ods and ends (brackets, hose, mounts, ect) ~$100

In the end I spent about $2000 to make my system and you can read my build log. To add forced induction is not just a $700 endeavor.

The NA 2.4 was plenty fast for me. I only added the SC because a take off was available local and I like to tinker.

Joe

 

[Hayden2053]

As one who added a supercharger to my 2.4L ....Auto... you are missing a few things.

• The weak link in the system is the engine internals roughly 220whp for the 2.2 and 250whp for the 2.4
• You will need a wideband O2 sensor +$200
• Goblin heat exchanger +$200 as the cobalt will not fit
• LSJ intake manifold ~+$400
• LSJ supercharger ~+$300
• Tuning of the cobalt for the supercharger +$300-$500 based on ZZP remote tuning or self tuning with HPtuners
• Ods and ends (brackets, hose, mounts, ect) ~$100

In the end I spent about $2000 to make my system and you can read my build log. To add forced induction is not just a $700 endeavor.

The NA 2.4 was plenty fast for me. I only added the SC because a take off was available local and I like to tinker.

Joe

so for you examples it is just better to go with the SC kit and car vs building on later

 

[Hayden2053]

There are people here that have supercharged a 2.2, and probably a 2.4. @jirwin is one of them and @Robf supercharged a stock and turbocharged a built motor if i remember correctly. Read through their build logs. It is a great option to save on cash. The car and the kit will be cheaper all together. You will have to buy parts later on but you can save for that once the kit is done and you find out if you actually need more powah. Base models are everywhere and can be found with pretty low miles, manuals are a bit tougher but look on facebook at ALL options and verify if it is a 5-speed through pictures. The amount of 5-speed 2.2s and 2.4s i found while searching that were posted incorrectly was crazy. You will want to look for a base model that is newer than 05 or 06 as they are not able to be tuned unless you have a standalone ECM, you will have to research the exact cut off, but someone can chime in here. I was very close to buying a 2.4 but found an SS/SC for the same price. Still hoping I made the right decision as i found some weird stuff while tearing it apart.

Edit, Rob may not have a build log on here but he is on youtube and facebook on the goblin owners page.

about the lowest I have been able to find even remote close to a decent running ss/sc has been 3,500 makes sense yet just seems expensive and copart one wont work with how many people will want that one. i guess I'm not sure. I'm at 1,860 saved up and been saving for it for roughly 2.5 months it takes away almost all of my paycheck at 350 per but gets me closer sooner than 250 per

 

[Traé]

so for you examples it is just better to go with the SC kit and car vs building on later

There are a lot of happy folks with an NA Goblin. It’s not necessary to have a high amount of power in such a light vehicle. I’m not sure who all is in Michigan or if someone has a finished, naturally aspirated goblin near you, but you can always see if they’d let you check it out. There’s a post on the forums, I can try to find it, talking about the 0-60 times with each engine and they are incredibly close yet still far quicker than a lot, if not all, cars you will see on the road day to day.

If you want one ASAP go the cheaper route and add power later. Like I said before, you may not feel the need for it. Who knows where you will be 4 years down the road, you may have the wherewithal to put tons of work into your car and engine to get it where you’d like. I questioned if I need a 1500lb car with 240hp. Then there’s people on here with 400+…but they’re crazy .

 

[Joebob]

so for you examples it is just better to go with the SC kit and car vs building on later

The point I am trying to make is that the ZZP supercharger kit for $700 leaves out about $1300-$1800 worth of parts to actually having a safe running machine. Fun yes. Worth it...Yes. Done for $700...Nope.

If lowest total money spent is your goal, buy a cobalt SS/SC. If you want cheap now and ability to build up later with a little more total spend, get a base 2007+ cobalt.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

What has been your driving experience so far? What car do you own now? What cars have you driven at any competitive level?

Just know that 10 lbs. per HP in a car as light as a Goblin is likely twice the power to weight ratio than anything you've driven. So a 2.2 NA with 155 HP is more than adequate to start with. Dreams of monster HP are good to have, but until the experience is there, handling that big HP is a higher risk to you and others. Start your journey in a reasonable, and affordable, way. You can always go big later on when your disposable income can afford it.

 

[Dsteinhorst]

Start with an N/A donor. Many of us did then we went supercharged. I'm on year three and 7000 miles on stock 2.2 motor with 250 WHP. Now, I don't beat on it a ton, but the motor will be fine.

Here's my costs 3 years ago.
A good tune will likely be another $1000.

I'm happy to support any way I can.

 

[ah.b.normal]

Start with an N/A donor. Many of us did then we went supercharged. I'm on year three and 7000 miles on stock 2.2 motor with 250 WHP. Now, I don't beat on it a ton, but the motor will be fine.

Here's my costs 3 years ago.
A good tune will likely be another $1000.
View attachment 47500

I'm happy to support any way I can.

Wow! You are Exactly the Guru Hayden NEEDS! Nice to get a report that a 2.2 can live at 250 HP! I've been wondering how much the stock bits would handle. In my neighborhood 2.2's are falling from the trees, I could blow one up without shedding a tear.(I think I have 3)
And I hear every Malibu 4 cyl is hiding a 2.4! At 10-16 years old, if the air bags go off it's toast.(I think they will total 10 y/o cars around here because the ash tray is full!) Makes those 2.4's cheap!
I've been told the VVT 2.4 will run on the VVT 2.2 computer? The wiring appears to be the same. So use original? or buy a ECM?

 

[Hayden2053]

What has been your driving experience so far? What car do you own now? What cars have you driven at any competitive level?

Just know that 10 lbs. per HP in a car as light as a Goblin is likely twice the power to weight ratio than anything you've driven. So a 2.2 NA with 155 HP is more than adequate to start with. Dreams of monster HP are good to have, but until the experience is there, handling that big HP is a higher risk to you and others. Start your journey in a reasonable, and affordable, way. You can always go big later on when your disposable income can afford it.

None, just a 18 year old with a impala so not much besides a fair bit in field and snow of drifting around with my dads old farm truck

 

[Hayden2053]

I found a ss/SC need new transmission and it comes with a used one person ran out of time and would like it gone ran good when parked and wants 2k for it should I go for it and replace the transmission and if I end up not being able to use it as a donor/ not get the kit in time and sell it and maybe make a bit or keep going for the kit? I am looking at getting a new job right now but it's a long very painful and demeaning thing to try and do.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Be careful of 'ran when parked' ads. If it is just the transmission that's bad, the engine should still run. If the owner cannot or will not let you hear it run, this may not be the deal you think it is. The LSJ engines are getting rarer to find and if it needs replacing too that 2K is not a deal.

Keep in mind a good used F35 will cost some $$ and it's likely the clutch will need to be replaced, so include that cost in your calculation. Might be a good idea to have someone familiar with a Cobalt (or more experience working on cars) go with you to look this one over before you spend your hard earned money.

 

[TheAnesthetist]

I'm still waiting to find any vehicle anywhere that didn't run when parked.

 

[Hayden2053]

Be careful of 'ran when parked' ads. If it is just the transmission that's bad, the engine should still run. If the owner cannot or will not let you hear it run, this may not be the deal you think it is. The LSJ engines are getting rarer to find and if it needs replacing too that 2K is not a deal.

Keep in mind a good used F35 will cost some $$ and it's likely the clutch will need to be replaced, so include that cost in your calculation. Might be a good idea to have someone familiar with a Cobalt (or more experience working on cars) go with you to look this one over before you spend your hard earned money.

It comes with another transmission the person just had other things come up so they never got the time to do it, I'd bring my dad alone and he'd be able to tell me a decent bit plus a battery or jump pack to start the car if they let me if not I will no buy it no questions asked.

 

[Hayden2053]

I'm still waiting to find any vehicle anywhere that didn't run when parked.

yea it would probably be a massive pain to get it going again, crate engine is the next option maybe, I'm pretty sure I just talked to linex and they quoted me 2k to coat the frame so I guess I wont be getting to do the goblin at all how I wanted to where it would last a long time and not look awful after awhile from stones and other stuff chipping paint. unless I can start making miracles happen and get a better job than 11 dollars a hour and almost 13 hours a week

 

[Gtstorey]

I think it's time for me to rain on your dreams. You can't afford a toy such as a Goblin at this point in your life. Get your life on track and revisit in a few years. If the Goblin isn't an option then, life will move on. If you try and move ahead at this point, you will waste a bunch of money you can't afford and probably will never finish the project. It will cost more than you think to do this, it always does.

 

[Sluggonaut]

yea it would probably be a massive pain to get it going again, crate engine is the next option maybe, I'm pretty sure I just talked to linex and they quoted me 2k to coat the frame so I guess I wont be getting to do the goblin at all how I wanted to where it would last a long time and not look awful after awhile from stones and other stuff chipping paint. unless I can start making miracles happen and get a better job than 11 dollars a hour and almost 13 hours a week

Powder coating is half that cost and quite durable. If funds are limited, your best bet is to continue saving and either buy the new version a few years down the road or buy a used V1 if you don't like V2.

Projects of all types, and especially car projects, always require contingency funds. Plan on 20% more than what the raw numbers tell you. That number may be higher if you like to venture off the beaten path.

If you are dead set on getting into a project like this with minimal funding, you will need to sacrifice some of the details of your dream (power adder, color, manual). If those details are important, funding cannot be minimal and you need to be patient and wait until the money is there.

 

[Hayden2053]

Yea, I guess just a dream sadly. Just miss enjoying the weather while on motorcycle and this was my way to enjoy it again just sucks that because of lack of schooling and luck I won't be able to enjoy my time

 

[Hayden2053]

Applied at another place hopefully can get in with the welding experience I have might help me out some