V1 Deviant Goblin - Extended Track #373 | 07 SS/SC donor

[devianteng]

Probably mine, I only welded tabs to use inset panels instead of the solid aluminum panels. I also removed the tabs that were in place for side and engine panels.

Yours looks great too! The inset panels and exposed bars is a look I'm definitely going for well!

Thanks appreciate that! I like having a goblin that stands out against other goblins.

The hood you made, is it hinged? I'd love to bend a couple tubes, weld it up with inset panels, and do a front hinge like a Corvette hood. It'd be awesome!

 

[devianteng]

November 21, 2021
Today was my first real day working on the disassembly. I basically made it through the first 2 videos which took me about 75-90 minutes to do. I'm basically committed at this point to leaving the donor where it's at in my shop, up on the QuickJacks, until she's completely tore down. Will use the tractor to get the shell out, but that's probably after the new year.
Before tearing into it, I did (with some help) bleed the clutch slave cylinder, which definitely had air in it. Got it flowing fluid, but the pedal still isn't grabbing. Oh well, not going to let that slow down progress and I'll go over everything once the engine is out (new slave and master cylinders, since I'll already be there; upgraded clutch, hopefully find a LSD to add in, etc).
Already have the hood and front bumper sold for $400, so now I'm only in the donor for $1400. Hoping to see $100 for the fenders, $250 for the doors, and $100 for the spoiler pretty quick. I will probably sell the stock wheels and tires, and maybe the sunroof if I can find a buyer first. Hoping to pay off my donor and have extra cash to put toward new wheels/tires, seats, and steering wheel. Oh, and I'm probably going to make a recining shop couch out of the factory front seats (unless I can sell the seats for decent money). They need to be reupholstered, but I think it would look awesome!
Anyway, pictures aren't anything too exciting, but it feels great to finally get started!

Spoiler: PHOTOS

 

[Sluggonaut]

Already have the hood and front bumper sold for $400

No wonder my hood, front bumper, and fenders sold so fast - I bundled them for $250. Lol

 

[devianteng]

No wonder my hood, front bumper, and fenders sold so fast - I bundled them for $250. Lol

I mean, if you want them out of the way right away, then that was a good deal. Hoping to get another $100 out of the fenders, so we’ll see.

 

[Sluggonaut]

I mean, if you want them out of the way right away, then that was a good deal. Hoping to get another $100 out of the fenders, so we’ll see.

I'm just looking at prices online and trying to price based on that. I'd love to get as much money back as I can but I also don't want to hang onto this stuff any longer than I have to.

Based on what you got I let them go for too little and likely have prices on my doors and seats too high. I'm sort of hoping the seats don't sell as I want to make some shop seats myself.

 

[Ark :D]

I would not fret over a perceived few lost bucks on your used Cobalt parts. There's not really a set market for those things; it's worth what someone thinks it's worth. I felt fortunate to get $600 total from a guy for my '08 SS seats (one was bent up a bit from the accident) and all the plastic bits from the interior. He also came back later and paid me $150 for the rear axle beam by itself. On the other hand, I only got a combined $75 for the rear bumper covers from BOTH of my donors.

It's a matter of having the right parts available to the right buyer, at the right time.

 

[devianteng]

I'm just looking at prices online and trying to price based on that. I'd love to get as much money back as I can but I also don't want to hang onto this stuff any longer than I have to.

Based on what you got I let them go for too little and likely have prices on my doors and seats too high. I'm sort of hoping the seats don't sell as I want to make some shop seats myself.

I was planning on selling my seats, but after getting them out of the shop and onto the floor...it just clicked. It would be really cool to keep those seats around especially considering they were from the donor. What did you price your doors for? I have my fenders listed for $100 and doors listed for $250 on FB right now. Listed last night and have a few people interested already.

I would not fret over a perceived few lost bucks on your used Cobalt parts. There's not really a set market for those things; it's worth what someone thinks it's worth. I felt fortunate to get $600 total from a guy for my '09 SS seats (one was bent up a bit from the accident) and all the plastic bits from the interior. He also came back later and paid me $150 for the rear axle beam by itself. On the other hand, I only got a combined $75 for the rear bumper covers from BOTH of my donors.

It's a matter of having the right parts available to the right buyer, at the right time.

For sure, absolutely. Getting my money back is not a make or break thing, and I don't want to sit on parts for longer than necessary. But in the end, if I can say that I got my donor and all the parts I needed for the kit, and made my money back with a profit? Just icing on the cake, lol.

 

[DCMoney]

Yours looks great too! The inset panels and exposed bars is a look I'm definitely going for well!


The hood you made, is it hinged? I'd love to bend a couple tubes, weld it up with inset panels, and do a front hinge like a Corvette hood. It'd be awesome!

Yep, I made the front mounting bolts the pivot points, welded tabs to the frame prior to powdercoat for 3/8" detent pins.

 

[Sluggonaut]

What did you price your doors for? I have my fenders listed for $100 and doors listed for $250 on FB right now. Listed last night and have a few people interested already.

I have my doors listed for $350 each or $600 for the pair. Rust and dent-free with perfect tint. I came to that price after seeing the prices for door panels, glass, and other part prices - figured $350 is a steal. lol

I have my seats listed at $275 each or $450 for the pair. Seats are heated and no tears.

I've had a lot of interest but only the one sale so far.

 

[devianteng]

Yep, I made the front mounting bolts the pivot points, welded tabs to the frame prior to powdercoat for 3/8" detent pins.

View attachment 28886

View attachment 28887

Man, you’ve done exactly what I had pictured in my head. I have an idea to do some tubular bends instead of all straight tube, but the principal is the same. Love it!

I have my doors listed for $350 each or $600 for the pair. Rust and dent-free with perfect tint. I came to that price after seeing the prices for door panels, glass, and other part prices - figured $350 is a steal. lol

I have my seats listed at $275 each or $450 for the pair. Seats are heated and no tears.

I've had a lot of interest but only the one sale so far.

Oh wow, I have my doors listed for $250 for the pair. Windows aren’t tinted but no cracks or anything. Driver side door is great, and the passenger side door is really good but has 2 small dings in it. I feel like I should relist with a higher price now, haha. My drive seat is wore (needs to be reupholstered) and I was thinking $200 for the pair. I don’t think my seats are heated, I’ve at least seen nothing that would lead me to believe they were heated. I figured for $200 I‘d rather keep the pair and make some shop furniture.

 

[neodied]

Hey DevEng! Our builds will be very similar (07 SS/SC manual -> extended track frame) and I just ordered my kit yesterday! (#375). Though it sounds like you have waaay more experience in the tuning department and with Cobalts in general. I'll be following your build closely

 

[devianteng]

Hey DevEng! Our builds will be very similar (07 SS/SC manual -> extended track frame) and I just ordered my kit yesterday! (#375). Though it sounds like you have waaay more experience in the tuning department and with Cobalts in general. I'll be following your build closely

Hey there! Looking over your build, I'll probably be following yours close as well! Welcome!

 

[devianteng]

November 26, 2021
Black Friday got me. I ordered the ZZP Entry Level K04 Turbo Kit, along with their S3 Heat Exchanger and Dual Pass Endplate. This wasn't in the plans, but plans are made to change; right? Looks like my "version 1" build will now be a LSJt K04 setup with 80# injectors and tuned on 93 Octane. Hopefully this can get me 300whp and 350 ft-lb torque!
I fully expect to also buy neutral balance shafts and a new intercooler pump before the kit is built. Otherwise I'm going to try and stay off ZZP/OTTP for the time being.

Spoiler: PHOTOS

November 28, 2021
Made it through videos 3 and 4, removing the powertrain. Really wasn't too bad, just time consuming making sure I label everything. Definitely was a little messy but manageable.
Next up is getting the interior stripped and dash out, which I don't think will be too daunting. Thinking ahead, I'm hoping to have the donor completely stripped and the shell out of my shop by the end of the year. Should be doable as long as I can find the time to get out to the shop!

Spoiler: PHOTOS

 

[MR.812]

Good progress.

 

[devianteng]

December 01, 2021
Made it through the first half of video 5, in about a hours worth of work pretty much stripping the interior minus the dash. Only 1 of the seatbelt T50 bolts gave me trouble, otherwise my ICON brand T50 held up great. Also got my first touch of old sticky harness. I'm actually looking forward to reworking the harness, but do dread the stripping and cleanup of old tape/loom. Part of the fun though.
Hoping to get 2 hours in tomorrow and get the dash and harnesses out of the car.

Spoiler: PHOTOS

 

[devianteng]

December 07, 2021
Finished video 5, and got the dash out. Progress has been slow due to life and kids, but I think we all have run into that during a project like this. Not to mention the below freezing temps, but my torpedo heater has been doing a great job keeping the shop comfortable.
Previous Cobalt owner had a Viper alarm/remote start installed, so it took me a good 20 minutes to unwire and remove that. I also didn't have an extra set of hands so I had to get creative to get the dash out, but I did it without damage. With any luck, the donor shell will be out of my shop by the end of the weekend so I can setup spots to tear down the dash and start the wire harness work.

Oh, I've also canceled my K04 kit order. After thinking about it for a few days, it just didn't make sense. Instead of the Siemens 80# injectors, I want to run the FIC 870cc split spray injectors. The kit came with a downpipe that I don't need, so it's just a waste of money. The K04 turbo wasn't an endgame turbo fro me (I want a z54 or z57, probably), I'll eventually have to replace the stock LSJ intake manifold and I want to go with the OTTP turbo intake manifold, I want to go with an external wastegate setup, I'll probably end up air-to-air instead of air-to-water, etc. Just did not make sense to buy that K04 kit for $1600 and the S3 heat exchanger for another $200 knowing that a lot of it would be replaced within a year. So to keep things moving forward with this build, I will be building the Goblin with the stock LSJ setup. I may do a few things like neutral balance shafts, 82# valve springs with titanium retainers...standard supporting mods that don't require returning at this stage. Then once the car is built, I can enjoy it for the rest of the 2022 season and next winter can do all the go fast stuff.

Spoiler: PHOTOS

 

[Sluggonaut]

Be careful moving that pig around. I smashed one of my BCM connectors during the dash stage somewhere, so be mindful of the plastic danglers as you move and rotate that thing for disassembly.

 

[devianteng]

Be careful moving that pig around. I smashed one of my BCM connectors during the dash stage somewhere, so be mindful of the plastic danglers as you move and rotate that thing for disassembly.

Yes, I was quite worried about that and ziptied everything I could up out of the way. I sat the dash down as gently as I could inside the car, then rolled it to it's topside and dragged it out that way. Don't care if I tear up the top of the dash, but those multiplugs? Yeah...want to protect those as much as possible!

 

[devianteng]

December 08, 2021
Video 6 complete. Harness has been removed, and all that's left is parking brake, shifter linkage, and fuel pump assembly. Really debating not dealing with dropping the fuel tank and instead buying a new pump and filter. I guess I'd probably still have to get the fuel filler neck out, and not sure about any wire harness down there. I'm sure I'm not the first to avoid dropping the fuel tank so I'll search the forums and see what I can find.

On track to have the donor out of my shop by Saturday, and get to stripping the dash. Might even have the harness all ready to go by end of the year.

Spoiler: PHOTOS

 

[devianteng]

December 11, 2021
Completed video 8, and got the shell ready to leave the shop. Threw all the things inside the car I don't care about or need, and someone is coming to pick up the shell to get it out of my way. Picked up a sheet of MDF to make a 4x8 table to get ready for wire harness work, but next up will be stripping the dash and taking inventory of all my donor parts (fingers crossed I have everything, or most everything).

Car is off the lift and sitting on a pair of wheel dollies, ready to be pushed to the edge of the shop and winched onto a trailer. Good riddance!

Spoiler: PHOTOS