V1 Inspecting my obviously modified donor and making pre-kit modifications

[ARabidNull]

I originally planned on ordering my kit two months ago, but reality has a way of ignoring your expectations and going on with its own plan. With a more critical look, I'm actually going to be ordering a kit sometime between September 2021 and February 2022. However, I've already purchased a donor.

The only time I've driven a stick was in 1995 for a total of about six hours. So I purchased a 2006 Supercharged Cobalt SS a few months ago and started practicing. Since then I've noticed that it's been modified. ZZPerformance engine mount(s), custom exhaust header, who knows what else. My plan is to take stock of the current state of the engine/transmission/tune and possibly make some (cheaper/easier) modifications as appropriate.

I've been a "car guy" for a whole year and a half and a computer programmer by trade so I'm particularly interested in tuning and finding out if (and how) my donor has been tuned but I'd also like any advice I can get to help me figure out what changes have been made.

 

[socaljeff3798]

The lead time on kits right now is about 3 months!...Yes they are that busy. And I suspect it may get longer. You might want to keep that in mind for your time line.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

The physical stuff is easy enough to spot and you can always send a photo to ask the forum. The programming stuff will require someone with HP Tuners to determine what is changed from stock.

 

[ARabidNull]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. My timeframe is dictated by my current task list more than anything. My wife and I moved from a house with no yard to a property with a few acres that need work so until my to-do list is short enough, I don't want to add to it. I'll adjust my order with the lead time in mind.

 

[ARabidNull]

The physical stuff is easy enough to spot and you can always send a photo to ask the forum. The programming stuff will require someone with HP Tuners to determine what is changed from stock.

I'll probably order an HP Tuners setup at some point. The computer nerd in me can't resist.

 

[Ross]

With HP Tuners, you can download and inspect your tune, as long as it isn't locked by a previous tuner.
Does your donor already have an aftermarket wideband gauge installed? (AFR gauge = Air Fuel Ratio)
If not, you will need to add one in order to do tuning.

 

[Rttoys]

Ya. Post a few pics of the engine compartment. We can spot several things. Tuning, HP tuners is the way to go. I think with your computer background, you’ll have a lot of fun with it.

 

[ARabidNull]

Here are a few pics. I'll look into HP Tuners.

 

[ARabidNull]

With HP Tuners, you can download and inspect your tune, as long as it isn't locked by a previous tuner.
Does your donor already have an aftermarket wideband gauge installed? (AFR gauge = Air Fuel Ratio)
If not, you will need to add one in order to do tuning.

I don't think it does, I'll put it on the list of things to figure out/get.

 

[ctuinstra]

I can tell I'm getting old. I find it interesting what has been done to these cars by the younger generations. Too be honest, I did things much like this, so I'm not dogging on them.

ZZP engine mount.
Looks like the supercharger has been opened for some reason, the black plate is not normal.
Red loom on random wires
plate over the fusebox, why?
CAI

 

[ctuinstra]

I don't think it does, I'll put it on the list of things to figure out/get.

AEM wideband 30-0300 is a good choice.

 

[ARabidNull]

Red loom on random wires

Red = fast!

Here's a picture of the air intake pipe and that very cool fusebox plate.

 

[ctuinstra]

I'm more impressed with the red positive post cap. Those things are always missing.

 

[Ark :D]

I'm more impressed with the red positive post cap. Those things are always missing.

I managed to snag a fuse box on eBay that actually had one, I felt pretty special.

 

[ARabidNull]

Good news! I found an AEM air/fuel ratio gauge crammed into the little bin on the driver's side that also has the trunk release button.

Bad news! It doesn't work. The photo is from the car running.

 

[ARabidNull]

Looks like the supercharger has been opened for some reason, the black plate is not normal.

Yeah, I'm trying to figure this out but no amount of Googling is helping.

 

[ctuinstra]

Yeah, I'm trying to figure this out but no amount of Googling is helping.

It may have just been serviced. Ours was like new on our car and when I took it off, it had a date code or something on the inside. Not sure if it means anything or not.