kano501
Member
- kano501 Member
Well, I've delayed making a build thread for some time now but getting to the point where I just need to start organizing information better for my build. I had some MAJOR delays after I tore into my donor - the previous owner told some white lies and this caused for some upset with build time frame but I'll get more into that later.
Anyway, the name is Rohri. My story is, I got heavy into tracking my motorcycle which then led into cars. I got to a point where I was borderline teetering between street-able and track only for my car. One day back in 2021, while running at Road Atlanta, I had the Exocet guys pit behind me. I walked over to chat with them as they were unloading for the night. Come to find out, they were testing an Ecotec power plant setup in one of their chassis. I was highly intrigued as I had a Cobalt back in high school that I really enjoyed ('07 grad to show my age). Fast forward the next day, the owner was in my run group with a potential buyer. He came flying by me in the braking zone into turn 6. Anyone that knows this track knows that corner is not a high speed area as you prep for turn 7. However, here goes that Exocet, barely on the brakes and held his line! I was immediately hooked and needed to know more!
Fast forward, when I got home after that event, I began my research. I admittedly at the time could not remember "Exocet" and searched on Google for Cobalt Ecotec kit car and came across the Goblin by accident! After doing some forum digging, video watching and market researching, I decided to start my hunt for a donor before committing to getting an order in. Shortly after I actually found one locally through a friend of a friend. This is where things probably started going south for me. The story on the car and where the "white lies" begin is that its originally a northern car and had rust - great, I don't need the body so that checks one box. I was told that car had been down for a short time because of brake line issues. They tore the car apart to replace the lines and do a refresh and lost interest in the project as they got in over their head. Cool - I don't need the brakes or ABS from the donor so not a big deal. I was given the rest of the information - 2007 ~128k miles and a few mods:
- 3in pulley, 42lb injectors and zzp remote tune at ~105k
- timing chains done at 95k
- GMPP clutch at 85k
- fuel pump at 110k
- zzp fuel pump rewire
- zzp 3" catless downpipe
I hesitated as we originally could not agree on a price. So, I waited and kept searching but not as heavily as I was before.
As the end of the year approached, DF announced that they would be raising prices. So, as the saying goes - it was either sh1t or get off the pot! I reached back out to the owner to try and renegotiate. We agreed on a price with the condition of him taking items I removed and didn't need from the car so he could sell. We shook hands and exchanged the title for cash. In hind sight - I should have probably passed because the next part of the story is where the horror begins...
Anyway, the name is Rohri. My story is, I got heavy into tracking my motorcycle which then led into cars. I got to a point where I was borderline teetering between street-able and track only for my car. One day back in 2021, while running at Road Atlanta, I had the Exocet guys pit behind me. I walked over to chat with them as they were unloading for the night. Come to find out, they were testing an Ecotec power plant setup in one of their chassis. I was highly intrigued as I had a Cobalt back in high school that I really enjoyed ('07 grad to show my age). Fast forward the next day, the owner was in my run group with a potential buyer. He came flying by me in the braking zone into turn 6. Anyone that knows this track knows that corner is not a high speed area as you prep for turn 7. However, here goes that Exocet, barely on the brakes and held his line! I was immediately hooked and needed to know more!
Fast forward, when I got home after that event, I began my research. I admittedly at the time could not remember "Exocet" and searched on Google for Cobalt Ecotec kit car and came across the Goblin by accident! After doing some forum digging, video watching and market researching, I decided to start my hunt for a donor before committing to getting an order in. Shortly after I actually found one locally through a friend of a friend. This is where things probably started going south for me. The story on the car and where the "white lies" begin is that its originally a northern car and had rust - great, I don't need the body so that checks one box. I was told that car had been down for a short time because of brake line issues. They tore the car apart to replace the lines and do a refresh and lost interest in the project as they got in over their head. Cool - I don't need the brakes or ABS from the donor so not a big deal. I was given the rest of the information - 2007 ~128k miles and a few mods:
- 3in pulley, 42lb injectors and zzp remote tune at ~105k
- timing chains done at 95k
- GMPP clutch at 85k
- fuel pump at 110k
- zzp fuel pump rewire
- zzp 3" catless downpipe
I hesitated as we originally could not agree on a price. So, I waited and kept searching but not as heavily as I was before.
As the end of the year approached, DF announced that they would be raising prices. So, as the saying goes - it was either sh1t or get off the pot! I reached back out to the owner to try and renegotiate. We agreed on a price with the condition of him taking items I removed and didn't need from the car so he could sell. We shook hands and exchanged the title for cash. In hind sight - I should have probably passed because the next part of the story is where the horror begins...
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