Hi everyone,

So, as some know, I purchased a 2009 SS/TC Sedan on 09/08/2016. Here is what it looked like:

Sorry for potato photos. Was using my galaxy s3 at the time.









Dirty ass K&N filter and VC leak.


Fun curb rash on all wheels, this was the worst one though.



Car had 139k miles on it. Off the bat, I noticed a bunch of things. The car was pretty banged up when I went to look at it. Recently had front bumper/drivers fender replaced, so of course the bumper doesn't line up correctly. Rust on drivers rear door. scratches EVERYWHERE. wheels are scuffed to hell. Suspension noise coming from front. Clunk out of rear. Tear in rear seat. Oil leak from VC gasket. Has 2 different headlights, as one was amber and other was clear LOL. The reverse lockout was broken so I had to hunt for 5th, Left Front tire was shot as it was mounted with the "inside" on the outside. Timing chain/tensioner was never done. Rear brakes were shot.

Anyway, I decided to buy it for $5k because the blue is rare, sedans are rare, and it ran very very good. I was in love at first drive lessthan3. **** MY N/A AUTOMATIC G5. what a boring car compared to this one!

Sold my 2009 Pontiac G5 for $4800


and bought the cobalt for $5000. Sounds good to me

Anyway, after purchasing the car, I started buying parts to fix it:

Valve Cover Gasket set
Timing chain set
Rear brake rotors with hawk HPS pads
BPS Short Throw shifter
2 new continental tires

I installed all of the above myself.

I had alloy wheel repair come out and resurface my wheels last week. Here is what they look like now:





I also ordered something amazing, which I have done to my trans am as well... From Moonlit Retrofits!




Here is how the car stands now. Ignore the dirtiness... I took some closeups of the scratches/paint chips.






Damage:






Plans:
Replace all 4 center caps as they are fading
going to try blue lug nuts LOL
Sand out all the god damn scratches
Fix drivers/passenger side window... they like to go up slow
Powell v2 kit
ZZP downpipe + catback
GM Stage 1 map sensor + HP tuners

 

EDIT:

lessthan3 killing my post haha

 

Wheels look great. What does it cost to have something like that done? Can they also be polished?

 

$125 a wheel. Includes straightening too. RF wheel was an egg shape, forgot to add... Lol no more vibration! I think you can polish them or chrome dip em

 

Not sure where you are, but I paid about $40 for each center cap in Canada lol. Complete ripoff. Also, get some type of penetrating oil for your Windows. Mine started getting slow and I sprayed it in the straight part of the window where it slides up if that makes sense

 

Haha I am in central NJ. I paid $10 for 4 of them. The pontiac ones are $40 each!!! I'll try cleaning and lubing the tracks today.

 

CSSdude - don't quote the f-ing pictures man...


ThoR - Great job on your list of chosen parts and where to start. I'd try and tackle that surface rust ASAP too.

Good luck man

 

haha hopefully he will edit his post or an admin will

Thanks! I know the car was rough, but I felt the need to fix it. I really, really, really love the blue. The guy bought a 13 mazda speed 3 wagon after he traded his kia sorento in for it. I should do stage 1 and go drag him

I bought a polisher and my friend works at a body shop. He is going to do it for me, I just had to buy him a polisher. He will get the correct paint too so it matches perfectly when he fixes the rust and chips.

 

The wheels turned out great--nice job.

 

damn man the car looks good!!! headlights are sick and the wheels look great!!! seems like youll be able to tackle the scratches and rust pretty easy with your buddy!

 

Thanks! Yeah I love love love projector HID retros. The wheels are amazing now. I am not a fan of wheel spacers, so stock it is!

I just checked the windows, and the window regulators are definitely bent. The window pops out of the track a little when going up . Lubed them up and it helped a little, but we shall see.

 

Damn that's night and day difference for those wheels... looks great!

 

very nice man. I will have to do a thread for my sedan soon. Looks like the one side of the car where the damage is was already re painted.

 

yeah the front fenders and front bumper/hood were repainted.

 

keep up the good work. these are definitely a fun daily!

 

Very jealous man, Always wanted an IBM Sedan, ended up with a black coupe when I totalled my G5 because thats all that was available local,

 

Replaced reverse lights, interior lights, and license plate bulb with LEDs. No junk ones so they look awesome.

Friend sanded and buffed a lot of the scratches. Used touch up on all the paint chips... Will post pic after I get all the compound off lol.

Also tried to put LEDs in my hvac controls... They all burnt out lol guess I put them in backwards. Oops.


Also trying to diagnose a ticking coming from left front during take off. Friend says wheel looks like it moves as well? Maybe a LCA bushing? Also, I think the power steering fails when it's cold.... It had the motor recall done. Maybe a bad motor?

 

Always nice to see someone bringing the car back and looking nice, and fixing the small things before dumping loads of money into the car to make it fast.

If you grab the wheel by the spokes, and pull it straight back towards the rear of the car, and the wheel moves. It's a worn out lower control arm bushing.

Good job

 

Yeah I am a firm believer in fix before mod. Thank you

Didn't try that. I just jacked the car up and did a typical shakedown on the wheels and it's tight. So do it with the car on the ground?

Once this is fixed... Powell v3, map sensors, catback, down pipe... HP tuners hahaha

 

Yes do it with the car on the ground, if it moves AT ALL your CAB's are pooched. I'll bet you 100$ and a ham sandwich that they are lol.

 

Haha I was going to replace them anyway with the zzp ones. I'll do that shake tomorrow

 

It's a night and day difference. Honestly if you want the best bang for your buck, Contact Powell Racing. He makes a nice set of sphericals and youll never replace them again.

 

$199 for the sphericals.... I'll take the $20 ones from ZZPlol

 

I mean it's only really practical if you're racing lol.

Did you test them?

 

hahaha. nope not yet. Will do it tonight, but im like 99.9% sure they are the issue.