2007 SS/SC with 100k miles. I want to turbo swap with OTTP's kit and want to reach 400hp and no more. I don't feel like spending $5k on stage 2 trans, and dss level 5's. At most the stage 1 f35 and dss level 2's which are rated at 400hp. Also being that i have 100k i would like to rebuild my head and motor. The only reasonable thing i see is the zzp ported head and 82# valve springs but whats the point of having these mods without better cams? Would stage 2 turbo cams with the above listed put me above 400hp or could I have it tuned more conservatively to maintain my 400hp goal? I wanna be able to launch and pull hard without worrying about blowing up my daily driver. I have also considered ottp stage 1 turbo cams. Or would it be best to get a new head with 82# valve springs. Any advice would be awesome guys thank you! Yes much of a noob, just paid it off and barely getting into mods.

 

If you only want 400 and will be satisfied with that forever, you don't need a ported head or cams. You can go with several tried and true combos on the turbo- especially like a 256-257 or a pte turbo and just worry about getting bigger injectors and building the motor for reliability. A 257 is capable of achieving 400hp with stock head without pushing it, especially if you are going to run e47-e85. Ported head and cams are needed if you are shooting for 500, not 400. I think there is still an older Dyno thread floating around that you could look up and see some of the combos that guys made and the ho they achieved.
Also there is a guy on Facebook that builds cryo'd trans along with a rebuild and they aren't super expensive. Hit me up if you want more info because he isn't a vendor on here so I can't say his name.

 

Oh hey 63 Nova SS, sounds good. Just springs then? Would that work with stock cams though? Totally new, still watching up on camshaft stuff. OTTP says their stage 1 turbo cams are reground stock cams? Also I was more in the budget for the s256, and we only have 91 octane in northern NM. E85 is coming up but I hear from my buddy on a sti that it gets **** mileage and is hard to start in winter. Most of our weather is cold this far north. I wanna try to keep it pump gas, 91 octane that is. Whatcha think?

 

Would you recommend me replace my head since i'm pushing 100k miles, or is there some sort of process to clean up/rebuild the head? Is it safe to do so, being that i'm so high up on the miles? Sorry for so many questions just trying to budget the **** out of this before I start investing. I believe 400hp will be than enough to keep me happy. I don't wanna go over 60# injectors either.

 

256 is a good turbo and has been used on a lot of builds. You can upgrade the springs and still run stock everything else but if you are going with a bigger turbo and want to rev out higher the cams may not be a bad idea, just don't know that you have to have them. Doesn't look like anyone offers a "new" lsj head but your best bet is to contact Mongorat 427 on here as he can build you a motor and redo a used head while you still are daily driving the car. He is reasonable in price also and knows what he is doing. Sucks that you only have 91. If you got bigger injectors when you got e85 down there you could mix 1/2 91 and 1/2 e85 and it would be e47. Would help you immensely to your power goals and only gets about 15% less gas milage verses the e85 that gets 30-35% less.

 

Hit up o6blackg85ss or bass_waves on here. They have built lsj's before. Bass_waves also has a bunch of stuff you will need for sale right now.

 

I never had luck maxing out a weak link. When built right you only worry about twisting the crank.

 

Thank you all for your help, I'll take a look into everything as soon as I get back on. Early work days can suck nutz!

 

Let me ask the question that might **** everyone off, if I did say **** it and do ported head, cams springs, put block internals, motor/trans mounts, dss level 2's, clutch, turbo swap and it did pop me up over 400 somewhere... would I be safe if tuned carefully without blowing up my trans. At this point the only thing holding me back is the limit of my transmission. I have heard of people running 500+ hp on stock block internals and trans. I'm just sketched over the whole 100k miles.

 

Question for the OP, have you ever rode in or driven a 350whp or greater front wheel drive car? Just verifying if you understand how much horsepower 400 actually is (lots of people throw the numbers out as targets without actually knowing).

If you're going to go with the head and springs, get a tvs and a free flowing exhaust and you should be able to reach 400whp without a hard torque punch turbos can give that will destroy these transmissions.

 

Used to own a scion tc on a Ptuning turbo kit, Had a bad experience with getting to crazy with boost, stock block and trans. Didn't listen to the tuner and now it is in car heaven...nuff said on that. I have an idea of what that kind of power that is, just wanna out do my old car and not grenade it. Now i am super paranoid at any little noise even on my still m62 powered cobalt. From a lot of what i read superchargers put a lot of stress on these cars? Weren't they originally meant to be turbo'd? I will look into tvs a little more but i miss everything about driving a turbo'd car.

 

When the TVS screams at you and pulls all the way to redline you won't miss a turbo'd car. Don't get me wrong to go crazy power the turbo is the easier way to go. But if you're concerned about keeping the transmission together, build the motor, get the head and valve springs, get a TVS 1320 with around a 2.7-2.9" pulley, a good tune and you'll be reving to 7.5k and making your 400whp target.

 

Agreed with Ecaulk. If you dont want to blow up your transmission, do the TVS. More linear powerband and it will scream all the way to redline

 

But **** guys... I only have 91 octane... some pumps have E85, 63 Nova SS recommends E47. It seems like a bitch to have to change over to a new fuel, but its gonna have to happen i guess.

 

its honestly not that big of bitch switching fuels lol. you go with a supercharger and go full e85 with a tvs as mentioned. you will come back on here thanking everyone for telling you to go with the tvs lol. the whine and powerband on that supercharger is amazing. you can run 91 and then spray meth if you want too.

 

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/dyno...2015-a-304260/

Take a look at this thread it will give you an idea as to what other guys made

 

put a turbo kit on it, put a gmpp clutch in it. done. Get the right injectors and 400whp on pump is cake walk. no need to build the trans, or axles, or any of the other bullshit.

 

400 hp is children territory. the car can handle that easily. i drove around with 500+ on a stock non lsd trans for the longest. granted my tune is setup for boost ramp so im partially saving my trans from exploding.
if your wanting just 400 hp. i got quite a few items for sale that can help push you there easily. let me know. you will save a lot of money by buying some of my parts.

 

^ see

 

Let me know what you got. Message me!

 

I have a 2006 one and want close to 400hp what I need on stock blower? Money not a issue. I spent 4k on my 14 GLI autobahn just for 268whp and 287wtq....

 

More than 4k if you keep a stock blower.

 

Ok so get the TVS then what exactly part index is needed?

 

absolutely

 

did you want to stay blower?