Project Cobalt: Intro and putting it through its paces

Text by Paul Rachwal Photos by Jonathan Lai




The newest addition to the PAS Project garage is this Rally Yellow 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS. Before you all get excited, this is not the SS Supercharged version, so it does not come with the General’s LSJ 2.0L, 205hp blown inline-4. Instead, the SS makes do with a naturally aspirated 2.4L ECOTEC engine, complete with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and a Sequential Fuel Injection system, good for a rated 171hp.

This all-aluminum engine, code-named the LE5, is a torquey beast, as evidenced by our dyno results and driving experience. To test the motor and get some baseline numbers, we took it to our friends at Pacione Automotive Group in Pickering, ON and strapped the Cobalt SS to their Mustang dynamometer. We waited until after the first oil change to perform this test, and came away quite impressed with the results. Our Cobalt SS spun up 156.4hp @ 5,414rpm and, even more notable, 171lb/ft @ 3,038rpm (corrected for temperature and pressure, or WCF, Weather Correction Factor).

For our second wave of tests, we took our Cobalt SS to an autocross event, and it was a tire-howling good time. The stock 205/50-17 Pirelli P6 street tires on our Cobalt certainly had their work cut out for them, as we put our 2,815lb coupe head-to-head in a class with Type-S RSXs, Civic Sis and even Miatas. Most vehicles in our class were track-prepped and since we’re still getting acquainted with the Cobalt, the odds were stacked against coming out on top. However, our Cobalt did put down some impressive runs and managed to finish far from last. After a solid performance at the autocross event, we can’t wait to hit the track again!

Stay tuned as our Cobalt SS goes under the tuning knife for a complete transformation. As with any project car, we plan to outfit this Cobalt SS with a mind-blowing audio system, upgraded performance parts and an aggressive-looking body kit with bigger wheels and high-performance tires.

Although most tuners may prefer the supercharged Cobalt SS, we’re content with the challenge of tuning our naturally aspirated 2.4L ECOTEC engine. Thanks to the car’s large displacement and variable valve timing, help from the our many aftermarket partners could easily produce a 200+hp motor with nothing but bolt-on goodies. We hear both GM Racing and Hahn Racecraft are in the process of engineering forced induction kits for the 2.4, and once they’re available, we’ll report how much tire-shredding power whichever one we go with is good for. Join us every issue as we update you on the latest modifications and the progress of our PAS Project Cobalt SS.

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Specs:
MSRP: $21,195 CAD ($17,785 USD) Price as tested: $22,295 CAD with $1,100 sunroof, leather seats ($18,535 USD with $750 sunroof)
Engine: 2.4L DOHC Inline-4, VVT
Outputs: 171hp @ 6,200rpm, 163lb/ft @ 5,000rpm
Redline: 6,750rpm
Drive Wheels: Front

INCLUDE THESE LOGOS PLEASE, AND WEBSITES
GM
www.gm.ca
Scosche
www.scosche.com
JL Audio
www.jlaudio.com
Fifth Gear
www.fifth-gear.ca
Corsa Exhaust
www.corsaperf.com
OMP
www.ompracing.com
Fierce Tires
www.fiercetires.com
Konig
www.konigwheels.com
Faze Gauges
www.fazegauge.com
Extreme Dimensions
www.extremedimensions.com
KW Suspension
www.kw-suspension.com
Boom Mat
www.designengineering.com
Pacione
www.pacione.ca


The Source:
Pacione Automotive Group • 960 Brock Road South, Unit 2, Pickering, ON • www.pacione.ca • (905) 831-6150

























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NICE, but why did you post it twice?

 

nicejness

 

cliff notes please someone

 

Real nice post. I'm sure the 2.4 guys can't wait to hear more. Glad to see this out there for our fellow cobalt owners. The 2.0 cobalts should beware of the turbo 2.4ls and 2.2s. Can't wait to see some of the numbers.

 

my BAD hit button 2x

 

What he just said is that my 07 rocks your 06's panties off .

Seriously - those are some pretty high numbers for a Mustang dyno, no? Wonder if GM knowingly gave them a factory freak..

 

Not necessarily a factory freak, my SS 2.4 stock dynoed at around 155 and with GMPP intake at 161. I just put the touring exhaust on recently and a tune is very close in the future and I'll be back at the dyno with some posted results! I'll find a way to get my own copy this time.

 

very cool!

 

Nice! I haven't dynoed mine yet, that'll hopefully be an in the next week or two thing.

 

about damn time the 2.4L SS gets some recognitioin!! I'll be following this closely

 

well its about fricking time someone gave the 2.4l ss some kudos... makes me love my car more and more


and whats this all about

"We hear both GM Racing and Hahn Racecraft are in the process of engineering forced induction kits for the 2.4, and once they’re available" GM is making a kit?

 

^^ You know my salesguy at the dealership told me the same thing after we closed the deal, said that GMPP was in the process of creating a turbo kit that was supposed to run between 3 and 5 k installed.
Just figured it was just dealer bs (even though I'd already signed the papework..), but I guess maybe it's true.

 

That's great news for all ya'll 2.4SS's. Ya'll will be runnin with the SS/SC's in no time.

 

Hmm.. GMPP Force induction.. Now that sounds good since it still holds the warranty.

 

cant wait to see what you do to your balt!

 

I might be able to belive the HP, but there saying there puting more TQ to the ground then stock is to the flywheel. But thats cool someone is talking about the 2.4 And that GMPP might be make a kit for us.

 

I agree totally - even if it's not AS powerful as a custom kit, being able to just take it to a dealer if it's messing up would be awesome. What's even better is that, at least with dealer installed parts, superchargers and turbochargers are covered under the awesome 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.
Let's all cross our fingers!!

 

i sure hope they come out with something.. i remember the eco cavs got the s/c kit a while back so who knows. Anyone got any friends on the inside that could shine some light on this?