Ya I just read on a few different websites that the pistons and rods are forged on the 2006 models and early 2007 models. The 2008 models are a lot weaker.

 

Zzp even says it.

 

Found this with a quick search, LNF seems to have a rod limit of about 400.

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/5328471-post22.html

Link?

 

It says it when you click in the zzp 2.2/2.4 turbo kit.

 

found this in another forum post

2006-2007: 12596088 A 2.4-B/P (LE5), (1ST DES) ROD, CONN (FORGED STEEL W/ROUNDED EDGES ON CAP AND MFG TRIM MARK AROUND OUTER PERIMETER) (FOR 2ND DES SEE 12611360)

2008+ 12598216 A 2.4-B/P (LE5), (2ND DES) ROD, CONN (POWDER METAL W/SMOOTH SURFACE CAP AND SINGLE RIDGE ACROSS CAP, W/O MFG TRIM MARK AROUND OUTER PERIMETER) (FOR 1ST DES SEE 12596088)

dunno where he got the description from, dont have a GM parts catalog in front of me

 

They took a stock valve springed LE5 to over 400whp.

 

Well there your answer. They are forged so that means they are stronger than the newer model 2.4. Zzp says that...08+ 2.2 and 2.4 have weaker rods and we do not recommend going passed 260whp with stock internals.

 

heres what i was looking for!

GM Media Online: English

GM Media Online: English

 

The 2.4L (2008) VVT uses forged C70 steel connecting rods that are shorter than those in the 2.2L with a stroked cast nodular iron crankshaft.

So apparently both use forged rods, perhaps the rods are just smaller then on the newer models since the 08+ were supposed to be lighter.

 

Actually alot of good reads about all the parts on there, including the 4T45E and how its been improved over the original 4T40E i had in my cavalier. lol

 

Either way I'll upgrade my internals for the turbo. Better safe than sorry I suppose.

 

The 2008 2.4 is weaker. That's all that needs to be known lol. It can't handle as much power as the earlier models.

True. You will have to if you want over 300whp.

 

I thought he has a 06 though.

 

you don't need internals for a reliable 300 whp


and no 08+ uses powdered metal rods NOT forged rods

 

Shoot I'm going SC in a couple weeks for my LE5. I got everything lined up and I'm pumped to get it running.

I haven't even thought about internals, or clutch or any of that yet. Just excited to be able to make it up steep hills with cruise control on haha.

 

You won't need internals, IDK where this all this misinformation came from. But you should def start looking at a clutch lol, my stocker **** the bed while I was still NA but I think it was from all the autox.

I love my KY stage 3 I have in now but the KY stage 1 I had before was also a really good clutch

 

What about my clutch? Anyone know what the stock is rated for?

 

They're all different because it depends on how good/bad it has been treated. I beat the **** out of mine so it started slipping fully bolted+tuned after a few thousand miles. Some people have SC'ed and made low 200's whp on the stock clutch, after some time though it will slip

 

Figured at much. I'll probably upgrade that before I even get the kit anyways. I'm thinking Stage 3

ZZPerformance - South Bend Stage Clutches #SB-STGCL

Any recommendations?

 

I really like KY, there customer service is great and their clutches are quality. I know a guy that had the ZZP/southbend stage 3 on his SC'd HHR, he liked it a lot more than his exedy setup.

 

QQ - How does this kit compare to the zzp supercharge kit for the 2.4, and what kind of power per $ so to speak can you get out of it compared to the turbo kit?

 

you mean how does the zzp turbo compare to the zzp sc kit?

turbo will get you more power, way easier. it does cost more money though, but ZZP's sc kit is way overpriced. you can piece together an sc kit for $1500 easily and there are plenty of write-ups/instructions on how to do it. getting a lot of power with the SC would cost a lot more, where with the turbo you turn up the boost (assuming tune+injectors are good for it) and make more power.

really depends on the kind of power you want to make, and what the car's used for. remember though with more power comes decreased reliability

 

agreed, but turbos have boost limitation too depending on specs

 

I was speaking solely in reference to our application. These motors can really only handle about 15psi max in stock form, and no turbo has a surge line that low. ZZP's kit starts at 7-8 psi and can easily be turned up from there.

And where these motors sit on any compressor map, boost=power

 

Well, it's my daily driver, about 40 miles to work and another 40 back (yeah I know...ugh) - so I want reliability, but I also don't wanna sink 6-7k into it, because with 6 or 7k I'd be making a down payment on an evo IIX. lol. But, I can see 3.5k or even 4k to get some boost behind the pedals, cuz as much as I love my car, we all know the na just isn't fast. lol.

I want reliable, relatively inexpensive, boosted fun for my daily driver.