breds2k

iTrader: (1)

what do you guys think of my nice little rental car? ive made some ok progress basically done everything i wanted to besides blacking out the interior.

Jookycola

I like how you applied the evo mod here.

The LED's in the front bumper always a good thing to help give those useless ribs on our bumpers something to do.

LOVING the headlights, m3 spoiler, shaved door strips, wheel/tire choice. Let's get a better shot of that muffler.

Not sure how I feel about the vent shades, I know they are very useful. But they are kinda distracting the clean flow of your car.

Just my opinion (and i'm just picky so don't mind me) But i think the taillights are too dark. Only because you have a light colored car and I think in that case a nice tasteful "smoked" look would have been much better. But it looks like you did a really good job with it.

And I have been on the fence about the lower rubber air dam mod known in the car community as a "Home Depot lip". My problem is our bumpers are so plain so I can see how a lip would really help. And I've been curious to see if this type of mod would help or hurt. I'm going to say it hurts...and helps. After finally seeing your car (the first to have this mod on a base that I know of) I'm still on the fence on if I like it. But now I'm a leaning a little more on the not liking it side. Not sure what it is but it's just not looking as clean is I thought it might. Not that it makes your car ugly, but i think if and when you lower it, it would be a good idea to remove that rubber lip since oddly when our base models are lowered the plain ugly bumper isn't as ugly anymore. If that makes any sense.

And as for blacking out the interior. Honestly, don't. The car is gold, the tan interior blends well with it. Save your time and cash and up grade your interior materials instead (oem leather steering wheel, oem leather shift knob, can be found cheap here on the classifieds or on eBay, and they make a huge impact on the look of your interior. Maybe even high quality tan colored leather seat covers from Katzin.) Sometimes less is more.

You have a great start man, make sure to always go quality over quick fixes. My car took 2 years to get where it's at and IMHO I consider it "just ok". But that's because I waited and bought top notch stuff not go a quick and cheap route just to hurry and get it hooked up.

I'd personally look at lowering springs or coil overs next if I were you.

breds2k

iTrader: (1)

The car is already lowered quite a bit. 2.5" or so on megan springs and the Fe5 combo. and my front lip looks like ****. Not sure what im going to do with it, i just used sticky outdoor tape no screws and it doesnt stick right in spots but it looks better having it than not having it so im not sure.

And the leds are disconnected right now the color didnt match my CCFL's so i went w/o them.

I love my vent shades, and i smoke so they are a must.

and as far as black interior goes, the base tan interior looks like ****. Not to mention mine all stained and scuffed, ive already plastidipped a good section of it and would like to do some more. Id really like to get some seat covers that are leather "like" and fit correctly. any suggestions? I can do a full leather to the car front and rear at cost for like $700 at my dealership but i cant spend that kinda money right now.
I have done a few more pieces since but this is the idea, its plastidip.

conerboner

iTrader: (4)

I got my leather ss seats for 250 for front and back.

klutch814

iTrader: (6)

bought a trunk thing that covers deck lid, third brake light (collecting all to repaint/tint), and one piece a grill for rear lip when i get one lol..

1LowLS

Throwback pic from a couple years ago I color matched mine so it wasn't sticking out like a sore thumb.

Jookycola

Hmmmmm?
Now I'm 50/50 again. That doesn't seem all that bad at all. It's inexpensive I might try it since my car is black, if it looks cheesy I'll just pull it off.

Philswrath

Stage 2 cams for the 2.2L ECOTEC

Duration @ .050*, Valve Lift
INTAKE 228*, 446
EXHAUST 232*, 448

for $400 or what? good deal?

Jookycola

What else do you have done?

bbrewbaker

iTrader: (4)

I know where that 1st pic was taken. It's in Columbia, PA at the Turkey Hill experience.
I'm only like 30 min away from there.

iToastie

iTrader: (4)

breds2k, I actually love the look of your car, I'm not sure why. I actually love the look of any lowered sedan cobalts for some reason.

I've been planning out and figuring out costs and everything for a turbo kit from ZZP for my LT. But as of today, I've been debating just forgetting it and going for looks and full bolt-ons. (Coilovers, some touch ups, headlights, new wheels)

I was watching turbo'd 2.2 Cobalts on YouTube, and it really doesn't make it fast enough to justify spending 3 grand or more on a turbo kit. (I'll probably be getting another car in 3 years)

My plan if I don't go turbo:
- Coilovers (slammed for a little, if I don't like, raise it up a bit {currently on H&R sport springs})
- Sway bars
- Strut bar
- Full bolt-ons (Exhaust, DP, Header, Intake, 2.4 Mani)
- Enkei wheels
- 225/40/18 tires (currently at 225/45/18, a little too thick)
- Headlights (Gen 4 or 3, whichever doesn't have the halo's)
and probably more... just basically making the car look nice and handle like a street bike through corners.

I don't know, what do you guys think about all that or just go turbo?

Jookycola

Go for looks all the way.
The dirty little secret about 2.2/2.4 - turbo or SC builds is nobody has a solid tune for it. Spend some more time on the 2.2 forums of this site and you see a pattern of shitty running cobalts. Peruse the classified and you'll see many people selling their kits or parts cache for their build. You're right it's not worth it.

The 2.2 is basic transportation, that can be made to be fun and tossable. which IMHO is more fun than straight line performance. Think of it like the Miata philosophy, fun, not fast. I like everything you listed and made changes to a few things you might like better.

iToastie

iTrader: (4)

Why would the front not be worth it? Is there no noticeable difference with or without it?

And from how you said that, you pretty much made my decision. All I really want is a fun car, handles turns no problems, with a little pick up coming out from corners.

My life goal (since I was about 12) is to own an Evo, and after college, I'll be buying one no matter what.

If you have any other suggestions of what to add to that list, please let me know, I'm going to be doing research for the next few weeks.

I saw a 2.2 turbo'd balt do 0-60 in like 7.5 sec... my car does 0-60 in about 8.5 seconds, didn't seem worth it. Though the 7.5 sec could have been wrong, completely.

Oh, and why 215/45 and not 225/40? The side wall is thinner on the 225/40.

1LowLS

Easy killer.I think mine runs purty dam good.Base model almost hitting 12's in the 1/4 mile isn't too shabby.Stock interal'd gen2 L61 too.

klutch814

iTrader: (6)

recieved these


all excited



to find out they dont ******* fit and are 5 lug. **** you discount tire direct!

iToastie

iTrader: (4)

Lmao I saw your Facebook post, I lol'd a bit

1LowLS

that sucks dood.hopefully they get you set up for saturday ;/

BlackARCA06

iTrader: (5)

Is that the way the Rims/tires come shipped?

klutch814

iTrader: (6)

yeah.. im pissed off right now. like come on..always me..

BlackARCA06

iTrader: (5)

I dont blame ya though...wait to get them and bam wrong ones. lol

conerboner

iTrader: (4)

if hp supports your 2.2 get an hp tune and a turbo kit... just sayin lol

klutch814

iTrader: (6)

my tune needs dialed in badly..

1LowLS

Im switching to HPT.My car wants to hit 22* of advance at any RPM @ WOT lol.I have to feather into it for it not to retard timing.My tuner puts way more time into getting it perfect than Vince does and also tune's PE to engage properly instead of how Vince does it.***** annoying when your in 5th and go to pass,hit 1 psi and it drops into PE,thus running 10.5:1 AFR lol.

klutch814

iTrader: (6)

my AFR are all over and i need to figure out my wastegate issue before a retune.. hopefully springs come tommrrow... uploading a vid of my attempt to burn off the tires on old rims.. good thing i didnt lol

conerboner

iTrader: (4)

mine is super duper rich and when my friend data logged it i was only at like 10 * of timing on e85 dah fuq?