08 LS, looking to customize, any opinions cosmetic or performance

[xxenjoi11]

Hello to the Cobalt Community! I'd like to start by saying that i am new to this website and really cars all together. After owning a hand me down 99 Sable, driving that for eight years, having that till about a week ago i never appreciated a car until I bought mine. Its an 08 Cobalt LS with only 12500 miles, I bought it Randy Moss style "strait cash homie" for only 9 and a half grand and so far i am really happy with it. Although it is very plain jane on the inside I see websites out there with Dash Kits to make it look all nice and all the other cosmetic aspects to make your car look cool without bringing on to much work. On the other side of it the first part of the performance side that sicks out to me is the muffler. The dinky little pipe just doesnt work for me and i need to upgrade it, thats why i come to this site hoping to get actual feedback from other cobalt owners and not hate mail. thanks in advance for any input

 

[BankDude]

first appearance mod should be to lower it to be honest. interior dash kits are nice but they cost quite a bit and it's something that not a lot of people will notice first off. although my first mod was an exhaust, so i would do that too.

 

[donnkesterjr]

I believe you have a model wih secondary air injection, so on the exhaust side, you'll only be able to do a cat-back. If you see a rubber hose between the sensor next to the air box & the strut mounts, you have SAI.

As far as I've seen, nobody yet makes a header for the cars with SAI, and only K&N makes an intake kit that supports the SAI.

 

[BankDude]

You have no supporting facts to prove he has sai... If there's a dinky wire coming out of the airbox, then you do, otherwise, you dont

 

[donnkesterjr]

He said it was a 2008. As far as I'm aware of, they added SAI in late 2006, correct? Or was that for 2006 only?

And in case I was wrong, that is also why I added the info needed to check if he did or not.

 

[white balt]

I have an 2009 LT I don't have that sure so they won't.

[insert signature here]

 

[BankDude]

SAI was only made to sell in certain states. unless he's in california or another emissions state, he does not have it. SAI did not come "standard" on every car. i have an 08 and i don't have it.

 

[donnkesterjr]

Understood. Everywhere I looked for it (when I was researching how to locate it on mine) said "in late 2006, they added SAI" without any further info. Luckily, I don't have it either.

 

[BankDude]

Our forums have more knowledge about our cars than random internet sites

 

[aka So Fresh]

You didn't have to be a dick about it.

I was also told by the Chevy dealership that all 2007+ Cobalts have the SAI.

 

[BankDude]

I wasn't being a Dick... Most dealerships don't know a Damn thing themselves, trust me.

 

[LotusRenaultF1]

I wasn't being a Dick... Most dealerships don't know a Damn thing themselves, trust me.

They know, they just don't tell you because they want you to buy 5 parts that have nothing to do with the actual problem. They tried to tell me my auto tranny filter was bad...my car is a stick shift.

 

[xxenjoi11]

i am not sure if it i have ASI or not like i mentioned i am very green to cars and looking to expand my knowledge, i live in western new york not california if that helps and like BankDude stated this forum looks like a place to get good info.

---------- Post added at 01:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:29 AM ----------

the things i am interested in doing first are getting an exhaust upgrade, and a cool air intake. any suggestions on brand or if its even the right thing to do?

 

[06RallySS]

Debadging is a simple free mod, along with taking off any pin stripes you may have. You could prob paint the interior parts for cheaper then you could by a kit. There's alot that can be done for cheap. Also, used parts are an awesome way to get what you need with a break in price. Just gotta look around

 

[BankDude]

A good exhaust is not cheap. You're looking anywhere from 300-700 for a decent one, let alone the cost for a header and Downpipe if you want a full exhaust. And if you're looking for a cold air intake, id suggest either injen or k&n for that. Keeping in mind that a cold air intake in the winter time will kill your gas mileage, so don't be surprised.

 

[xxenjoi11]

yesss debadging is actually first on the cosmetic part of it, i can borrow a heat gun from work or will a hair drying work just the same? my one buddy had a cavalier which he painted the interior plastic and it looked pretty sweet. my car is dark blue with gray interior so im not sure what color to do them. ill take suggestions, and to BankDude the reason i wanted to get a cold air intake would be to improve gas mileage since i live in Buffalo is it a bad idea to get one?

---------- Post added at 02:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:29 AM ----------

any tips or websites for de-badging is greatly appreciated.

 

[06RallySS]

Haha, poor gas milage from weather is a first for me. The only reason an intake would ever kill milage is because you can't keep your foot out of it.

A hair dryer might do the trick. I used a heat gun, but on the lowest setting. If you can find it, goo gone makes a kit that comes with a scraper, it works quite well.

 

[donnkesterjr]

I imagine the real reason for a decrease in mileage from it being cold has nothing to do with the intake, and more to do with the engine has to work harder to keep itself warm. The engine usually tries to dump more fuel to make a bigger combustion to warm up to operating temp faster, and if it keeps cooling off from the ambient temperature, it keeps trying to bump itself back up.

Just my theory. I've lived in the South all my life, so "cold" is in the mid 30's here. lol

 

[BankDude]

The reason gas mileage sucks in the cold is because its taking in.. cold air.. your engine works best when warm obviously, and when you bring in colder, denser air in the combustion chamber, it demands more fuel to work

 

[06RallySS]

Hahaha, then please explain to me why nitrous and meth work so well? A colder denser charge of air is what you want. Because it makes more power. And no, contrary to popular belief, there is a balance that can be made between power/fuel economy. Hence the reason my SS makes 254/229 and gets 40mpg on the highway.

The guy above you hit the nail on the head. It's all about open loop-closed loop. That, and the fact that most people don't realize how much more they let there car idle in the winter time.