Re: Anyone try an Ecotec in Stock yet?
 

Well I just ordered one rim from Jegs with 3.5 in back-spacing and we'll see if it clears the front brakes.

Re: Anyone try an Ecotec in Stock yet?
 

My sons and I have raced dirt track IMCA with a eco powered cavilers since 2012 and have done a lot of wheel dyno work. We must run stock exhaust manifold so I am sure a good header would make more power. With this being a VVT engine it should make more power than non VVT engine than we run. We also did a lot of testing on the air intake system and a open TB makes about 4.5 hp more than a cold air system. The intake manifold is the biggest restrictions on these motors, early on till outlawed you could just bolt on a later model 2.4 intake and pickup over 25 hp. Baseline hp at the wheel was 135 hp with limited mods, tuned stock ecm, stock cams, injectors stock exhaust manifold with a bigger pipe with some other small mods brought the power to around 150 at the wheel. Camshaft lift is 419 a the valve. Changing the valve angle helped flow on the flow bench but did not do any back to back dyno testing. I am sure a good stocker valve job would help. Eliminating the balance shafts with a kit gets rid of rotating weight. We run manual trans so never did much with the autos. Saturn VUES run the same basic set up but are geared lower because of the heaver vehicle. With the stick It goes from a 3.94 final chevy to a 4.45 Saturn, HHRs have 4.19. Checking out these cars with an auto could find something. The stock valve train will turn 7000 all day long, stronger valve springs would collapse the lifters and lose lift in long lap races. The rear of the cam gear can be ground to change cam timing or aftermarket adjustable gears are available. If you could find someone to regrind the cams mite help also. I always thought someday this would be a fun combo to do but, hell I cain't even get my SS car going. Tom.

Re: Anyone try an Ecotec in Stock yet?
 

Thanks for all that info on the transmissions and all the other engine intel I'll keep that all in mind if this gets underway and gets serious down the road. There are a lot of "ifs" involved since this is really to hold me over while my dragster is waiting to go into the shop. (4 month waiting list to get in the door, season starts in March and goes to July).

A far as wheels go, are you using 13 inch or 15 inch rims on your dirt track cars?

That's the first big hump with the Cobalt, is being able to use 13 inch rims with a 20 inch tall slick. I don't want to have to change transmissions or swap to a Geo Metro brake set-up (which may not work for me anyway since the Geo Metro bolt pattern may different than the Cobalt from what I read).

Re: Anyone try an Ecotec in Stock yet?
 

I've thought about a Solstice as a stocker. Longitudinal engine, traditional trans and rear end configuration and a nice short wheelbase. Also, a decent looking little car. Available either NA or turbocharged.

Re: Anyone try an Ecotec in Stock yet?
 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THAT^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
with the turbo motor would probably be the first F/S in the 9s.

Re: Anyone try an Ecotec in Stock yet?
 

look into the 2007 Cobalt SS supercharged car---they put 5 lug wheels on that car-- now not sure if you can get "small " 14/15 inch aluminum wheels or if you have to stick with 16/17/18 inch wheels---not sure if they will interchange or if the brakes will interfere either but worth a look---wheel bearing hub is about $50 each cheaper than messing around making up something

Re: Anyone try an Ecotec in Stock yet?
 

Well the 13 inch rim arrived, it cleared the brake caliper and the tie-rod by about 1/2 an inch.....but then I noticed something that the old rule book isn't so kosher with. The wheel was sticking about an inch outside of the fender and this is already a 7 inch wide rim.

I'm running into a dead-end in terms of being able do this with a short tire (19.5 inch x 7 / 13 inch rim). The wheel was 3.5 inch backspacing. The next step up is 4 inch backspacing but that very well may have the rim touching the tie-rod and the wheel would still be half an inch outside the fender.

I've looked at road racing and stock car racing tire sites but their short tires are all for 13 inch rims.

Would anyone know of some obscure place makes 20 inch tall slicks for 15 inch rims?

Re: Anyone try an Ecotec in Stock yet?
 

Ala Smokey Yunick's old chevelle, get a 2X4 and nudge the fenderwell out as far as needed.

Re: Anyone try an Ecotec in Stock yet?
 

A wooden baseball bat works great for rolling the fender lip and "massaging" it's lateral location.

Re: Anyone try an Ecotec in Stock yet?
 

Eastwood (I think) makes a tool called a "fender roller" - I've seen it used on a couple of imports and it is surprisingly uniform when finished. And those guys move the fender a LOT!!!