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07-10-2015, 01:46 PM | #1 |
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SS/Comp Style Cobalt build
I have always loved the Super Modified Cavalier and Cobalt cars, so when I saw this sitting behind my local bank in the repo lot I knew I had to have it. Blown head gasket, dirty, bald tires, broken front bumper......the perfect racecar platform.
I made a call to the bank and they said it was sold. So I started searching Craigslist and such but the car just sat there everytime I went by. I kept calling but the answer was still the same. Finally after a few weeks they tell me they are taking bids. I offer $750 and they promptly accept. I tow the car the 10 or so blocks home, the front end is shot, brakes suck, shocks are toast and I couldn't be happier......it's all going in the trash. Last edited by colby; 07-10-2015 at 01:53 PM. |
07-10-2015, 01:53 PM | #2 |
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Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build
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07-10-2015, 01:58 PM | #3 |
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Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build
I wasted no time disassembling the car, I mean GM puts them together in like 12 hours, how long could it take to rip apart?
Last edited by colby; 07-10-2015 at 02:29 PM. |
07-10-2015, 02:39 PM | #4 |
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Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build
With the engine and front subframe gone I could trial fit the new front end from FJ Smith.
I ran into an issue with the upper strut mount. The strut cups were the same design as the cavalier/sunfire but GM changed the hole pattern on the Cobalt for some reason....go figure. Also the locknut would not fit into the bearing housing, I suppose a jet nut would have fixed this but I decided to fab new upper mounts instead of drilling the strut towers to for the mounts. So with a little CAD work and a 3D printed prototype I was able to have the mounting plates waterjetted and used the spherical upper strut mount from Chris Alston to fab the new mounts. Here is the front susupension after the final mock-up. Last edited by colby; 07-10-2015 at 02:42 PM. |
07-10-2015, 02:52 PM | #5 |
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Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build
I was under the gun to make the car mobile again as I had an appointment for a storm shelter install that I really didn't wanna miss but I made it and rolled the car out of the garage for the 1st time in 3 months.
After this the car went back in and got squared up on a frame, I pulled the rear axle and the gas tank and began making room for the backhalf. Time to test fit the slicks and get an idea of what kind of room there will be in the rear. |
07-10-2015, 03:00 PM | #6 |
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Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build
So I came across some old pictures while uploading these. The white Camaro is my old Super Street car, the black one is my brother's car.
This was my Gebhardt dragster, it was a bare chassis and I finished the car then sold it. This is the car today, the new owner runs Top Dragster with a blown KPE engine. The car runs 4.10's. |
07-10-2015, 03:02 PM | #7 |
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Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build
Looks great keep the pics coming!
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12-07-2015, 11:50 AM | #8 |
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Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build
Was able to get the majority of the floor structure completed this weekend. Trying to fit everything in this little car take a lot of planning. With the way the OEM floor is built, the tubing must go inside the car which eliminates being able to build the floor structure under the car then remove it to weld it up. With a lot of planning and little luck my inner frame rails tie into the FJ Smith front sub frame which allowed me to rotate them for welding since they are reinforced with a sleeve. They were then rotated down and welded to the reinforcement plates after all of the measurements were re-verified. The end goal is the be able to complete the chassis without cutting the roof off. I think with enough planning and forethought it should be possible.
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03-01-2016, 04:50 PM | #9 |
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Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build
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