SS/Comp Style Cobalt build

colby · 07-10-2015, 01:46 PM

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.

colby · 07-10-2015, 01:53 PM

Since I haven't built a car in a few years, I decided to tool up. I ordered a new tubing bender, upgraded to a real notcher, and got a TIG welder.

colby · 07-10-2015, 01:58 PM

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?

colby · 07-10-2015, 02:39 PM

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.

colby · 07-10-2015, 02:52 PM

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.

colby · 07-10-2015, 03:00 PM

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.

BLIND MULE · 07-10-2015, 03:02 PM

Looks great keep the pics coming!

Dwight Southerland · 07-10-2015, 03:39 PM

Wow! Great show! Keep'm coming and good luck!

Dragsinger · 07-10-2015, 07:44 PM

Colby, off to a good start. Please keep us up to date. I like what you are doing.

What engine combination and what class is planned?

jims5600 · 07-10-2015, 07:55 PM

Colby your work looks very nice. Keep us updated on your progress and best of luck to you.

07-10-2015, 01:46 PM	#1
colby Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Noble, OK Posts: 54 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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
colby Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Noble, OK Posts: 54 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build Since I haven't built a car in a few years, I decided to tool up. I ordered a new tubing bender, upgraded to a real notcher, and got a TIG welder.

07-10-2015, 01:58 PM	#3
colby Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Noble, OK Posts: 54 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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
colby Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Noble, OK Posts: 54 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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
colby Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Noble, OK Posts: 54 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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
colby Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Noble, OK Posts: 54 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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
BLIND MULE Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Alabama Posts: 319 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build Looks great keep the pics coming!

07-10-2015, 03:39 PM	#8
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 1,980 Likes: 52 Liked 724 Times in 177 Posts	Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build Wow! Great show! Keep'm coming and good luck! __________________

07-10-2015, 07:44 PM	#9
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,759 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build Colby, off to a good start. Please keep us up to date. I like what you are doing. What engine combination and what class is planned? __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

07-10-2015, 07:55 PM	#10
jims5600 Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 125 Likes: 47 Liked 21 Times in 9 Posts	Re: SS/Comp Style Cobalt build Colby your work looks very nice. Keep us updated on your progress and best of luck to you.