Supercharged V8's on the way??

KARNUT · January 17, 2022

18 minutes ago, TNTSilverado said:

Then in 2008 they switched over from a supercharger to a turbo and the Cobalt when even faster!! They were a stealthy little car. You also had the Impala SS with the 5.3L and it was a sleeper and munch GT mustangs stock for stock. I had the Trailblazer SS and loved it. AWD and 6.0L would really scoot! Then from 03-06 was the SS Silverado. That truck had one of the best stances in my honest opinion. Just looked sinister, yet “classy “ all in one package.

I just bought a new Traverse Premier Redline for my wife in September and the 3.6L is nice, but I would absolutely love a 5.3L in it. The ride on the Traverse is amazing.

This EV push right now will fade. The surplus isn’t there and neither is the demand.

GM is like our government. Someone new comes along and totally screws the pooch. I just red the reviews on the 09 cobalt, damn how did I miss that. I did have the trailblazer ss. My next new car will the stinger after the Genesis. Shame GM.

TNTSierra · January 17, 2022

2 hours ago, KARNUT said:

GM is like our government. Someone new comes along and totally screws the pooch. I just red the reviews on the 09 cobalt, damn how did I miss that. I did have the trailblazer ss. My next new car will the stinger after the Genesis. Shame GM.

Yes those turbo cobalts flew didn't they!! GM had a nice batch of go fast cars, suvs, and trucks from 03-09

It is shame on GM because everything is right there in house to build rock solid "SS" vehicles right now, and we all know they would sell, Hell, just look at Dodge with the charger and challenger. 15 year old platforms, all they do is add HP and off it goes

TNTSierra · January 17, 2022

8 hours ago, Transient said:

I wanted a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP coupe when those things were I out. But, GM decided to kill it. I loved Pontiac until their demise. Wanted a Solstice hardtop with the 2.0 turbo, but I doubt I would've fit in it since I'm too tall for a C7. Also loved the Trans Am WS6 with the Firehawk package.

A little supercharged engine that impressed some people was the LSJ. It was a 2.0 supercharged Ecotec. It was in the 2006 Cobalt. I was beating stock Mustang GTs in the 1/4 with that car, but I had to get the hole shot. That car would pull from the start, but the Mustang would start reeling it towards the big end of the track. It wasn't enough by the end though. It would trap a fat speed, but I was covering the 1/4 quicker. That was bone stock for both cars. Stock I also got that car into the 130 MPH Club on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Took a few passes to figure it out. I was trying to shift into 5th before the end of the track to take advantage of torque, but it was costing me speed. Did some math and decided to go for it. Left it in 4th and bounced off the rev limiter right after crossing the 1 mile line. Average 131 MPH and got into the club. 4th was got up to 134, iirc. Rev limiter was 6500 rpm. SAE rated 205 horse/200 torque, but everybody that owned one believed the car was underrated.

GM was making fun cars 15 years ago. I wish they'd do it again. A turbocharged Trax SS with AWD would be a little toaster that could. Equinox Sport was well conceived, but poorly executed. A V8 Traverse with the 5.3 and AWD. And, an LT5 Silverado in both street trim (SS) and offroad (ZRX). Somebody call Mary and tell her she's fired. I should be running the show, lol (Bad idea. I'm too much of an a-hole.)

Here is that article

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15144400/2009-chevrolet-cobalt-ss-sedan-short-take-road-test/

Transient · January 17, 2022

7 hours ago, TNTSilverado said:

Then in 2008 they switched over from a supercharger to a turbo and the Cobalt went even faster!! They were a stealthy little car. You also had the Impala SS with the 5.3L and it was a sleeper and munch GT mustangs stock for stock. I had the Trailblazer SS and loved it. AWD and 6.0L would really scoot! Then from 03-06 was the SS Silverado. That truck had one of the best stances in my honest opinion. Just looked sinister, yet “classy “ all in one package.

I just bought a new Traverse Premier Redline for my wife in September and the 3.6L is nice, but I would absolutely love a 5.3L in it. The ride on the Traverse is amazing.

This EV push right now will fade. The surplus isn’t there and neither is the demand.

For clarity, the turbo Cobalt had a higher top speed, but was slower off the line. Supercharged Cobalt had a 4.05 final drive, whereas the turbo was a 3.83. It's always jump out front, but the turbos would reel me in and show me tall lights after 100. Most people don't know this, but the PDRs in the Corvette debuted in the Cobalt SS turbo.

Transient · January 17, 2022

4 hours ago, TNTSilverado said:

Here is that article

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15144400/2009-chevrolet-cobalt-ss-sedan-short-take-road-test/

Before GM put the LNF in the sedan (and HHR) the sedan was badged as an SS but only got the 2.4 high output motor. My wife had one with the manual trans. It was the same color as the pic in the story, too. She loved that car. It was very reliable. However, as the family grew the need for a bigger car replaced both of our Cobalts.

TNTSierra · January 17, 2022

2 minutes ago, Transient said:

For clarity, the turbo Cobalt had a higher top speed, but was slower off the line. Supercharged Cobalt had a 4.05 final drive, whereas the turbo was a 3.83. It's always jump out front, but the turbos would reel me in and show me tall lights after 100. Most people don't know this, but the PDRs in the Corvette debuted in the Cobalt SS turbo.

That's very interesting because all the magazines 0-60 and quarter mile times had the turbo faster. But, hey, you had one and found the right way to drive/launch it and that's awesome man!

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a18203307/chevrolet-cobalt-ss-supercharged-first-drive-review/

They had it at 6.1 Secs and the 2009 at 5.5 Secs. I know its a magazine but .6 tenths is a ton.

either way those little cars were a real sporty/sleeper of a car back in the day.

TNTSierra · January 17, 2022

1 minute ago, TNTSilverado said:

That's very interesting because all the magazines 0-60 and quarter mile times had the turbo faster. But, hey, you had one and found the right way to drive/launch it and that's awesome man!

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a18203307/chevrolet-cobalt-ss-supercharged-first-drive-review/

They had it at 6.1 Secs and the 2009 at 5.5 Secs. I know its a magazine but .6 tenths is a ton.

either way those little cars were a real sporty/sleeper of a car back in the day.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a18201562/chevrolet-cobalt-ss-supercharged-short-take-road-test/

I did find this article and it has it at 5.9 secs..

Transient · January 17, 2022

Nobody is asking why GM killed off the LSJ in favor of the LNF? The answer is simple -- emissions requirements for tighter. Even though GM released stage 2 and stage 3 kits that made the supercharged motor outperform the turbo motor, in base form it couldn't meet the federal emissions requirements. Is this why supercharged motors are only in the Corvette ZR1 and Camaro ZL1?

TNTSierra · January 17, 2022

1 minute ago, Transient said:

Nobody is asking why GM killed off the LSJ in favor of the LNF? The answer is simple -- emissions requirements for tighter. Even though GM released stage 2 and stage 3 kits that made the supercharged motor outperform the turbo motor, in base form it couldn't meet the federal emissions requirements. Is this why supercharged motors are only in the Corvette ZR1 and Camaro ZL1?

Doesn't it always come down to emissions?? UGH!!! I just read an article about the Durango Hellcat no longer being in development because the motor no longer can meet the emissions requirement......sad, because they are bad looking rig!! I just couldn't bring myself to put down $80k for a Durango and Dodge product.....

Transient · January 17, 2022

On 1/17/2022 at 12:27 PM, TNTSilverado said:

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a18201562/chevrolet-cobalt-ss-supercharged-short-take-road-test/

I did find this article and it has it at 5.9 secs..

Either way, the supercharged Cobalt wasn't easy to launch. All that power the moment you hit the right peddle and the tires would spin and hop. Car came with Pirelli P Zero summer tires, too. I forget the exact model. Just remember switching out for all seasons in the winter. When I got the car into the 130 MPH at Bonneville my launch was more like popping the clutch to get going as quickly as possible. Otherwise, I was just sitting there spinning and going nowhere while digging holes in the salt. I could feel the tires spinning in 1st and 2nd as I was modulating the throttle. Fortunately, the Quaife limited-slip diff did its magic. Cracked bell housings and stripped gears in the trans were not unheard of. Both the turbo and super got the 5-speed manual from the Saab 9-3.

Edited January 19, 2022 by Transient

TNTSierra · January 17, 2022

2 minutes ago, Transient said:

Either way, the supercharged Cobalt wasn't easy to launch. All that power the moment you hit the right peddle and the tires would spin and hop. Car came with Pirelli P Zero summer tires, too. I forget the exact model. Just remember switching out for all seasons in the winter. When I got the car into the 130 MPH at Bonneville my launch was more like popping the clutch to get going as quickly as possible. Otherwise, I was just sitting there spinning and going nowhere while digging holes in the salt. I could feel the tires spinning in 1st and 2nd as I was modulating the throttle. Fortunately, the Quaide limited-slip diff did its magic. Cracked bell housings and stripped gears in the trans were not unheard of. Both the turbo and super got the 5-speed manual from the Saab 9-3.

The funny thing about all of this is that I've heard they got excellent MPGs too if you just drove them normal down the highway, 30 mpgs was not unheard of, which is crazy for a car that could scoot that fast. What was your experience.

My best friends son has a 2006 impala SS with corsa exhaust, K/N CAI, and mild tune and he can achieve 26 mpgs running 75 up I29 interstate to sioux falls. That 4 speed really hindered the Impala and Trailblazer, GM really needed to put Tremec 6 speed manual in them like they did with the little SSR pickup truck...or just a regular 6 speed. Really would have helped both vehicles out tremendously

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a18201910/chevrolet-ssr-short-take-road-test/

Transient · January 17, 2022

9 minutes ago, TNTSilverado said:

Doesn't it always come down to emissions?? UGH!!! I just read an article about the Durango Hellcat no longer being in development because the motor no longer can meet the emissions requirement......sad, because they are bad looking rig!! I just couldn't bring myself to put down $80k for a Durango and Dodge product.....

Seems like the push is to make the fun cars electric, until they figure out the emissions didn't really get reduced. They just got relocated up wire.

Transient · January 17, 2022

12 minutes ago, TNTSilverado said:

The funny thing about all of this is that I've heard they got excellent MPGs too if you just drove them normal down the highway, 30 mpgs was not unheard of, which is crazy for a car that could scoot that fast. What was your experience.

My best friends son has a 2006 impala SS with corsa exhaust, K/N CAI, and mild tune and he can achieve 26 mpgs running 75 up I29 interstate to sioux falls. That 4 speed really hindered the Impala and Trailblazer, GM really needed to put Tremec 6 speed manual in them like they did with the little SSR pickup truck...or just a regular 6 speed. Really would have helped both vehicles out tremendously

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a18201910/chevrolet-ssr-short-take-road-test/

EPA highway rating was 30 in 2006, but speed limits were higher that testing where I was at so 26-28 was my reality. By the time I was done with her she was reading 40 mpg with cruise set to 60 on the highway. That didn't sacrifice performance though. It was a really good setup and tune. 56# injectors, s/c pulley, tune, improved water:air intercooler, full header back exhaust, full 3" intake with larger throttlebody from 5.3 V8 and ported & polished supercharger. Along with upgraded axles, clutch, and traction bars on the LCA I was able to reduce wheel hop a lot and get out of the hole quickly. Pissed off some 9 second mustangs because I would cover the 60' faster than them. And some Southern boys get really pissed over things like that. So, improved mpg while still having performance is possible. If managed to shave over 1 sec off my 1/4 mile with that setup.