Agreed mightymouse. Judging by my acceleration and how the SS felt while being tuned, Nick (my tuner-straight HP Tuned) said it felt as fast as some of the 370-400hp Cobalts that he's tuned, and he LOVED how I didn't lose boost with the auto tranny. He's tuned a Cobalt that's made 375 hp at the wheels on a stock turbo BTW (current record holder from I was told). I'm not saying I have those numbers, esp. in an automatic lol but it's a good feeling to know your car can impress someone who's used to tuning really fast rides. Long story short, though it may be costly initially, getting tuned to maximize the most out of your mods is critical!

Later
Allex

 

there are cobalts out there that with just a catless downpipe and tune run neck and neck with a new 5.0 mustang or the ss camaro. that's a pretty darn good improvement for a grand. you can get a downpipe for less than 200 bucks and we already discussed the different tune prices.

oh....there are some good hp tuner guys down in florida...if you contact them and have them tune you in person rather than via email then you could save the price of actually buying the hp tuner software. just a thought...may be worth it to you. i personally like to have the software

with a good tune and a catless downpipe you should be in the 310hp 350ftlbs range give or take 10. The other mods...besides an intake if you do one...don't add that much power...they are more of supporting mods to the major power adding mods. and your intake choices are pretty limited...the k&n filter or the k&n intake kit or.....yeah thats bout it. mine was custom fabbed from a cobalt piece which i don't really recommend cause it was a major pita to get the fitment right and im still not done with it.

 

can you take a video of what yours sounds like? i really want to hear this beast!! what you say makes a ton of sense, like my buddy just bought exhaust for his evo, $989 crazy expensive. but yes, i guess i just have to step up the plate and put out the money. dont forget about that video, or anyone who has their HHR SS heavily modded, i want to hear them! email me a video! mike.-.mayhem@hotmail.com

 

if you hear the magnaflow exhaust clip of the hhr ss,it's pretty close to what i mine sounds like if i remember correctly. video on the phone is not good sound quality.

 

well i have magnaflow, and i dont really want it much louder, i want my baby to be a sleeper haha

 

Mightymouse, what?

The HAHN exhaust sounds alot deeper than the Magnaflow. I was scared it was gonna be "farty", and was I suprised!

I was really lucky and had the opportunity to install the exhaust one day, and drive 700 miles the next. By the time I arrived it was broken in. It had mellowed out tremendously, but sounds so ****ing good when you get on it. Screams would be a good term, and the Gurgling to stops lights is uncomparable! It is a fitting sound for a Chevy, Magnaflow is great too, but dam the HAHN sound good.

If you can find a used ADM, they sound even better!

 

Interesting post by Josh from Over The Top Performance in a thread for there new Cobalt SS air intake on cobaltss.net I thought you guy might find interesting.

Originally Posted by Josh@ottp
I do have an hhr design but I won't get to it for 2-3 months. I have about 20 other projects ahead of it that I have been dragging my feet on. The hhr kit is an actual replacement air box though.

 

That is a tease. I would like to do a little something there before the tune. Does the k&n pipe from the air box to the turbo help much ??

 

Dunno, I don't have an airbox, but I do have a 3" Diameter intake going into the fender well

 

I cut up the CGS and tried this set up for a few days. with the filter right at the hood cut out , it was the quickest ever for about 4 mins. at a time before going into limp mode. Nailed it a few times and it would hit 24 ish boost , and kill the turbo while hitting third. This set up is what i will use when i get tuned , For now it's back to the box and the filter stickin out = limp mode once to twice in 75 miles of driving , And it only happens while cruising at about 60 mph. Scan gauges rule ! Limp cleared on the fly in about 8 seconds.

Sorry for the bad pics , Ruff night.