Never mind, just found the engine. 3500ish. The dealer recommended a complete replacement when I asked about using the existing turbo and whatever. They say that they can't guarentee that metal pieces didn't go into the cylinders and turbo. While the cylinders make sense, the turbo doesn't. Can anybody verify this?

 

Fragments of any kind and turbos don't mix at all. Maybe you can take the turbo to a qualified turbo shop and have them inspect yours for damage/wear.

Here is a reman:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/07-09-PONTIAC-SOLSTICE-GXP-SKY-REDLINE-LNF-2-0-TURBO-ENGINE-REMAN-REMANUFACTURED-/330720382781?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d00788f3d&vxp=mtr

 

All of the exhaust goes thru the turbo even if the wastegate is open. SO if any metal shavings were to be in the cyliders and get expelled thru the exhaust they would past thru the turbo. BUT this means that there has to be metal shavings in the cylinders. You may or may not have had any metal shavings in the cylinders.

 

Well I've decided that the best of a bad situation is going to be to bite the bullet and replace the engine and related parts, turbo, and water pump. After they pull the engine I'll get some pics for you guys, hopefully of the tensioner that caused all the damage and some of the related damages. After talking with my wife, who drove it for the 2 weeks while I was out of town, it sounds like the tensioner was audibly going out for about a week/200-300 miles before it failed. Of course I got the last 40ish miles after I got back. It's going to take about a week to get all the parts and another 3-4 days for install. On the good side I'll be able to get some upgrades done since they will be screwing around in there anyway. Does anybody have any ideas on the life expectancy of the radiator or any other parts I'm not thinking of?

 

So I guess we don't have to strike an HHR Panel SS from the roster yet!

 

Terrible news your tensioner did you in. Glad to hear your fixing it..

 

oh wow, sorry to hear that. The timing chain tensioner issue came to mind when I first saw this thread, as I am about to replace mine. Ive been getting a rattling from the timing chain area on cold starts.
This has turned up in quite a few posts lately, both here and on the cobalt forums, yours isnt the first engine to be trashed for this reason.
Its a shame too, as the required part is fairly cheap (around $50) and easy to replace, a large bolt head on the rear passenger side of the engine. Perhaps it should be added to the regular maintenance schedule.
The tensioner was revised in 2010 I think, new part # 12608580. Maybe gm knows the older ones are a problem.
It seems from looking at it the older one is spring activated while the new one works by oil pressure.

 

So engine removal starts tomorrow! Putting in a Turbotech motor mount and new boost pipe, but everything else will be stock. Not going to get the new engine and turbo until Friday though. It has to be shipped from Michigan because of course it does. I'll keep you guys updated.

 

Sounds like Joel is taking good care of you.

 

Awesome that they are fixing you up. The panel is a rarity, unfortunately you will take a bit of a resale hit, and it will never get the same money as a matching numbers panel, but your gonna have the freshest engine around. Glad your sticking with it. Uf your looking to do some upgrades for future. Think about cam with fuel lobe, pistons, lashes, and springs. These are about what can be done to the lnf and will make your future big mods cheaper and easier.