Well, I am in love with the GM S/C and definetely want to get one for my '04 Cavy Automatic. I am a junior in high school this year and was just wanting some opinions on what you think if I should set my mind on getting one in the near future. I have only a summer job (hopefully getting a job at the pool to make a couple grand this upcoming summer break) and with Christmas and birthday coming up, I definitely think I can pull it off (the money) if I set my mind to it. I have been interested in the S/C before, but put it in the back of my mind because I didn't think it was possible.
However, is it worth it to me right now?? I have no idea how to install/intercool/tune/maintain it or deal with the possible problems it might have, but I am willing to learn (I have read almost every ECO S/C post on here). I know I will be happy with it if I can get it to work right, but I just am unsure if I can maintain and tune it properly to keep it running strong. Also, I would be running on the stock exhaust until I could get the money to get that done also.
SO....Do you think it is worth it to me at this time, keeping in mind I know little/nothing when it comes to this? I appreciate all input and please give your honest opinion on what I should do. I really want this to happen because it just would be amazing to have, but I am not sure if it is worth it to me at this time considering its a lot of money to me and also what little I know about the subject. Thanks
Personally, if I had to do it all over again, I'd put every thing I spent on modding into paying the car off first, especially when you are in school, big mods hurt.
Anyway, you can probably do it. Eco S/C's are found on Ebay and the CobaltSS.net all the time for relatively cheap.
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Buy stuff from CarCustoms Ebay! Won't be disappointed!
My parents payed for my car and it is payed off, so I definitely don't have to worry about that. They also pay for gas, insurance, etc. The only thing I have really been spending my money on is small cavy mods, and going out with friends. It's not like I have been spending my money on anything important. I possibly am looking into saving the money for college, but that is what student loans are for and I definitely would want to have fun with the S/C instead of owing a few thousand less to college.
my opnoin..... your young, get it done while you can, alot of the time when you start getitng older and therea morgage and lots of other bills to pya you don't have the time or money to play. Play while you can.
as for tuning and all that, just get the supercharger and have GM do the reflash, it leaves with you a safe moderate tune
as far as installing the supercharger, its a very straightforward installation. if you had someone who knows there way around the ecotec motor help you, you would have no problems at all. as far as tuning, you take your car to the dealer and they reflash the pcm, and your car magically loves boost. thats basically it as far as tuning goes. you could always buy hpt and tune your stock computer, but that requires lot of time and knowledge. there is the added cost of buying premium gasoline, but you said your parents pay for gas, so that shouldn't be a problem for you.
i'd say go for it. if you can afford it and its something that you have your heart set on doing, then by all means go for it. it definitely adds some get up and go. i wouldn't trade my charger for anything. i love the sound it makes and the way it throws you back in the seat when you stomp on the gas. its definitely one of my favorite mods.
if you have any questions feel free to pm me or catch me on aim
maybe mommy and daddy will buy you the s/c too
the whole reason I am in love with it right there...
alias1429 wrote:it definitely adds some get up and go. i wouldn't trade my charger for anything. i love the sound it makes and the way it throws you back in the seat when you stomp on the gas. its definitely one of my favorite mods.
Right now I love driving my car with just an intake; I get so many compliments from my friends because of how amazing it sounds. The S/C will just be that much better. I honestly am in love with my car; I wouldn't trade it for anything. There is no chance of me getting rid of it any time in the future.
I believe sndsgood is looking to supercharge his car and he lives pretty close to me, so hopefully he will be able to help me with the sc/intercooler install because I know he will have his done way before me. And premium gasoline is not much more, so it is not a big deal at all. As for the tuning, I am glad to hear you don't really have to do much besides the dealer reflash (which is definitely a must). Is the point of having a Boost gauge just to monitor the level of boost you are making?
I would definatly do it. I wish it had been the first mod to my car. However I got distracted with the body kit BS. That was a big mistake.
I am a hater just like scudz24 is but darkstars got it all right. Have some fun with your money or your parents money while can before you get out in the real world.
As for the tune. The gm reflash tunes it good enough, atleast untill you change pulleys for more boost. How much you know now does not matter as long as you are willing to learn and do research like you said you have. Noone plopped out of their mom and started explaining turbo's or superchargers to the doctor. Good luck
FORGET GIRLS GONE WILD WE HAVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING GONE WILD!
You don't need a boost gauge, it's just nice to have when you plan on upgrading pullies, same with a wideband.
Onto serious stuff...
The only reason I have my supercharger is because I worked my butt off since my sophomore year of high school because I knew two things:
1. I didn't want to take out student loans for college
2. I wanted a fast car
That being said, if you can afford to buy the charger and enjoy it, do it.
Expect to spend close to $3000 for the charger, aftercooling it, and random misc things you need...tie wraps etc.
Before I paid for this, I made sure I had enough money saved up to put me through 3 semesters of school without changing my lifestyle one it.
If you spend this money on school tuition instead of the charger, you'll end up saving money. That $3000 is going to yield a ton of interest.
You seem like a smart guy, before you buy it or anything this large, do yourself a favor, sit down for a while and REALLY think about what you're going to do. $3k is a lot of money man.
If you do buy it....im or pm me, I installed it and intercooled it myself and have a pretty good understanding of how it went together.
Though I couldn't have done it without a few or .org members who got all my "Oh crap, what now!?" questions.
so it can be done on an automatic transmisson?....can the reflash change top speed and shift points as well?
set the example, never let the example set you.
^ off topic
no, same redline, same speed governer, same shift points, no they can't be changed
Admiral Jedi wrote:^ off topic
no, same redline, same speed governer, same shift points, no they can't be changed
they CAN be changed with HP tuners but the reflash from the factory doesnt change them, that i know of. They can be changed though because i have a 6900 redline with fuel cut, yay null
, note to self; stock pumps killing me, install my walbro.
Thanks for everyone with input. I will definitely keep everyone in mind and hit up some people on aim or whatever when I become closer to making my decision. I know I can make close to $3000 at the pool this summer, I just have to actually try and schedule myself more than I did last summer. And I will always have senior year to get another job and then go back to the pool job for the summer of '08 to still make some money to save for college before I start. I would rather have some real fun spending the money on it before being broke in college.
Also, how has everyone gone about adding the S/C to their insurance and how much did it raise the cost?
^^ I doubt many people have called about that, but if you want to play it super safe I guess you could!
I would agree with everyone here. If you have the money to spend, go for it. Once you get in the real world, costs such as college, rent, food, and everything else really adds up and leaves next to nothing for modding the car. If I wouldn't have spent the money on my car when I had it, alot of the things I have done now, including the S/C would never have come about. The money would have gone to something else. So if you have your heart set on it, and can afford it, go for it.
As far as the S/C goes, you will definitely enjoy it and it will be worth it. I have a S/C on my LD9, and I love it. I would never go back to N/A :-) If you have someone that is somewhat knowledgeable with cars and/or the Eco motor, the install really isn't that hard. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
As far as other accessories that may be needed, I would DEFINITELY get a wideband. Even if you have the reflash, it is still nice to be able to keep track of A/F numbers and make sure everything is running properly. I boost gauge is nice to have, but not necessary.
2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited
1999 Cavalier Z24 Supercharged
1999 Grand AM SE (Beater Car)
1997 GMC Sierra
2007 Honda CBR 600RR
2005 Honda TRX450R
BOOSTED wrote:Admiral Jedi wrote:^ off topic
no, same redline, same speed governer, same shift points, no they can't be changed
they CAN be changed with HP tuners but the reflash from the factory doesnt change them, that i know of. They can be changed though because i have a 6900 redline with fuel cut, yay null , note to self; stock pumps killing me, install my walbro.
HPTuners can't read/change the Ecotec reflash. It can the LD9 though.
Atk2008 wrote:Also, how has everyone gone about adding the S/C to their insurance and how much did it raise the cost?
None for me. I still drive a stock sedan.
adding the s/c to my insurance didn't cost much. my insurance went up by about 125 $ per year
14.425 @ 97.833 mph stock + GMPP s/c on drag radials.
interesting pictures you have there....
anyway, after talking to you, you seem like you wanna get this done. and i'll admit, i did the same thing when i was in high school, modded my car. just remember one thing - if you do end up getting the s/c, you are gonna have to run it by your parents first because they paid for your stuff, and that probably means that they wont be too happy with your idea. you'll probably have to persuade them into it.
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- Sold my beloved J in April 2010 -
^ I hid my supercharger from my mom until it was halfway on my car.
since i have a automatic tranny can i do turbo or not?
set the example, never let the example set you.
^^^Thanks again for talkin to me last night again Viper. But parents not letting me get it aren't an issue. I have already talked to them and they say that if I can make that kind of money in a summer, then I can spend it on whatever I want to, including the s/c. My dad actually has done some fiberglassing before and is willing to help me make the gauge pod thing if I get the stuff for it so thats good. And my mom misses her sports car (02 Toyota Spyder), so I think she will want to drive the cav a few times if I get the s/c haha. So they are pretty supportive really.
Think?