V1 cobalt front or Goblin rear differences between 2008-2009 SS cars

[LaunchPad]

Frustration, hardly begins to describe our situation over parts variations between different trims of these cobalt's AND years of even the SAME trim- granted i have a special case of no less than SIX cobalt powered projects between my Goblin and other business thing-a-ma-bobs so my frustration is compounded therein. Maybe someone here in Goblin HQ could have a pinned list of need parts vs year vs trim??? I will leave the greater majority of my rant for my own build log if i get around to it. But just in case it is helpful to someone. . . . the 2008 SS and 2009 SS had some major changes going on in them. . . can ya see the differences here?

the much heavier sandblasted one at the top of the image came off our original donor car. . . .it says it is an SS circa 2008 on the title. The lower came off one of my "other" donor cars this morning. . .it says it is an SS circa 2009 (updated-- 2006) on the title. the bearings do not interchange, the rod ends do not interchange, and the struts mount at entirely different heights, AND the lower control arms also do not interchange. Apparently, (stand by for verification this afternoon if my parts guy is successful)- the parts for the 2009 are cheap compared to the heavier duty parts from 2008. By the tune of 3 digits PER bearing, and rod ends!!!! (OEM rod ends and bearings for the 2008 running around $600 today!)

if the parts guy is successful this afternoon, I will add the car quest part numbers herein for the 2008 bits and see if I can find the numbers for the other parts we ordered over a year back that did not fit the 2008 uprights but should go with the 2009.

 

[Ark :D]

Something is off here.

My understanding is, 2008-2010 turbo SS models all used the same knuckle.

I believe the NA SS was still made for the 2008 model year, that is a slightly different knuckle.

Every Cobalt 2007 and earlier should use the same knuckle as the NA SS.

The only difference between LNF knuckles and non-LNF is the size of the ball joint opening; it's slightly larger on the LNF knuckle.

For what it's worth, I used non-LNF knuckles and control arms on my Goblin (2008 SS/TC donor) and everything fit fine.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

If they are SS - both TC or was was NA?

 

[LaunchPad]

2008 is a turbo car -manual
2009 is a supercharged car -manual <=== turns out this one is a 2006 (sorry)

I haven't yet started the disassembly on my NA- automatic car so can't compare it yet

 

[Ark :D]

There were no factory-supercharged Cobalts in 2009.

 

[LaunchPad]

let me go dig out the paperwork. i can verify there is indeed a supercharger on the engine for the car i partially disassembled this morning

above is the original donor circa 2008

this is the car i partially disassembled this morning. you were right i boobooed. it say this one is a 2006 on the hardcopy title i pulled out

the copper car next to it is my NA automatic and its title says it is a 2007

sorry six projects with six donor cars. this is a nightmare keeping straight which is which even with project notebooks for each

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Yeah, the ball joints and hub bearings will be different between 2008 and 2006. Interesting the strut mount height is different too, but thought I read somewhere the 2008-2010 had a 25mm lowered suspension - possibly this is how it was done?

 

[Ark :D]

Yeah, the ball joints and hub bearings will be different between 2008 and 2006. Interesting the strut mount height is different too, but thought I read somewhere the 2008-2010 had a 25mm lowered suspension - possibly this is how it was done?

Not sure on that one. My non-LNF knuckles were visually identical to the one good LNF knuckle I had.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Someone must have swapped some parts on you Jeremy. The LNF ball joints are the thicker stub 0.800 diameter versus the 0.750 diameter (the three rivet holes I think are in the same locations on the a-arms) which has a larger receiver hole in the knuckle and the three hub bearing mounting holes are for the 'larger' Malibu-Impala bearings (they have a slightly different angle between holes?).