V1 Dan's #495 build (2006 SS/SC)

[TheAnesthetist]

That's pretty much standard for these vehicles. I think the passenger side through the arm bolt was the one I had to cut out.

Bingo. Same one for me. I was able to loosen the bolt all the way but it was fused to the inner bushing sleeve. I used a pry bar to drop the subframe and then a BFH to free the bolt from the bushing.

Odd that the one bolt was so rusty and the other 3 not at all. The front cowl or AC must drain right onto that one.

 

[Robinjo]

Bingo. Same one for me. I was able to loosen the bolt all the way but it was fused to the inner bushing sleeve. I used a pry bar to drop the subframe and then a BFH to free the bolt from the bushing.

Odd that the one bolt was so rusty and the other 3 not at all. The front cowl or AC must drain right onto that one.

Exact same situation that I experienced. I was able to get it out and drop the engine but then had to cut the LCA out of the subframe. I had new rubber MOOG ones pressed in but should have gone with the spherical bearing versions. If someone has the part number for that, here would be an excellent place to post it up (again). During Goblinfest Lonnie mentioned that this was one of the biggest things to help with handling (other than the alignment being on).

 

[TheAnesthetist]

These?

That's a pretty penny compared to the Moogs

 

[Gtstorey]

Use More Information for MOOG K201285 (rockauto.com)

instead of using More Information for MOOG K6698 (rockauto.com)

 

[TheAnesthetist]

Use More Information for MOOG K201285 (rockauto.com)

instead of using More Information for MOOG K6698 (rockauto.com)

I have the K201285 saved in my ever-growing amazon goblin wishlist. Is it worth the extra $140 for the spherical ones from OTTP?

 

[Vwsaabvt]

You could save $100 on the ottp and buy some blemished ones here.

 

[Ross]

The MOOG K201285 are money well spent, and I can't see any reason to spend more. I'm pretty sure they are spherical, but haven't taken them apart.

 

[Robinjo]

The MOOG K201285 are money well spent, and I can't see any reason to spend more. I'm pretty sure they are spherical, but haven't taken them apart.

Lonnie did mention the MOOG spherical units, so that does make some sense.

 

[TheAnesthetist]

A lot has happened since my last post. I finished stripping the donor earlier this evening. Again, no real surprises here. Here's the list of things I broke :

Turn signal stalk
Key fob sensor box though the electronic board inside seems undamaged. The box was deformed and brittle from sun exposure.
Ambient light sensor
Clutch master cylinder (nipple for the reservoir tube snapped off)

I was able to get the wiring harness out without too much trouble but it was annoying having to peel back the rear bumper faschia just to release the license plate light. I labeled almost every connector that I could identify. A few of them I'm not even sure what they are so I photographed them before disconnecting. I've watched the wiring harness videos and I don't think I want to tackle it so I'll reach out to Lonnie to coordinate that.

My zzp header showed up today so I had to try it out. That's a nice piece of jewelry! Also replaced the rusty exhaust manifold studs with a fresh set. Dorman part # 03422. Next up I'll clean and paint the donor parts while I wait on my kit to be delivered.

 

[TheAnesthetist]

After much thought I've decided to do my own harness. If you monkeys can do it, so can I. Spent about 5 hours today thinning the main harness through the first 4 videos. Everything that got removed from a connector but not thinned from the harness received a new label so I can remember what's what.

I followed the videos exactly except that I don't seem to have a white vcim connector. Can anyone confirm that?

Also you can see where two of my hobbies intersect and will have to share this space for a while!

 

[Ross]

This monkey has no idea what a VCIM connector is... so Google helped me, and it is the GM Onstar unit, which isn't used in a goblin. Maybe your donor cobalt didn't have onstar? My cobalt had it on the rear window dash area.

 

[Robinjo]

After much thought I've decided to do my own harness. If you monkeys can do it, so can I. Spent about 5 hours today thinning the main harness through the first 4 videos. Everything that got removed from a connector but not thinned from the harness received a new label so I can remember what's what.

Only 5 hours through the first 4 videos? I had 12 hours up to that point and my harness came out decent. Not perfect but it made the car run.

 

[ah.b.normal]

I believe any person driven to watch and follow the video directions can complete the rewiring task. It will be trying and time consuming, a true test of patience! Though many folks find they just can’t concentrate on a task that convoluted and still have brain juice for work and social life. I don’t blame them, it just looks Impossible! (Possibly poor form by you on the “you monkeys” comment.) It may be True in my case? But I am far too old and wise to be upset by an opinion of friend or foe! I listen carefully to both friends and detractors as they either have a salient point or are just spewing nonsense due to their obvious fear of incompetence and inferiority. . Best of Luck In This Latest Endeavor!

 

[Sluggonaut]

I didn't have a VCIM connector on my 2007 SS/SC donor.

 

[TheAnesthetist]

Next question. In video #6 at the 1:20 mark I'm supposed to solder the ground lug, fuel pump ground, coolant tank ground and the fuse box ground all together. I see the first three but where is the fuse box ground?

 

[Gtstorey]

Next question. In video #6 at the 1:20 mark I'm supposed to solder the ground lug, fuel pump ground, coolant tank ground and the fuse box ground all together. I see the first three but where is the fuse box ground?

Any of the black wires that come from the fuse box.

 

[TheAnesthetist]

Any of the black wires that come from the fuse box.

From the main fuse box or the BCM box? I see a black and white wire coming from the blue bcm connector.

 

[Gtstorey]

Should be several black wires off of the back of the fuse box plugs. But it's been a few years.

 

[Gtstorey]

So according to the ground distribution diagram here
Wiring Schematics - 2006 / 2010 Cobalt/G5 LS, LT, GT, SS - LE5, LNF, LSJ, LAP, L61 | DF Kit Car Forum
There may only be one wire from the back of the fuse box.

 

[Gtstorey]

There is should be at least one black/white wire from the PCM also but I'm not sure how that is grouped in. My later models had multiple ground wires from the ECM to group together.