• We've upgraded and reskinned the forum. Notice something off? Email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it.

V1 LNF Engine Swap

D
I have purchased a goblin with a 2.2L NA currently in the vehicle. I plan to drive for the rest of the season and start working on it over the winter. I have a SS/TC that I would like to use for the engine and trans. I am still very early stages so please bare with my lack of knowledge currently. I have both cars and the turbo kit from DF Goblin will there be a big difference in wiring harness? Does anybody have any tips? Thanks in advance!
 
Tinkles
Is the SS/TC complete?

You will need the SS/TC wiring harness and PCM/ECU because of the direct injection and VVT.

If the SS/TC is complete then just use that as your donor and keep the 2.2L NA as a fuel efficient beater car. You will save yourself alot of headaches because the SS/TC got a bunch of beefier/better parts than all the other Cobalts(ball joints, axles, etc).
 
R
The new wiring harness videos were done with a TC donor/harness so you can follow that to make your new harness. You’re basically doing a build at this point, minus installing the front suspension components.

Tip is to label EVERYTHING as you unplug it during the TC strip down. And be sure to save your front control arms and knuckles as these are hard to replace. Otherwise good luck with the build! Keep us posted.
 
Rauq
Welcome! To help folks get you better answers faster, update your signature with some info on your build. There's a link on how to do that in my signature.

To answer your question, I think we need some clarification- the way I read your post, you purchased a completed Goblin with a 2.2 engine. Is it a manual or auto trans? And what is it you're ordering from DF?

If your Goblin was built off a 2005 or 2006 2.2 donor, then that computer is un-tuneable and requires a swap to even add a turbo to it. As previously mentioned, swapping to a complete SS/TC (aka LNF) engine requires not only a new computer but also new wiring.

If you have a 2007 or later 2.2 computer, I believe you can swap in the LNF block, exhaust and intake manifolds, and turbo, and tune on your existing computer. Hardly any additional wiring required. This is the general route https://dfkitcar.com/forum/index.php?threads/chris_wncs-track-frame-338-09-lt-auto-registered-in-nc.2888/ is taking, although he had some (self-imposed) hardware issues in his swap and has temporarily reverted.

If you have an auto trans, there's additional work required, like a new DF tunnel cap with mounting points for the shifter, shifter cables, etc. I'm not up to speed on the computer and electronics side of that swap.
 
D
So just to be clear - you bought a finished 2.2 NA Goblin and want to swap in a engine/trans from a SS/TC donor? Or you bought a NA Goblin kit and you have both a 2.2 NA donor and a SS/TC donor?
I bought a goblin running and driving with a 2.2k na manual and a 2.0Tc cobalt as the donor.
 
Last edited:
D
Welcome! To help folks get you better answers faster, update your signature with some info on your build. There's a link on how to do that in my signature.

To answer your question, I think we need some clarification- the way I read your post, you purchased a completed Goblin with a 2.2 engine. Is it a manual or auto trans? And what is it you're ordering from DF?

If your Goblin was built off a 2005 or 2006 2.2 donor, then that computer is un-tuneable and requires a swap to even add a turbo to it. As previously mentioned, swapping to a complete SS/TC (aka LNF) engine requires not only a new computer but also new wiring.

If you have a 2007 or later 2.2 computer, I believe you can swap in the LNF block, exhaust and intake manifolds, and turbo, and tune on your existing computer. Hardly any additional wiring required. This is the general route https://dfkitcar.com/forum/index.php?threads/chris_wncs-track-frame-338-09-lt-auto-registered-in-nc.2888/ is taking, although he had some (self-imposed) hardware issues in his swap and has temporarily reverted.

If you have an auto trans, there's additional work required, like a new DF tunnel cap with mounting points for the shifter, shifter cables, etc. I'm not up to speed on the computer and electronics side of that swap.
Thank you for all the information as it observed I have a whole lot of research to do but to clarify a bit I have a manual 2.2 currently in and running in the car. I am planning on running this through the end of year and potentially swapping over winter. Lots of variables and details to figure out, the important part is I finally got a goblin!
 
D
Is the SS/TC complete?

You will need the SS/TC wiring harness and PCM/ECU because of the direct injection and VVT.

If the SS/TC is complete then just use that as your donor and keep the 2.2L NA as a fuel efficient beater car. You will save yourself alot of headaches because the SS/TC got a bunch of beefier/better parts than all the other Cobalts(ball joints, axles, etc).
The goblin currently has the 2.2l in it I also have a complete ss/tc
 
C
I'm jumping in late so I hope I didn't miss something obvious. Why not just bolt a turbo onto the NA motor? Should be good for 200+ HP with limited mods. With pistons and rods, double that number.

With all the talk about swapping entire wire harnesses, surely modding the existing engine is the easier path to horsepower, isn't it?
 
jirwin
I've been stalking thread because I'm wondering the same. I'm happy with my 2.2L supercharged, but I know I'll want more eventually. Interested to see what the cheapest parg to doing so is. So far all paths point to building my current 2.2L.
 
Back
Top