06 Chevy Cobalt engine swap, end to end

I am very lucky we get to travel the way we do and that I get some garage time is the topper. My life has been less than helpful timing. Young and stationary, had no time or money, child rearing was the big job! Now I have all the junk I need stashed away and only a little time to work on it each year. More time would be nice but I'd rather travel with my wife and visit the kids. That big clock is always ticking!

 I have yet to hit a problem that says this isn't going to work. If I can buy some land and build a "Barn-dominium"(little house/big garage) I might make more progress in '25!

   Well 2025 has started with a snowy jab! And I have unhappy news, I'm losing my sweet storage gig/garage. Which means from February to July I must buy land and build housing, garage, RV cover spot and storage space.

   Land procurement will be first and contracting terra-forming will commence. I do not have a lot picked out so how much house I may get with the land is a huge unknown. Thus how much terra-forming(water, sewer, electric, gas, driveways, land leveling)work that will be required is all dependent.

Plus, me moving my stuff from where it is to where it needs to be will eat many hours. It is a rural area, so I will have 2, 40' Containers (container ship type, set about 30' apart) dropped on the property to contain my stuff that now is in dry mini storage. Scattered along side will be my stuff that is in outdoor storage. Then construction of a covered "landing spot" for our RV with water, power and sewage.

   Oh, and some fences, Good Fences make Good Neighbors. As the Brits say. {Apparently Hadrian's Wall kept the Scots at bay for 400 years!}

   Fortunately I will NOT be constructing the home/shop(Barn-do-minium) or fences as we will be having that construction installed complete, ready to inhabit. It's all about the Mortgage!

Sooooo, once again, GOB-BALT construction is pushed aside for more important "needs".(story of my life.)

I've had some free time to assess my car and it appears I'm further along than I thought! Many little assembly points I apparently had forgotten about are in fact complete. I. e most of the wiring. I have yet to wire the fuel pump, 4 wires.
  Coolant transfer tubes needing to be the non existent size of 13/8" has been cured. Galvanized fence pipe is the correct dia. No better source has been found. Exhaust system tubing is not offered in that size and none below 1 1/2". Fence tubing is galvanized in and out. Yippee!

   I must construct exhaust and thankfully Wolfman Exhaust and Welding shop in Newnan, GA has stepped in to help me produce usable solutions on many bits including shifter stuff and stabilizing some installation points. He is not a chassis builder but is a great welder and excited to help. So long as I pay his hourly rate! I didn't expect any thing else. I have a Goblin exhaust pipe from a non turbo, unfortunately is must be modified and the tail pipe extended to exit the body. But much simpler than total raw construction.

   I hope to drive GOB-BALT by mid March! Wish me luck!

Good luck!

In reply to AhBNormal :

Interesting! I live in Sharpsburg, GA

In reply to Mattk :

Wondering what flavor of the motorsports illness infects you?  I hope to have GOB-BALT driving by end of March. Then we will be in the "destructive testing" phase of this project.

   Unit #2 is waiting in the wings! I have learned much about the Cobalt/G5 and will only use 07-08 units. Though much of my research is useful across all the units built. The electrical systems are a whole world unto them selves. I remember when you just pounded the body back something like it was when it was built, hooked all the wires to their proper "jimmies and doohickies" and drove off.

Looking at the fleet today and noticed an obvious similarity. Both hoods!  3 or 4 cars I've had in total. All had the  same dent. 

Apparently the ABS works great until the tires are bald. 

In reply to Mattk : It could be interesting to get together now I am a home owner in Greenville!(as of today) I have a Goblin Friend in Newnan!

 Look for more info on DFGoblin forum under other builds. A Goblin starts as a Cobalt and just look at what it makes. Folks talk bad about the Eco-Tec motors and drive lines but I think it's just fear and envy. The original Ariel Atom used this motor and trans as did a Saab sedan, several Opels/ Vauxhalls/ Holden's, Saturns, Lotus and even an Alfa Romeo sedan. Eco-Tec originated at Opel Germany. The expense of the Ariel Atom (and how inexpensive a donor Cobalt is)gave Doyle Fabrications in Red Oak ,TX the urge to build a similar kit and so, far as kit cars go, they hit it out of the park! 500+ units sold so far.

DF is no shade tree shop, they do contracts for Aircraft companies and NASA projects.

Here are some pix from today's work in CAD(cardboard aided design) this is the double shifter cable stop bracket for my constructed shifter. At the kitchen table.