Adding to my eco fleet 2010 Cobalt XFE

[alex16]

I've been in love with my 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage, I average close to 50mpg at 60mph without even trying to eco drive, If I drive flat highway at 55mph I can even push 55mpg. Its almost all stock as well, the tires are at 40psi with some tein lowering springs but stock otherwise. I started using it for uber driving, there are a lot of hybrids but some other gas hogs running around my uber area, I started searching for a car 8 years or newer that could get decent mpg and not tear up my Mirage. The Mirage does ride rough with the springs and short wheel base although it is more roomy inside than the cobalt ironically.


I wasn't sure what car to buy, I wanted to keep things under 1,000. I found a 2009 Hyundai elantra with 270k miles on it $1100, a 2009 Ford Focus with 250k on it $1300. Then I found this 2010 Cobalt 5 speed with 107K miles on it. Of course it had been through the ringer, not sure how someone could abuse a 2010 this bad but they did. Thankfully the interior is the simplest interiors I've ever worked on in my life, its all apart now. The engine has a blown head gasket and rod bearing rattle, I sourced a used engine for $400 with 60k miles. I drove the car home with the bad head gasket and it still had some kick in the higher rpm, 3rd gear syncro is shot but if I double clutch it no grinding. I might source another XFI transmission if this is too expensive to rebuild. The exterior is awful, just as the interior, but I am planning on plasti diping or a cheap diy paintjob. I hope to have 2,000 total invested but with a $600 purchase price $400 engine (comes with automatic tranny). I don't have much left, I hope I can get $100 for the old engine, or scrap it for the aluminum, then sell the automatic transmission as well to add some money for paint, carpet, front bumper cover, hood, bondo, tires, hubcaps, clutch kit, ect. (damn there is a big to do list... this car is shot)

Once I get this car very road worthy, mpg mods will be needed to try to keep up with 50 mpg highway I am used to now.

[alex16]

I've got access to a wrecked red cobalt, getting interior minus carpet and the trunk + mirrors/tail light. Might get a few more minor things like extra window cranks, exhaust, ect.

[iamnotahippee]

Looks like a good project. Best of luck!

[roosterk0031]

There is no XFE tranny, the manual trannys in 09-10 in non turbo's are all the same with lower final drive than pervious years. Easiest to stick with 09-10 engine as well as only years to get VVT. HHR engine and tranny of same year I think would be interchangeable and they are often Flex fuel, but don't think anything would be different in the long block, most likely ECU tuning is the only real difference.

[alex16]

Awesome I found this on craigslist. Hopefully it's still around or I can find something similar when I have some cash. https://harrisburg.craigslist.org/pts/5229820991.html

also found a 2010 5 speed for $360 shipped.

[spacemanspif]

Poor car, glad you are bringing it back to life but I can't help but think that this is what happens when a kid is given a car when they turn 16 and doesn't appreciate it...

[alex16]

Remains inside the car proved the car was owned by a army personel that listened to a lot of rap music and was working on a 1992 ford econoline.

[roosterk0031]

Changed the oil & rotated tires on KT's cobalt Sat. morning and I swear it had a rod knock(2 knocks) after restarting it to check the oil level. Sounds fine after those 2 knock I wonder if it was more the timing chain. Yours could be junk anyway I'd do a little more listening to the bottom end before tossing the whole thing.

155 vs 74 hp Mirage is a pretty good jump, my SG says I'm making 50 hp at 2000 rpm and 100 at 4000 I'm liking a Mirage for my XFE's replacment but think I'm going to buy another Cobalt to replace the Altima or Stratus first.

[alex16]

Driving around for the last time hopefully with this engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWvxghhoFBE

you might hear the rod knock. engine stalls frequently

[The Other Andy]

Yikes. It's some mad-max alternate universe version of my Coby. How and why would someone do that?

I want to go outside and give my car a hug.

Best of luck with the repairs.