DF kit car Goblin

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454cid

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Wow, that guys cars were pretty nice starting out..... He looks like he's in the south someplace, so I guess that's expected.

Definetly going to read throug that build thread.
 

Moparmat2000

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There are a few differences but I do not have a list or guide specifically for that. One of our guys went the HHR route and explained the process on his build log: http://dfkitcar.com/forum/index.php?threads/jim-mcdonald-extended-track-09-hhr-ss-tc-automatic.1347/

You'll see in the build log that the reason he chose the HHR was that he wanted a turbo donor but he needed an automatic because he is paraplegic (the turbo Cobalt wasn't available with an automatic). He ended up using an HHR SS and a base Cobalt.
If the difference between the two is not much in the way of parts, I can just hit my local junkyard for the needed pieces that the HHR doesnt have. Thank you for sending me the link to his build. It's a real timesaver. My HHR is a 5 speed, and I prefer shifting my own gears, plus the condition of the engine and gearbox, i know what i have vs something from copart that's had a hard life.
 

Moparmat2000

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For anybody interested in one of these, via interchange books, and what others have been able to adapt, it looks like these parts below are a direct fit off the HHR and interchange with the cobalt. Since the cobalt and HHR are both disposable vehicles, and an awful lot of the expensive parts from the HHR interchange, this makes it a viable donor in my opinion. What little that you would need from a cobalt or G5 you could hit your local boneyard and pull in an hour or 2 and be done, or order up some from rock auto.

Theres also several differences on the aluminum steering knuckles on the SS models VS the rest in regards to the steering knuckles and bearing hubs because they utilize brembo brakes in the front. This kind of makes them a unicorn of sorts. Honestly I would want to stay away from that as it seems nothing interchanges with them. The wheel bearing hubs are unique to that steering knuckle, and even the lower control arm ball joint pins are a different diameter, so a regular lower control arm will not work. You need an SS LCA for brembo brakes and FE5 suspension.

Engine cradle
Engine
Trans
Struts
Drive axle wheel bearing hubs
Lower control arms
Struts
Drive axles
Steering rack
Outer tie rods
Steering column (not direct but close enough)
Ignition switch
Clutch slave cylinder
Wiring harness (with a lot of work)

These parts do not show an interchange between cobalt and HHR

Clutch master cylinder
Brake master cylinder
Brake booster
Antifreeze overflow reservoir
Gage panel
Parking brake lever
Throttle pedal
Rear Axle hubs used for front uprights

These parts below i'm not sure of yet, but will find out.

Brake and clutch pedals
Gear shifter

BTW the Cobalt gage cluster looks much better than the HHR IMHO.
 
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Erik the Awful

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It should handle really well, but it will take above average skill to drive it at the limit. I'm sure it's a ton of fun.

I've been thinking my next track toy is going to be a kit car of some sort.
Having watched Legends race at Hallett, that would probably be the direction I would go. It's a well-established series with plenty of competition.

Hey guys, Adam from DF Kit Car here. Thought I'd drop in to answer questions if you guys have any.

I also wanted to share a video of a Goblin at a recent hill climb. Justin ended up getting fastest time of the day on his last run (the run in this video). He's got wings front an rear to get the most out of it as he can. He's only running low 400whp for this event running 17 PSI but he says it has made over 600 when he cranks the boost up. That's overkill for a tight hill climb though.

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I don't think I could sell a frame for $10,000. That's why the kit comes with a whole lot more. When we first started we wanted to sell the whole kit for $5k. Back then it was just me and my dad building a car of our own and other guys were interested in a kit.

We decided to go for it as a business but as we built out the kit the way we wanted people to receive it, the price did go up. This included front control arms, chromoly rod ends, CNC machined aluminum uprights, QA1 adjustable front coilovers, brakes, pre-formed and flared brake lines, brake hoses, brake master cylinder relocation kit, fuel tank with fuel line material, fuel filler neck hardware, radiator with full cooling system and the list went on. We ended up at a price of closer to $7k.

Over the years it has increased in price due to improvements to the kit (we supply even more than we did when we started) and material costs going up but we still believe it is a reasonable price.
Thanks for stepping in and commenting. I can say I was being contrarian and I don't really think your kit is overpriced, but I also do understand that you have a vested interest in selling it. Watching that video does reinforce questions of how squirrely that car is. His hands are sawing fast coming out of every corner as he's having to catch a lot of oversteer. I'm sure a lot of that is because 400 hp is a lot for so short a wheelbase, and I think that's a combination that requires a lot of skill to drive fast.
 

Moparmat2000

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My HHR drivetrain being 150hp 2.2 and 5 speed ought to be plenty , and plenty of fun for a 1500lb car. I figure some performance cams and a header would be enough.
 

0xDEADBEEF

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My HHR drivetrain being 150hp 2.2 and 5 speed ought to be plenty , and plenty of fun for a 1500lb car. I figure some performance cams and a header would be enough.

Power to weight is pretty good. 25-30 years ago, it would have been high end sports car level. I think it would be better at tracks without long straights and with more technical stuff where you can use the agility that platform has. The reason I say that is if you are in HPDE you will probably be giving a lot of point bys at some place like COTA. It will be to a bunch of old rich doods who aren't likely to return the favor when you catch up to them 2 turns later because they don't really know how to drive, but have 600 hp. (Ask me how I know, LOL.)

You're in Abilene, right? There are probably some autocross clubs up there. Closest tracks I can think of are MSR Cresson and Eagles Canyon around Decatur.
 

Moparmat2000

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Power to weight is pretty good. 25-30 years ago, it would have been high end sports car level. I think it would be better at tracks without long straights and with more technical stuff where you can use the agility that platform has. The reason I say that is if you are in HPDE you will probably be giving a lot of point bys at some place like COTA. It will be to a bunch of old rich doods who aren't likely to return the favor when you catch up to them 2 turns later because they don't really know how to drive, but have 600 hp. (Ask me how I know, LOL.)

You're in Abilene, right? There are probably some autocross clubs up there. Closest tracks I can think of are MSR Cresson and Eagles Canyon around Decatur.
Yes I am in Abilene. I think this would be fun to drive in the hill country around Fredericksburg by enchanted rock.
 

0xDEADBEEF

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Is this a Goblin? Ignore the Roadmaster in the preview.

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