To make it easier for everyone to see the questions that have already been answered, we’ve included them below the new responses we are posting up today. If you don’t see your name below, don’t fret, pose a question in our comments section below and we’ll try and get it answered. Remember guys, GMTS is the ONLY GM Tuner-focused site on the web that can bring you the latest info straight from the source. We’re working on many more special features for the GMTS community that will help bring you closer to the source. We’ll have more on that soon. Right now though, enjoy the responses from the guys behind the upgrade:

Originally Posted on 8/6:
Question from beastybalt: Stock SsTC: 260 hp260tq .... Stg1:280hp320tq for the SSTC and 290hp340tq for the HHRSS.....

GM HPVO:  The Correct Torque Number for the HHR SS is 315 lb-ft.  To avoid confusion here are all of the stage kit ratings ALL HP & TQ numbers are crank shaft numbers:

GM HPVO:  There continues to be some confusion over the certification process using CARB so let me try and clarify it here. Using CARB allows us to get 50 state emissions certification using one submittal for all 50 states. If we were going to separate the certification process and certify into the California emission states and all the other states the process would talk longer because we would then need to submit applications to the EPA and to CARB. Sounds like a mess right? So the fastest way to get the kit into your hands is to use the CARB single 50 state submission process.

Question from beastybalt: Stg 1 is $500 not including dlr 2 hr install at $90+ an hour and the ECU re-flash that costs $100... so do the math......

GM HPVO:  The ECU flash is included in the 2 hr install recommended install time on the Cobalt. There is not a special charge to receive the re-flash. You only pay the dealer for their labor.

Question from cossor: Also, can we get some estimated 0-60 and 1/4 mile times?

GM HPVO:  No official 0-60 times or 1/4 mile times have been recorded. We look forward to hearing from the kit owners how much there times have improved. Please let us know!

Question from 80vetteL82: One other thing....you said we can install on our own right? If so that would be what, $550 for the kit + time for the dealer to do the flash (maybe like 1/2hr at most?). So maybe like $600 total?

GM HPVO:  While it is recommended that you have a dealer install it, you can install it yourself.  However, if you do install it yourself and drive the car to the dealer for the re-flash you will set a P2227 code and the car may go into reduce power mode. So if this is what you plan on doing just be real careful and drive very conservatively - we know it’s hard but just trust us on this one. To answer your next question: There is no difference in the warranty coverage whether or not the kit was dealer installed.

Question from CarbonRust: Regarding the 3 bar MAP and TMAP sensors that come with this kit, what real world advantages do they actually provide? Don't the stock sensors have enough range to reliably read the boost levels that this stage kit will peak at and that the stock turbo can push? Are they included so as to have more room for future upgrades, or to include hard parts in the kit so that it doesn't seem like the stock map is holding the car back?

GM HPVO: The 3.0 bar map sensor is required because the added boost for the stage kit uses up the diagnostic "dead band" of the production 2.7 bar sensors. Now stay with me here and I’ll explain:  Any sensor that is used in controlling the engine must be able to be diagnosed for problems and reported to the drive via the "service Engine Soon" light and reported to the repairing technician via the stored trouble code.  With any sensor the top, say for this example, 5%, is reserved to be able to tell if the sensor has "failed high", constantly reading high.  If the sensor was not changed and we boost into the dead band we cannot fully diagnose all the sensor's possible failure modes.  Therefore the sensors were required to be changed to meet the diagnostic requirements of the emission certification regulations. Hopefully that helps everyone better understand the situation with the sensors.

Question from CarbonRust: Regarding the actual calibration, how much engineering has been put into tuning for less than wide open throttle situations? While peak horsepower is very important, around town driveability is probably more so for most Cobalt owners, I would think.

GM HPVO: Great Questions, thank you for asking. The engineering team working on the Cobalt SS kit put the calibration though all sorts of conditions to make sure that the add HP and TQ was well integrated into the rest of the calibration. The around town drivability is uncompromised with any stage kit calibration.

Originally Posted on 8/5:
Question from CarbonRust: What happened to the GM intake that was going to be part of the stage 1 kit for the Cobalt SS? Will that now be part of an upcoming stage 2 kit as originally planned, or is the intake now being simply scrapped because "GM Engineering was not satisfied with the test results", either performance or emission wise, or could it be due to cuts in the GM performance division?

Also, while 280HP is a nice bump, why does the HHR SS kit continue to deliver additional HP at higher revs, peaking at 290HP on what is essentially the same engine, clutch, and transmission as the Cobalt SS? Is this due to emission requirements being less stringent on the "SUV" HHR vs. the Coupe/Sedan Cobalt, or is it perhaps due to the torque levels being altered for drivability reasons?

I am still very interested in GMPP Stage kits for my Cobalt SS, but definitely have some questions I'd like to see answered.

GM HPVO: There are some great questions in here and I’ll do my best to answer them the best I can. Unfortunately, GM HPVO is not allowed to comment on future products but stay tuned to GMTunerSource for the latest info on the Stage 2 kit.

For your second question, the difference in HP between the HHR SS and the Cobalt SS stage kit is rooted in the airflow into the engine, the "suck" side of the turbo. The two air cleaners are of different designs and the engine has reacted differently to the added boost of the stage kit. The differences are this: the HHR SS air cleaner is mounted to the engine and rocks with the engine, where the Cobalt SS design is mounted on the inner fender and must allow the engine to rock independently. To allow these different mounting methods, the duct from the air cleaner to the turbo on the Cobalt SS has an added flexible section which causes a different air flow than the HHR SS and therefore different maximum horsepower numbers. On the plus side of things for the Stage 1 Cobalt SS, it makes 5 more lb.-ft of torque than the HHR SS and delivers more torque from 3400 RPM to 4700 RPM due to these differences in airflow as well.

Question from JTurner.CTN: So when you say the certification is completed you mean the California CARB?

GM HPVO:  Sure do. By “certification” we mean The California Air Resource Board, which will give the kit 50 state emission certification.

Question from ssam2.4: CARB certification was passed???I have the part # in my car and money in my account.

GM HPVO:  Now that’s excitement! Sorry, CARB has not passed yet. We are still in the window of now 24 to 84 days until it is Certified. We are right there with you hoping it is the 24 days rather than the 84 days.

Originally Posted on 7/22:
Question from TrevMo: Is there any way to confirm that you actually have the correct part number? If you are correct, can't the dealer order it right now, get the HHR/Solstice/Sky parts and then you will be ready for the tune to be released when the certification is done? It looks to me that the hardware is the same part number for all kits and the tune is the only thing that is different. Can we order away!?!

GM HPVO:  The part number is 19212670.  The kit is the same as the kit for Solstice/Sky & HHR SS.  The instructions will be updated and the calibration list updated with the Cobalt SS calibration part numbers and of course the emission certification sticker will be updated.

Cobalt owners can buy the stage kit today and be ready to install it.  The install can be completed as soon as the calibrations are released to the dealers.  The key to knowing when the calibrations are released is to watch GMTunerSource.com when the updated instructions are posted on the website the calibration is ready to be installed.  So this is a way that Cobalt SS owners can be loaded and ready to be the first on their block to get the GMPP Stage 1 kit.

Question from ovin08: why does the graph say the max hp is at 5100 when the tick mark on the graph is obviously before 5k rpm? anyone else notice that?

GM HPVO:  The chart needs to say 4700 RPM. We’ve updated the chart and thanks for pointing that out – we are spending some late nights here working on this for you.

Question from 1rare4door: My main concern is that the pigtails have to be spliced into the factory wiring harness. This is somewhat to be desired since the splice is only as good as the individual/technician performing the task. Since we have waited this long, why not implement a plug and play pigtail that will make for a less tacky thrown together look. Lets take that extra step and make the kit look like it came from the factory and not like the beginner weekend warrior wire-nutted the splices and covered it with a snippet of duct tape!

GM HPVO:  Good Question! The answer is that the female ends of the connectors that need to look like the production MAP sensor and TMAP sensor do not exist. The only way to make a jumper is to cut apart the production MAP and TMAP sensors make a connector out of them. Then a jumper could be created.

Originally Posted on 7/23:
Question from 09lnfssblack: I have a question on the connectors for the map and tmap .. I would wonder if you just removed the terminal from its pin location and installed it in to the new updated map and tmap connector... Or is this going to be a sensor with the wiring coming strait out of it without the connector? If all else fails I would solder the wires together then cover with black heatshrink, then retape to make it look factory..

GM HPVO: I like the way you think. We tried to make that work but the sensors are actually from a different supplier and therefore use a different connector and pins. So, the existing connectors and pins (even if you moved the pins to the correct location) will not plug into the new kit sensors. Goood question though.

Question from 09lnfssblack: Just a thought here.. If peek torque is moved 2300 rpm later ie.4300 rpm how will this affect the car when its in cruise going up a hill in 5th? will it bog the engine down? or will I get the same effect like my diesel more power more torque more speed and the most important part "from the wife's point of view" better fuel economy?

GM HPVO: If you look at the torque it shows that you have increased torque from 2000 rpm and up. So on your observation/questions going up a hill in cruise in 5th gear the car will better maintain speed. More torque, more speed. On the fuel economy question most LNF kit owners in the other applications, HHR SS and Solstice/Sky, are reporting, after the initial thrill of putting your foot to floor wears off, 1 to 2 mpg better overall driving fuel economy.

Originally Posted on 7/30:
Question from superbrowndude: This kit better make it to Canada with the same release date as the US. If not, there's gonna be a lot of pissed off Cobalt owners !

GM HPVO: We wouldn't even think about leaving our friends in the great white north without this kit! The kit will be released exactly the same as the HHR SS and Solstice/Sky kits so it will be available to everyone in the US and Canada.

Question from ovin08: So what if CARB doesn't approve this kit. will we have to wait another year for GM to make changes and have to go through the approval process again? or will GM just scrap the idea of stage kits? and if GM is so sure that this kit will get CARB approval, why not release it to those states that do not use California emission standards?

GM HPVO: This kit isn't an afterthought for us. We've been behind these upgrades for all the LNF owners since day 1. We will get CARB approval once we have met all their requirements and answered all their questions. We believe that in the submission for the Executive Order we have provided all the information that CARB needs but sometimes CARB asks for clarification or more data, which we have plenty of and will provide asap if they ask. The CARB approval gives the kit 50 state emissions compliance and since this a street legal kit, we wouldn't release it as such unless it met all the emissions requirements.