Exhaust manifold

2009 CHEVROLET COBALT
120,000 MILES • 2.2L • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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GARY CLINE
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I have just replaced the head on a 2009 Cobalt 2.2l. I bought a used head at a salvage yard. Everything was correct until the exhaust manifold it bolted on but it left 2 small ports open. That's when I found the head was from a 2.4l. they don't know what car it came from. There is a number cast on it 12589641 but I can't find any information on it. I was wondering if you could help me with any information on what car it might have been on. I would rather replace the manifold if possible than to replace the head again.

Thanks for any info you can give me
Gary
Feb 18, 2019 at 5:00 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.

That head could have come off a Pontiac, Saturn, Chevy Malibu or Cobalt. The casting number didn't change. It is a corporate GM part number.

Now, you need to get the correct head for your engine. This one will cause fuel issue and possibly compression issues, which will result in engine damage and emission issues. The cams are different, programming is different.

Honestly, and I hate to say it to you, but you really should get the correct head for this engine.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Joe
Feb 18, 2019 at 6:48 PM
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270MIKE
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I have a 2009 Cobalt with a 2.2 VVT engine. The 2.4 head will fit a 2.2 without a problem. Interchange is for the bare head only.

Swap your camshafts into the 2.4 head. Should have compression and start just fine.

As for the exhaust manifold, I have run across quite a few different manifolds for the 2.2, 2.4 engines. Of your manifold bolts up and those open holes seem to be just that, roll with it. I know the head itself will interchange.

I wish I still worked at a salvage yard. I could tell you exactly what you would need. From memory, the differences are with or w/o EGR (may need block off), AIR or not. Essentially, the main exhaust ports are the same, just AIR and EGR differences. The 2.4 has a different intake, but that is not an issue since the 2.2/2.4 intake is sorted by different TB and programming.

If anything, you will need to do some exhaust manifold related change.

If you have not changed cams, or sprockets/phasers, give it a turn by hand to make sure interference issues aren't possible, then compression check it. You can hold your hand over the plug hole to feel if it builds pressure (go get a gauge :-).

Swap in your original camshafts. Then let us know what, if any, the extra holes do.

Reply with the results, or more questions.
Mar 29, 2019 at 2:07 AM
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STRAILER
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Excellent addition to this thread! Please feel free to help out whenever you are on the site :)
Apr 1, 2019 at 10:22 AM