Howdy folks...just wanted everyone to know that the install on the CGS is so easy, even females can install it. Now, don't get me wrong, we ladies can do just about anything, but sometimes shy away when it comes to working under the hood of the car. Let me tell you, this was really easy to do and I love the way it looks without that big black box under there.

Here's what I did...and I didn't even need the cigarettes or chill pills that I did when I installed the radio controls on the steering wheel. :thumb:

The hardest part of the whole install was adapting the support bracket so it fit my 2.2L engine. No vise was available, so I used my boyfriends 2 ton hydraulic jack, putting the support bracket in between the metal sides and was able to bend it to nearly straight. Then took a hammer and large brass round thing (don't know wtf it is) and pounded out the original bend until it was nearly flat. Then put it back into the jack and made the new bend, so it would sit where it needed to under the hood.

This morning, while Henry was gone, I went outside and took off the stock parts, which come off quite easily. Took the modified CGS out there and to my amazement, I had actually bent the support back exactly where it needed to be. :wtf: How did that happen? :lol:

Thanks go to CJ for his input on adapting it to fit the 2.2L. :thumb: :yourock:

I hooked up everything up per SoCalHHR's instructions (Thanks Mike...:thumb: :yourock:),
turned the key...and WOW...does it sound great.

Then boyfriend comes home for lunch...can't believe his eyes that it's all done. :smile: He asks for the keys and starts it up and revs the motor and he looks at me with eyes as big as dinner plates and says...
"wow...that sounds good!"

So ladies, if you want to add the CGS to your car, you can do it yourself. It made me feel really good to be able to do this on my own. It also shows my boyfriend once again, that I'm more than just another pretty face. :lol:

For those who need to adapt to the 2.2L, you need a 6 X 50mm bolt with 1" pitch and a flat washer. I got those from Ace Hardware, as the one that comes with the CGS is just a tad short according to both Mike & CJ.

Just finished eating lunch, so now we're going to take it for a ride and wash job.
I'll be back later and let you know what I think. :thumb:

Here's a few pictures I took with my cell phone of the completed work. :smile:

Front View of Installed CGS
http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/8/1/2/cgs1.jpg

CGS Filter Placement
http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/8/1/2/intakefilter.jpg

Side View Showing Modified Support Bar
http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/8/1/2/cgs2.jpg

Way to go Deb
any Nascar fan can do it, especially as persistent as they are.
:D

BTW
Install pics look good, professsssssssssssional and all

YOU GO GIRL:thumb: GRRRLLLLLL POWER:bow:

:D It really does look so much better without that big black"Thing" sitting there! Nice work Deb!:bow:

Way to go Deb.
Bet you did it in under 12 seconds.LOL ( pit stops in Nascar)

Thanks folks. :smile: I sure wish it went on in 12 seconds. :lol: But it only took less than an hour...and half that time was spent digging through my boyfriends toolbox looking for what I needed. :eek:

Just got back from my test drive. Holy crap batman...that thing flies like the batmobile. :lol: Lots of extra power for sure and I noticed that it runs much cooler now than it did before. Coolant temp is much lower...saw it anywhere from 182 to 190, depending on traffic, with outside temp being in the mid 90's.

Took it by the shop that does the repair work on my boyfriends 74 Oldsmobile and my 84Honda to show the guys. They were very impressed with how much cleaner it looked under the hood and the fact that I did it myself. :lol:

Definitely give the CGS :thumb: Another cool mod and well worth the money. :smile:

Great job Deb!:twothumbs

Looks good Deb! I'm sure you'll enjoy it every day you start it up! :nuts:

Thats right, show 'em up! We're proud of you! Great work! http://www.filehigh.com/serve/4900/201071.gif

You are becoming quite the mechanic. :bow: Whats next lowering your HHR yourself. :lol:

Thats right, show 'em up! We're proud of you! Great work! http://www.filehigh.com/serve/4900/201071.gif
Thanks Sindy...I just love being able to do stuff like this on my own.
Makes all the guys shake their heads in amazement. :lol:
(Check out photos below) :lol:

You are becoming quite the mechanic. :bow: Whats next lowering your HHR yourself. :lol:
Thanks CH...I do have some mechanical skills having done apartment maintenance for nearly 9 years. ;)
If I decide to lower it...I'm sure I'll look into doing that myself as well. :nuts:

Did all this and didn't even break a nail neither. :lol: But boy...do I sure need to have a rebase done. :eek:
BTW...CJ can attest to the fact that my polish is the same color as my car. :lol:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/courthousedeb/nailsleft.jpghttp://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/courthousedeb/nailsright.jpg


And here's that brass thing used to flatten the support bar. Don't know what in the Sam Hill it is. :lol:
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/courthousedeb/wtfisthis.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/courthousedeb/wtfisthis.jpg
tuba bell plug?
elephant cork?
messed up bar stool?
mushroom gone bad?
dinosaur tooth?

elephant cork?
:laughabov !!!LMAO!!! :rof:

Heckuva Job Deb! Yet another impressive post!:thumb: :one:

Update on CGS...let my boyfriend Henry drive the HHR today with the new CGS system installed. As soon as we pulled out onto a main road, he put the hammer down and all he could say was..."Holy Sh!t" :lol: It was so funny too when he got it really going...a guy on a motorcycle heard us coming and turned around to see :wtf: was approaching. :lol: Let him drive it around for about an hour and now he wants an HHR now more than ever, so he can do the upgrades like I have done. Maybe one of these days, he'll put his money where his mouth is and we'll be a 2 HHR family too. :nuts:

BTW...went by dealer where I bought mine and they had a 2007 Dark Silver Metallic on the lot. It was fully loaded, only thing not on it was the spoiler and MSRP was $23,500. Asked the salesman who was wandering the lot about running board option and he said they were factory installed. I then told him...well that's weird...the sticker says dealer installed. :lol: Told Henry maybe I should start selling HHR's, I know more about them than alot of sales people. I did tell the guy about our forum and gave him a couple of the flyers I made and he's going to give them to the sales manager. Also gave Henry a handful of them as well, as he's seen 3 or 4 around town parked in the same place all the time, so he's going to pop them under their wiper next time he sees them.

Thanks again to Mike from SoCalHHR's for the quick service and great product. Also, hooked up with my friend who has the HHR I ordered the part for today and he said thanks for such quick service. Told him he needed to get a computer so he could come join us and learn more about the HHR. :thumb:

:D When we took our HHR over to the Dealer today to get our "Non- Draining" A/C problem checked out :confused: the subject got around somehow to adding on a Spoiler to the LS. The Service Rep told me that even on the LTs that have Roof Racks, Spoilers, Running Boards and the Scuff Pad on the rear bumper, that stuff all comes with the car from the Factory, but the Dealers have to install them. I thought that was strange:roll: , but I guess he should know what he's talking about.:2cents: (This is a guy that drives an HHR himself, but I can't get him to check out the Forum? Say's he doesn't have time:confused:)

Good Job,

Got my cgs intake today for my 2.2L and now the weather has turn really cold here in west, tennessee. Now I need to find a warm place to install it.:smile:
rhoss1

For those of you who read my original instructions...they worked great. Due to this being made for the 2.4L, mine was still rubbing against the hood strutsm making noise and damaging the paint on both the struts and the CGS. Below are some photos and additional instructions so you won't have to go through what I did when I did mine.

The modified length of the CGS support arm on mine now is around 5 1/4" from the top weld to the tip end by where the bolt goes into the head. I measured down approximately 2 1/4" from the top and put a new bend in the arm as you will see in the photos below. Then once I was happy with that bend, I marked it so I could cut off the part that overlapped over the head and cut that off with a hacksaw. I then marked where the new bolt hole had to be drilled a new hole for that.

I didn't have a vice to bend it with, so I pulled out my boyfriends hydraulic jack and put the arm in between the metal pieces and carefully bent it where I had marked it. Crude...yes, but effective. :lol:

Here's the photos I just took so you can get an idea of what it looks like. Hope this helps the 2.2L owners. Not professionally done, but a girl has got to do what a girl has to do. Another mod done by little ole me. :lol:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/courthousedeb/Smoke%20Mods/CGSIntakeMod004.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j125/courthousedeb/Smoke%20Mods/CGSIntakeMod003.jpg

Well I got my new cgs intake installed, Installation was easy with courthousedeb's post above. Thanks courthousedeb, I also got me a imco t-924 turbo muffler put on my hhr.:D

That's terrific rhoss1...I'm glad my post helped you. So how do you like the new combo?

I just love it now, And my hhr sounds so much better than that aftermarket muffler. Now if I could just keep it clean but its hard to do in the winter here in west tennessee.

Thanks for your help deb,
rhoss1