I have 10K mile on my car now and I'm going to get an air intake system. My question is what should I go with? Can I use the intake off of a 2.4 on a 2.2?

I know there has been the GCS (never herd of them before) and AIRAID for a while now. After doing some searching, I found the K&N has made a FIPK for the 2.4. I also have seen on multipul sites that AEM has intakes available. I herd before that this was a messup but all the sites are listing that they have them for sale. and they are the cheapest.

Which one?
GCS
AIRAID
K&N
AEM

I have the CGS on mine, so that is the only one I can attest to. I do have a 2.2L and the CGS has to be modified slightly to fit it, as they are only made for the 2.4L from the factory. I love mine and extremely pleased with the extra performance it provides. No dyno test needed for me...my butt dyno has told me all I need to know.

I have heard about the AEM intakes...and although they are shown on some websites as being available, it is my understanding they are not. I believe I remember Mike from SoCalHHR's saying that when they are, he would be getting one.

I also have the CGS and its worked great with noticed improvement on HP and MPG.

CGS all the way!

AirAid save some money and works great, yes you can use a 2.4L on a 2.2L, got my AirAid for 169shipped on ebay v.s. 200+

There is an off-idle hesitation with the AiRaid unit - as confirmed not only by our tests, but by several other members here who had them and later switched to the CGS. The AiRaid is a great budget intake, but if performance is your main consideration, I would recommend saving up for the CGS.

I have had the AirAid intake since August.No noticeable hesitation on take off.

There have been lots of posts pro and con about the different intakes.Read as many posts as possible and pick an intake.
Then your next step will be to get a good muffler.That's another can of worms.
air in = air out
I have the intake and the muffler -my next step will be to pick a "tune"

very true

I have the CGS and have noticed no difference in the performance or MPG of my car, it just sounds louder whenI accelerate now.

I have the CGS and have noticed no difference in the performance or MPG of my car, it just sounds louder when I accelerate now.

I'm willing to bet you will notice the difference if you put your stock air cleaner setup back on. Why not try that? Then the differences will become more apparent. It's only 9hp - and mostly the gains are noticed under hard acceleration. Still, some drivers are more sensitive to their engine's output and performance than others...

Also to add to what Mike just said... You won't notice and air intake as much as you would combining it with other modifications as well. Once you change the intake on a vehicle your added performance is in leaning out the vehicle a tiny bit and allowing air to enter with less restriction. When combining this with a free-er flowing exhaust this allows the engine to breathe easier.. IN and OUT... Like Mike said above. Put the stock unit on and compare it to the CGS or AirRaid and you should notice a little better seat of the pants feel to the HHR.

I'll second what Jason said above; an intake modification should always be complimented by an aftermarket exhaust for a balanced power improvement.

More air in = need more exhaust flow out.

Good point Jason! :thumb:

Maybe I'm just sensitive, but I felt the difference immediately when I put on my CGS. Of course, I put on the corvette oil filler cap too. That probably added to the HP!! I also recently took off my 18's for the winter and put the stockers back on. I get a lot more 2nd gear rubber now than I did before I put on the CGS.:cool:

My main reasons for replacing the intake are; Clean up the engine compartment and easier to replace the filter.

EXHAUST
I know that everyone is talking about the T-980???? Muffler. I'm afraid my car will sound like a pissed off weedeater. What does this muffler cost and what would it have over a Flowmaster 40 series?

I'm willing to bet you will notice the difference if you put your stock air cleaner setup back on. Why not try that? Then the differences will become more apparent. It's only 9hp - and mostly the gains are noticed under hard acceleration. Still, some drivers are more sensitive to their engine's output and performance than others...

Maybe I am crazy, but I swear i felt more of a difference when I took my wheelcovers off. It also improved my fuel economy. Oh yea, the wheelcovers are back on because by girlfriend says it looks funny with out them on. I should also mention that I still have the stock muffler, so that may be my problem.

I too have the CGS and I just love the extra performance I get, Also have IMCO T-924 Turbo Muffler that sounds great. The sound is alot better than the stock muffler.
rhoss1

I have an airaid/IMCO muffler combo (on a 2.2) and its definately peppier. Hesitation of idle is all in how you drive it. I can chirp the tires pretty easily and get some good spinning when its wet out. It took a while to break in, but accelaration has definately improved and it sounds like I did "something". I wish it (the intake) wasn't so loud sometimes, but the stock unit was pretty dense.

My main reasons for replacing the intake are; Clean up the engine compartment and easier to replace the filter.

EXHAUST
I know that everyone is talking about the T-980???? Muffler. I'm afraid my car will sound like a pissed off weedeater. What does this muffler cost and what would it have over a Flowmaster 40 series?

Its actually the IMCO T-924 and I got mine for about $40 shipped. That been a while so I don't know if you can still find it for that cost. I know one of our vendors carries it, SoCal HHRs.

I liked mine a lot, since replaced it with a custom cat-back. It adds just enough of a low tone to be notice without a bunch of added cabin noise. I'd bet that the Flowmaster will be louder and performance close. I had a Flowmaster clone on first. Performed well sounded good, to me. I was happy with it, just a LONG story. The IMCO was not as loud but seemed to perform as well. Can't say better since the first one wasn't on for more than a week.

Hope this helps.

Flowmasters and magnaflows are really good mufflers for performance gains. But is will sound a little raspy on the top end. Lots more noise than anything else out there. Just make your purchase based on what works for you. The IMCO's offer very little sound over stock unless at wide open throttle. The magna/flowmaster's will have a DEEP rumble and idle but get more "ricey" towards the top end. If you want a quiet cabin the IMCO is your best bet.

It took a while to break in, but accelaration has definately improved and it sounds like I did "something".

What do you mean break in? What breaks in? Are you refering to your engine breaking in?

What do you mean break in? What breaks in? Are you refering to your engine breaking in?

Im referring the computer adjusting the mixture. It definately rode/sounded better after a couple hundred miles...I put both on at about the same time (intake and muffler). It wasn't great immediately, markedly different, but not great until later

I would like to know if anyone,vendors included,have actually put a HHR on a dyno after installing any of these mods.Claims are one thing,but the dyno doesn't lie.:cool:

^ This was done loooooong ago. ^

Look HERE (http://www.socalhhr.citymax.com/page/page/3473615.htm) for the results.

What do you mean break in? What breaks in? Are you refering to your engine breaking in?

I think he is talking about [block learn] it's the PCM learning, how you drive shift points ect. mostly the fuel curve & air rate
I found the same think when I did my air/aid & exhaust. A little hesitation at light throttle at frist knowing about the block learn just put some miles on great now. Hard throttle, light, none. bring tire press up high and power brake = wheel spin

EXHAUST
I know that everyone is talking about the T-980???? Muffler. I'm afraid my car will sound like a pissed off weedeater. What does this muffler cost and what would it have over a Flowmaster 40 series?

:smile: I put an Imco T-909 Turbo on mine instead of the T-924. It matches up better with the exhaust pipe on the 2.2. Outwardly they look the same except for the pipe size. I know because I had them both, but I was getting hassled by the muffler shops about having the 924 installed. (Too much difference in pipe size they claimed!)
The T-909 sounds great. Nice purr outside and not at all too loud inside:thumb: It was about $40.00 including shipping for the 924 I had bought first. I swapped it for the T-909 at a local Imco dealer.;)

^ This was done loooooong ago. ^

Look HERE (http://www.socalhhr.citymax.com/page/page/3473615.htm) for the results.
Thanks...I am a new owner and have just begun to explore the options for some mods.:smile:

I'm no expert on the subject, but I know a little about the Flowmaster exhausts. I know they make a Deltaflow series, which is made for performance, but also is a little quieter than the regular series. Hope somebody can use this info. :thumb:

Flowmaster mufflers are very loud on these cars. VERY rice-y tone too. Nice low end growl but the mid-top range sound is like a pissed off honda with a bad case of the squirts. Flowmaster = bad.

Flowmaster mufflers are very loud on these cars. VERY rice-y tone too. Nice low end growl but the mid-top range sound is like a pissed off honda with a bad case of the squirts. Flowmaster = bad.

I have to agree. My first set-up was a Flowmaster-clone and it was much louder than the IMCO. Idling it sounded great but once you gave it any gas....ricey.

^ This was done loooooong ago. ^

Look HERE (http://www.socalhhr.citymax.com/page/page/3473615.htm) for the results.

I think he might have wanted the actual dyno charts. I know those are what I would like to see also.

I think he might have wanted the actual dyno charts. I know those are what I would like to see also.

*clears throat*

WHHHYYYYYYYY!?!?!?!?!

disclaimer: This question is rhetorical and is not intended to be answered.

This is aways fun!!

Time to make some popcorn and watch the show!!
http://www.smileyvillage.com/smilies/party0029.gif (http://www.smileyvillage.com)http://www.smileyvillage.com/smilies/party0052.gif (http://www.smileyvillage.com)

*clears throat*

WHHHYYYYYYYY!?!?!?!?!

disclaimer: This question is rhetorical and is intended to be answered.

:lol: I'm not sure if the "rhetorical" part is for me or not. :lol:

:lol: I'm not sure if the "rhetorical" part is for me or not. :lol:

oops. Had to edit. Forgot the "not".

This is "not" intended to be answered.