SoCalHHR's is proud to offer Gibson Performance Exhaust Systems for HHR's. We are now carrying both the Aluminized and Stainless versions - so take your pick. Visit our site for more info. Thanks! :thumb:

"Does not affect your factory warranty"

Are you sure? If it replaces the catalytic converter it does.

Adam, - they don't replace the catalytic converter.
That is why they are called "Cat-backs."

Text is straight from Gibson...I'm sure they know the diff.

Adam, - they don't replace the catalytic converter.
That is why they are called "Cat-backs."

Text is straight from Gibson...I'm sure they know the diff.

Ahhh. We all know im not the smartest cookie. I just figured it meant like cat..and from then on. :) Is that what you installed on ur hhr?

Not yet - but soon...

Can't wait to hear it.

Mike,
is this all one piece? or sections.

(Kinda hard to see in the image)

They come in sections (almost all cat-back kits do). It would be very expensive to ship it all in one piece! :eek:

It would be very expensive to ship it all in one piece! :eek:

And that would be one large box. :D

Hey Mike
How much for the muffler and tip you have now?

Are you talking about the exact one on my HHR? The mufflers go for about $60 and the tips around $40. You will also need to pay your local muffler shop for installation.

Is that what you want to sell yours for?I'm saying when you get the Gibson exhaust installed.

Do you want me to cut my muffler off, then send it to you?

There is no way I could ship the whole exhaust from cat-back.

It would be cheaper and easier to jusy buy a new muffler and tip from us and have them installed locally. We will have these specific IMCO Turbo mufflers & tips on our site soon.

If someone LOCALLY to me here in SoCal wanted to buy my whole exhaust (bolt on from cat-back), I would be willing to sell it. -Just can't ship something this big.

I just meant cutting the muffler off..not cat-back.

Yeah, I could do that - but it will still be more expensive to ship (than just the parts), as the box will have to be pretty big to accomodate the muffler, tip & hanger mounts with everything welded together. I can do it though. :thumb:

so let me know..

OK, once I get my Gibson on, I'll PM you. :thumb:

10-4

I seen the Gibson on an AutoLoc built HHR in a new Mag. It was Dual Exhaust and with a different Bumper. I want both. Are these avalible or a special order type thing?

I seen the Gibson on an AutoLoc built HHR in a new Mag. It was Dual Exhaust and with a different Bumper. I want both. Are these avalible or a special order type thing?

That was a custom-made one-off design. We are a Gibson dealer.
All the current Gibson systems for the HHR are single's with the outlet in the stock location.

Hope it helps,

Why are people taking off their IMCO muffler and going to Gibson Catbacks?

i dont think they are...most of these posts are old...if folks are going to gibson now, im gonna start to question alot of the things i read here

That was a custom-made one-off design. We are a Gibson dealer.
All the current Gibson systems for the HHR are single's with the outlet in the stock location.

Hope it helps,


So would it take getting with Gibson Directly to get a copy made? Shouldnt be to bad since they have done it once already. Not Worried about the price as much as getting a bad as bumper to mate to it to look real nice!

i dont think they are...most of these posts are old...if folks are going to gibson now, im gonna start to question alot of the things i read here

Why question it? A full Cat-back system being made is better than any Add-on Muffler. Expecially once they add a High Flow Cat to the package. The better the breathing allowed the better the car will run. Unless all you are looking for is sound.....

Haven't you heard? The HHR likes backpressure!! :eek: :lol:

Backpressure is one thing. But allowing the car to breathe is another. Why add an intake and header....then bottleneck the Exhuast?

And who needs backpressure when a turbo is in the future.

BTW: Any N/A car needs some sorta backpressure....to a point.

If pressure gets too much

Use Beano before starting the car.... :lol:

Why question it? A full Cat-back system being made is better than any Add-on Muffler. Expecially once they add a High Flow Cat to the package. The better the breathing allowed the better the car will run. Unless all you are looking for is sound.....

Because there was so much press about how great the IMCO was above everything else out there right now for HHRs and how it outperformed everything else...

not get the IMCO if your not interested in a cat-back

I'd feel as though I had been had.. hoodwinked...bamboozled...led astray...run amuck...etc.

Funny thing is most of these companies are making 2.25" exh but the GMPP ones for the cobalts and even several other companies are making them 2.5" for 2.2 and 2.4 and even 3" for the 2.0 SC's. They gotta be doing something right! Gibson system looks purdy though! nice chrome!

Why question it? A full Cat-back system being made is better than any Add-on Muffler. Expecially once they add a High Flow Cat to the package. The better the breathing allowed the better the car will run. Unless all you are looking for is sound.....

With the HHR it is actually the opposite. The proper amount of back-pressure makes the Ecotec engine run "peppy." Low back-pressure is great on a V8, but it makes for a doggy 4-cylinder. Unlike the Cobalts, you have a 3200lb vehicle that little 2.4L has to pull around. Take away the back-pressure and all you will get is lots of moaning noise. We've done it here; - installed every aftermarket cat-back on our HHR's and driven them. Do the same and you will come to the same conclusions.

The current crop of cat-backs available for the HHR don't offer enough back-pressure for it to perform. Why would I bother pushing $60 mufflers when I can sell a $400 cat-back? Simple - the IMCO T-924 works better on the HHR.

When a 4-banger lacks the proper back-pressure, it requires more throttle position to maintain your speed (especially on the highway). This in turn leads to reduced mileage. A 2.5" single exhaust pipe offers enough flow for up to 250hp (many custom rod builders run 2.5" exhaust on V8's up to 500hp). There is definitely no need to go larger than 2 1/4 on a stock or mildly modded HHR. Just look at the intake scenario; all the companies who tried a "standard" 3" intake tube on the HHR failed to bring product to market. Once the diameter was reduced (increasing air velocity), the HHR responded properly.

Just remember; the Ecotec is not your grandfather's 302.

It has it's own set of parameters of what it likes to see to perform well...

got any pics of one installed yet mike?

With the HHR it is actually the opposite. The proper amount of back-pressure makes the Ecotec engine run "peppy." Low back-pressure is great on a V8, but it makes for a doggy 4-cylinder. Unlike the Cobalts, you have a 3200lb vehicle that little 2.4L has to pull around. Take away the back-pressure and all you will get is lots of moaning noise. We've done it here; - installed every aftermarket cat-back on our HHR's and driven them. Do the same and you will come to the same conclusions.

The current crop of cat-backs available for the HHR don't offer enough back-pressure for it to perform. Why would I bother pushing $60 mufflers when I can sell a $400 cat-back? Simple - the IMCO T-924 works better on the HHR.

When a 4-banger lacks the proper back-pressure, it requires more throttle position to maintain your speed (especially on the highway). This in turn leads to reduced mileage. A 2.5" single exhaust pipe offers enough flow for up to 250hp (many custom rod builders run 2.5" exhaust on V8's up to 500hp). There is definitely no need to go larger than 2 1/4 on a stock or mildly modded HHR. Just look at the intake scenario; all the companies who tried a "standard" 3" intake tube on the HHR failed to bring product to market. Once the diameter was reduced (increasing air velocity), the HHR responded properly.

Just remember; the Ecotec is not your grandfather's 302.

It has it's own set of parameters of what it likes to see to perform well...


Yes I understand all this completely, this is why I stated above that almost all N/A vehicles need (require) backpressure to run correctly (gas mileage/power). But for me I am gonna enjoy the extra piping since I am going to be going turbo. Hell at that point I may just go Dump Exhuast and see what I can get out of it. I too have tried multiple exhuasts on all my cars, just not on this one as of yet. Still new and not alot of options, unless you just keep changing out the muffler.

got any pics of one installed yet mike?

I have a bunch of them, but there was no sense in me posting any of them as they haven't improved performance any. We do a lot of testing here - you only hear about something if it's worthwhile.

I have a bunch of them, but there was no sense in me posting any of them as they haven't improved performance any. We do a lot of testing here - you only hear about something if it's worthwhile.

So you have tested a 3 inch exhaust and it actually LOST power, torque and mileage? I would have to see those dyno tests to believe that.
http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp217/airetexbruce/curly10.jpg

On my 2.2 I am probably going to try to find a 2.4 downtube and cat then put a short 2.5 pipe to a 3 inch glasspack and from there a 3 inch pipe to a 3 inch turbo style or flowmaster type muffler.
http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp217/airetexbruce/curly11.jpg
In all my years of racing not once has smaller intake or exhuast made it run better. One motor was a mild (almost stock)350 and the "optimum carb" was like 500 CFM. I set up a 650, a 750 and an 850 all with rear jet extensions and ran them all the same day back to back then I went back to the 650 to verify it. The car ran much faster with each larger carb and then back to original when I put the 650 back on.
My results with exhaust was basically the same but those tests I did not do in the same day. I finally ended up with a 4 inch dual exhaust system with dynoflow glasspacks 4" and turnouts right in front of rear wheels. It was faster with open headers but I preffered to quieten it down a little and get the alcohol fumes further away.
Why would an HHR be opposite? I can understand before the cat and O2 sensor that it would mess up the tune but after the cat I can not see how any backpressure would help. Curly

You did notice this is a 2 year old thread right?

Yes it is a 2 year old thread and people are still saying it needs backpressure.
I still do not believe it. Just because someone says it is better does not mean much to me unless there is some sort of proof and I have not seen any. Curly

Maybe that was the reason for this thread dying?:roll: