843de

Just keeps getting better and better Buddy.

oceangoer

Lasater,

Thanks again for all the information in your posts and the P.M.'s,, lots of great info. I have been sitting thinking about a RWD conversion ever since I purchased my HHR Panel.

So,, I'm going ahead now with the RWD conversion. My HHR Panel donor car arrived two days ago, and I'm in process on the Gutting of the interior, seats, carpets etc. But not anything in he Dash board area yet.

I'm an Engineer and so are a few of my close friends who will assist, also into Street Rods. I have Solid Works 3D Software, so We will be designing this build a little differently than yours, But Very much and close twin to your approach. CAD, it is just our habits of a life time of designing, We can't help it. Hopefully We will obtain the factory CAD files for the complete floor boards - makes the job simpler...

Not our first frame up build. But certainly will be exciting.

Thanks again. Oh, almost forgot - Yes I'll start a post in a few days. It will take a while for the tear down and I'm going to sell the engine & trans will still in the donor car &b running.

Thanks Again !!

Michael...

lasater

Well the brakes are mounted and the 17" wheels are on. Their is about 1/4" of space between the calipers and the inside of the rim. Just about enough for the tire weights. Plenty of room.....

Brandon Stark

Well I was going to look into converting my HHR to a supercharged corvette V8 I had a Whole butterfly outta hood blower tubbed out idea... but seeing this thread kinda just makes me go... hmmm nope to much work and money for me to ever finish it lol however this thing is freaking SWEEET i gotta hear it run see it driveee I've been stocking it on youtube for like years lol

Oldblue

Awesome work, Cliff!! You calculated that with a close tolerance!

lasater

The rear section ("B" Pillar aft) of the roll cage is complete. Things are changing weekly.... It has been discovered the the rear axle vertical movement due to the air bag suspension moves too far up and down to get the exhaust pipes in. Short of changing way too many things to make it fit, I have decided to exit the exhaust tips out the sides of the car. Remember all that work I did on that SS rear bumper cover making the perfect dual exhaust cut-outs? Well, it was for nothing. I am going with a Ptezer fiberglass rear bumper cover with no holes in it. Also on the list is fabricating some sheet metal rockers that are about 2 1/2" taller (lower) to encase the oval 3" exhaust tips. A friend of mine is making some handmade mufflers for the space that I have. The whole system will probably be stainless, if not mild steel that is Jet-Coated. Should look and sound really good.

Here is a shot of the rear roll cage.

Oldblue

We're not worthy!! We're not worthy!!!

celblazer

So I have to ask for the masses. What you going to do with the perfect dual cutout SS bumper? :)

lasater

I'm going to try to sell it. If I can't, it will go on my daily driver......but I'd rather sell it.

lasater

As work continues on the roll cage its getting increasingly difficult to take it out to weld and then re-install it. Just about all the pieces are done with the exception of the cross bar the goes by the windshield. This piece goes right aft of the sun visors. It will be next week 'cuse we screwed up the last piece of tubing and now I have to get more on Monday. Of course all of the tubing will be heavily padded in the front area. These tubes are safe when you are wearing a helmet but not so much on your bare noggin. The tabs are welded in for the Simpson harness that can be used in conjunction with the factory seat belts. A 4 point harness looks cool but they are NOT DOT approved and the cops know it. I'm on the jagged edge of legality now and I don't need to push it.