I'm going to look into getting my HHR turbo'd. I had bought a turbo kit for my eclipse 2 years ago and I was amazed how simple they are and what really makes them tick and what you can do to make them faster.

Here's a list of the things that consist of turbo kit.

FMU 'fuel management unit' this adds fuel when under boost

FCD 'fuel cut defencer' this tricks map so it doesn't adjust your air/fuel while boosting

exhaust turbo manifold

turbo w/wastegate or external wastegate

downpipe

intercooler and intercooler piping

bov 'blowoff valve'

upgrade fuel pump

vaccum line

oil lines for turbo

for boost over 6psi you'll need larger injectors and a superFMU which will allow you to fine tune your fuel. (also boost controller)

It is possible to build a turbo kit for around $1500. There are alot of kids out there of the younger generation that really know there stuff when it comes to turbos. If you search around you should be able to find out everything to know about building a kit yourself. Believe me I spent around 5K for my turbo kit, when it was all said and done and if I knew then what i know now, I could have done it for about 2k.

 

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I'm not an expert but all turbo kits consist of these componets. The FMU hooks into your fuel line and hooks up to a vaccum line of the intake manifold and forces fuel while under boost. With the FMU your car will run rich, running rich isn't bad thing when it comes to turbo's, it's when you lean out you have a good chance of blowing your motor.

As far as the map clamp I would have to do research to see what voltage the HHR see's. There is a sequence you go by adjusting the FCD. Basically what it does is make your car ECU not see that you have a turbo and try to adjust air/fuel.

I will be making a custom manifold, there really not that hard to make.

Most kits I see use a common T3 turbo which is more than enough for the HHR. The size depends on what you want to get out of your car. I might add that running a turbo kit on stock internals I wouldn't go over board. 5 to 6 psi will be plenty for stock.

If going to use a Super FMU over a regular FMU this is where you really to know your stuff with fuel curve.

 

yeah... then the fmu is near to the same thing as a fuel return line... http://www.agpturbo.com/product.php?...cat=273&page=1

the mapclamp is good stuff... i'd highly recommend getting a scangauge or the equavalent to monitor knock, timing, injector load, boost, etc so you can keep it running right.
map clamp faq: http://gcsrts.com/dasmopar/FAQ-2.asp

this would be a great all-encompassing gauge for datalogging and montioring: http://boostcontroller.com/index.php...category%3D128

but definitly boost, wideband a/f, oil pressure, and egt gauges are madatory...

that would be awesome to do your' own t3 manifold... if you can, try to do it externally wastegated - it'll help you dial it in when you're tuning. keep us informed!

 

What about using an SDS and a 5th injector under boost?
Also need to replace that plastic intake. I would not run even 8 psi through that.

 

Your intake would be removed for installing a turbo. Your intercooler will be hooked up to you intake manifold and the air filter is moved to the turbo on the exhaust manifold.

You could add a 5th injector but with that set-up you will need a controller to adjust your fuel. A FMU will work for 4psi to 6psi without any controller. I personally would not run 8psi on a stock motor. I'm using a 8 injector set-up on my eclipse and it cost some big bucks to get that to work.

 

I'm not a mechanic, but I have a few questions, because I had a turbo car before and it was the most fun I ever had in a car (with the exception of the heads my HHR turns now!).

What I miss, is the way my Turbo Plymouth Laser gave me a kick in the butt and took off like a little shot when I hit the pedal. The response was so great and I had so much confidence in my safety in that car.

Now the questions:

Can I get that feeling back with turbo in the HHR?

If they are front wheel drive cars, what is it that kicks from behind when it responds? Can the HHR do that?

Is it still possible to do this to my car for $2k if I HAVE it done?

 

A turbo kit will give your HHR that kick that your Laser had. The only trick to building a turbo kit is the fuel system. Most kits use a 12:1 FMU which supplies enough fuel to run up to atleast 8psi.

Also when building a kit remember that the more power you get out of your motor that power is transfered to your transmission. So basically I wouldn't go over-board.

I went crazy turboing my eclipse and spent 17k when I was all said and done. With the HHR, I just want to give it alittle more zing than it already has.

 

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I guess you never priced the parts what a turbo kit consists, of plus I'm figuring this as a DIY project. The only ebay part I would use is one of those intercooler and piping kits (which will work fine for this) $200. Like I said there isn't much to a turbo kit, it would depend on how you select your parts. Most turbo kits use a T3 turbo and a turbonetics deltagate (wastegate) these are the only things that have a nice price tag, you should be able to get these both for around $700.

Walbro 255 fuel pump $90
vaccum line $30
Bov $150
downpipe flange $25
oil feed line $25
oil return line $40
12:1 FMU $100
FCD $15
(gauges vary in price depending on what you buy)
boost gauge autometer ultralite $50
air/fuel gauge autometer ultralite $60

the only thing else you need is your custom manifold which you modify stock to make it work, and few fittings for your oil lines, and a piece of pipe bent for your down pipe.

You will not need a boost controller that will be set by what spring you select for your waste gate. ('I highly recomend no more than 6psi on stock motor' )

I'm at $1285 minus a few small things. This is what comes in most turbo kits which price 3k or better. When I started this topic it was not to build a turbo kit to give the HHR 400HP and kill your tranny. It's just to give it a little kick than it already has. Those that are interested will have to do some home work but it is not impossible to build a turbo kit yourself.