200 hp 2.4?
10-11-2012, 08:19 AM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: 11-14-2010
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 256
I've been running my K&N intake for a few months now...took it off this weekend because I thought I was taking a trip to the dealership and I can actually tell a difference in power reverting back to my stock intake. The K&N is great in the upper ranges and the sound is incredible, but off the line the K&N takes a major dip compared to the stock unit. I think you'd be better off to keep the stock setup and just add a nice drop in filter.
10-11-2012, 08:38 AM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: 07-17-2006
Location: Dallas, GA
Posts: 6,050
ive been doing a little research on which CAI to purchase and i believe with this PROOF chefhhr is right. sometimes they do make enough of a differnce you can feel. especially if you know about how long it should take to get to say 60mph etc. and an 8hp/8tq gain id imagine you could notice a difference, this is what ive found.
And Mike (socalhhr) didn't stay with his HHR long, we pretty quickly sold it and bought a Jeep and was never heard from again. I'm guessing once he sold all his inventory.
10-11-2012, 01:52 PM
#23
Platinum Member
Join Date: 05-09-2006
Location: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
Posts: 6,804
^^^^^^^^True that^^^^^^^^^
"kid".......
You'll need to do your own research in determining what is best for you. You will get all sorts of claims, from each owner who has a particular named product. But the truth be known, NOBODY on this forum has posted before and after dyno reports to substantiate claims of 10 HP from this or 10 HP from that (as an example).
I think I still have mine from the GMPP intake, which was done by GM. If I can find them I will post. But I'll tell you straight up, it's 3 HP. Mine was free, so no money out of pocket. But I don't believe the increase in HP warrants the cost. Of course, the car is still factory tuned. A GOOD after market tune, from somebody like JoeR who really knows the characteristics of the Ecotec engines, would probably contribute to a synergistic effect.
As I said previously, a tune to accommodate ALL that has been installed, will maximize the efficiency of the ad-ons.
"kid".......
You'll need to do your own research in determining what is best for you. You will get all sorts of claims, from each owner who has a particular named product. But the truth be known, NOBODY on this forum has posted before and after dyno reports to substantiate claims of 10 HP from this or 10 HP from that (as an example).
I think I still have mine from the GMPP intake, which was done by GM. If I can find them I will post. But I'll tell you straight up, it's 3 HP. Mine was free, so no money out of pocket. But I don't believe the increase in HP warrants the cost. Of course, the car is still factory tuned. A GOOD after market tune, from somebody like JoeR who really knows the characteristics of the Ecotec engines, would probably contribute to a synergistic effect.
As I said previously, a tune to accommodate ALL that has been installed, will maximize the efficiency of the ad-ons.
10-11-2012, 02:09 PM
#24
Platinum Member
Join Date: 05-09-2006
Location: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
Posts: 6,804
ive been doing a little research on which CAI to purchase and i believe with this PROOF chefhhr is right. sometimes they do make enough of a differnce you can feel. especially if you know about how long it should take to get to say 60mph etc. and an 8hp/8tq gain id imagine you could notice a difference, this is what ive found.
http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main...&products_id=8
10-11-2012, 02:36 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: 04-04-2012
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 1,307
With the air aid setup I had I didn't notice much. Possibly a little more in the high rpm range. But it was mostly the sound that made it seem faster. After our trip to the other coast in my HHR right before I sold it, I got 32 mpg all interstate with the cruise at 68. So no increase in mileage like most claim as well. Just looks better under the hood and sounds better but don't really run any better
Honestly after buying this speed 3 and riding in some SS hhr's if you want a faster car just buy it. There's no way to get a non turbo HHR to move as quick. Sure if you got 2500 to dump into a supercharger you would be very close.
Honestly after buying this speed 3 and riding in some SS hhr's if you want a faster car just buy it. There's no way to get a non turbo HHR to move as quick. Sure if you got 2500 to dump into a supercharger you would be very close.
10-11-2012, 05:47 PM
#26
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 11-25-2009
Location: NH
Posts: 151
^^^^^^^^True that^^^^^^^^^
"kid".......
You'll need to do your own research in determining what is best for you. You will get all sorts of claims, from each owner who has a particular named product. But the truth be known, NOBODY on this forum has posted before and after dyno reports to substantiate claims of 10 HP from this or 10 HP from that (as an example).
I think I still have mine from the GMPP intake, which was done by GM. If I can find them I will post. But I'll tell you straight up, it's 3 HP. Mine was free, so no money out of pocket. But I don't believe the increase in HP warrants the cost. Of course, the car is still factory tuned. A GOOD after market tune, from somebody like JoeR who really knows the characteristics of the Ecotec engines, would probably contribute to a synergistic effect.
As I said previously, a tune to accommodate ALL that has been installed, will maximize the efficiency of the ad-ons.
"kid".......
You'll need to do your own research in determining what is best for you. You will get all sorts of claims, from each owner who has a particular named product. But the truth be known, NOBODY on this forum has posted before and after dyno reports to substantiate claims of 10 HP from this or 10 HP from that (as an example).
I think I still have mine from the GMPP intake, which was done by GM. If I can find them I will post. But I'll tell you straight up, it's 3 HP. Mine was free, so no money out of pocket. But I don't believe the increase in HP warrants the cost. Of course, the car is still factory tuned. A GOOD after market tune, from somebody like JoeR who really knows the characteristics of the Ecotec engines, would probably contribute to a synergistic effect.
As I said previously, a tune to accommodate ALL that has been installed, will maximize the efficiency of the ad-ons.
10-11-2012, 10:10 PM
#27
Member
Join Date: 06-26-2012
Location: Providence, RI
Posts: 32
I have the K&N AND I installed the Hypertech unit. It sure FEELS like I added about 20hp from right off idle thru the midrange. I need some extra power because I consistently haul an extra 800 lbs every day. I feel a lot more torque steer now. The HYPERTECH definetly made a difference. And it comes with a money-back guarantee.
10-11-2012, 11:07 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: 02-19-2008
Location: Los Alamos, NM
Posts: 129
I guess my real question is what performance parts that are out there that really work on the 2.4? I am trying to extract the power that is already there, not make more. 18 years with the 94-96 LT1 powered Impalas, and caprices have taught me that the corvette had 300 hp, while the Impalas only had 260 hp, but by replacing the intake and cat back with less restrictive ones, some headers, tune, and throttle body bypass, you could gain most of that 40 hp back. It is there just waiting to be extracted, but with restrictive intake, and small diameter tail pipes, the impala was having trouble trying to breath, and therefor hiding 40 hp.
And the throttle body bypass on the impala was tested on a dyno, before and after. It showed 7 hp gain bypassed at operational temp.
And the throttle body bypass on the impala was tested on a dyno, before and after. It showed 7 hp gain bypassed at operational temp.
10-15-2012, 07:34 PM
#29
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 11-25-2009
Location: NH
Posts: 151
I may have to stuff a Intercooled hair drier on it at some point.
10-27-2012, 08:24 PM
#30
Member
Join Date: 09-22-2007
Location: USA
Posts: 86
25 is very doable with bolt ons. There is a forum similar to this one on the cobalt ss. At one time it ran with the same 2.4 ecotec as the hhr has. The kids post dynos on the parts they install. It can give you a good idea of what the same engine with the same specs will do in the hhr. I think the cobalt ss ended up getting supercharged with the 2.0. Also the base was the 2.2 on normal cobalts for folks who own the 2.2 hhr. Their engine was the same even down to HP/TQ. And they do 200 (calculated) flywheel HP with the normal cai, header/dp, under drive and fart can on the 2.4.
I ended up with a k&n box to replace the stock cai. It feeds with the same fender air hose. Then has a hole cut around the throttle body pipe. I just trimmed a little of the plastic above the radiator so it would blow fresh air into that hole. Went with a zzp header/dp and a straight through muffler with stainless packing. The best bang for the buck was the header/dp. There was a noticeable difference from the butt dyno. With an electric shift kit it went from an off the line bark and second chirp to about 10 ft of rubber off the line, a bark in second and a chirp in 3rd. The 4th to 2nd downfift up a mountain will also induce wheel spin when I forget to kick th cruise control off going up a steep grade.
As for the muffler and cai. I can't remember what the dyno results were. But it wasn't noticeable done separately. I think 10hp is what they say is required for that. BTW I didn't dyno, just going off of posted ones for a rough estimate. I just wanted to get better fuel economy and a little more power was the side effect.
I ended up with a k&n box to replace the stock cai. It feeds with the same fender air hose. Then has a hole cut around the throttle body pipe. I just trimmed a little of the plastic above the radiator so it would blow fresh air into that hole. Went with a zzp header/dp and a straight through muffler with stainless packing. The best bang for the buck was the header/dp. There was a noticeable difference from the butt dyno. With an electric shift kit it went from an off the line bark and second chirp to about 10 ft of rubber off the line, a bark in second and a chirp in 3rd. The 4th to 2nd downfift up a mountain will also induce wheel spin when I forget to kick th cruise control off going up a steep grade.
As for the muffler and cai. I can't remember what the dyno results were. But it wasn't noticeable done separately. I think 10hp is what they say is required for that. BTW I didn't dyno, just going off of posted ones for a rough estimate. I just wanted to get better fuel economy and a little more power was the side effect.