GMPP HHR Intake - Cold Air
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 07-13-2009
Posts: 414
From: NC
GMPP HHR Intake - Cold Air
Hi Folks,
Just thought I'd share my experience with the new GM Performance Parts Intake I added to "Elvis" today. He's an '09 2LT with the 2.4 liter. The installation took me about an hour, and there were a few little fussy things, but all in all it dropped right on. Great fit and finish. Heavy steel beast for sure, and won't be breaking or wearing out any time soon. Adds huge "zing" to the look under the hood too.
As a quick aside, these intake kits are very hard to get right now. I called all over the country before a place in CT said they had one they'd ship. The part ended up being shipped out of Washington state.....to the east coast. Really. If you can find one, you better buy it. I am wondering if GM has quit making these for good? My local dealer said all he could read was "Back-ordered, no date for availability". The Chevy dealer in San Diego has a few if someone is looking.
The intake, seat of the pants, definitely gives more acceleration. It also give more noise. In mid-throttle, it makes the classic deep "WUUUUUUUUH...." that you'd hear from an old big block with an open filter element or a flipped breather lid. I was worried it'd be too loud on the road at freeway speeds, but I tried it to 75 tonight and it is fine at cruise. No apparent extra noise until you step on it. It is a little louder than I was expecting, but I'll adjust quickly. I may add a little acoustic matting to the inside of the box, just to see if it makes a difference.
I was a little disappointed at the acceleration until I remembered something....the traction control. In fact, the extra power definitely triggers the traction control off the line. The first launch resulted in the same (or less) grunt off the line, noticeably more midrange and top end, and more noise. I was put off by the fact that the car used to be able to lightly spin the tires off the line, but that ability stopped after the intake installation. Duh....I then remembered the traction control button. I clicked it off. Woooo....it'll now turn them pretty good! :-) I am running premium, and will go to Mobil 1 soon. Folks can say what they want, but my car's extra new-found power can be measured in laying stripes now. You'd think it wouldn't help low rpm, but it sure does. The only downside is more noise than I wanted.
Those other boxes or open elements must really moan, eh? I am guessing they all make the deep "WUUUUUUUH" sound?
Best wishes and God Bless, Marc
Just thought I'd share my experience with the new GM Performance Parts Intake I added to "Elvis" today. He's an '09 2LT with the 2.4 liter. The installation took me about an hour, and there were a few little fussy things, but all in all it dropped right on. Great fit and finish. Heavy steel beast for sure, and won't be breaking or wearing out any time soon. Adds huge "zing" to the look under the hood too.
As a quick aside, these intake kits are very hard to get right now. I called all over the country before a place in CT said they had one they'd ship. The part ended up being shipped out of Washington state.....to the east coast. Really. If you can find one, you better buy it. I am wondering if GM has quit making these for good? My local dealer said all he could read was "Back-ordered, no date for availability". The Chevy dealer in San Diego has a few if someone is looking.
The intake, seat of the pants, definitely gives more acceleration. It also give more noise. In mid-throttle, it makes the classic deep "WUUUUUUUUH...." that you'd hear from an old big block with an open filter element or a flipped breather lid. I was worried it'd be too loud on the road at freeway speeds, but I tried it to 75 tonight and it is fine at cruise. No apparent extra noise until you step on it. It is a little louder than I was expecting, but I'll adjust quickly. I may add a little acoustic matting to the inside of the box, just to see if it makes a difference.
I was a little disappointed at the acceleration until I remembered something....the traction control. In fact, the extra power definitely triggers the traction control off the line. The first launch resulted in the same (or less) grunt off the line, noticeably more midrange and top end, and more noise. I was put off by the fact that the car used to be able to lightly spin the tires off the line, but that ability stopped after the intake installation. Duh....I then remembered the traction control button. I clicked it off. Woooo....it'll now turn them pretty good! :-) I am running premium, and will go to Mobil 1 soon. Folks can say what they want, but my car's extra new-found power can be measured in laying stripes now. You'd think it wouldn't help low rpm, but it sure does. The only downside is more noise than I wanted.
Those other boxes or open elements must really moan, eh? I am guessing they all make the deep "WUUUUUUUH" sound?
Best wishes and God Bless, Marc
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 07-13-2009
Posts: 414
From: NC
Hi VictorySpark, Oddly, I noticed the moan of the intake more with the windows down. It may be that you are harder on the gas with the air on (due to the drag of the compressor), so you get more into the range where it moans? Just a thought.
Have any of you used DynaMat? I am thinking that a few bands of that inside the metal housing would probably cut the noise a bit. It would eliminate sympathetic waves in the steel housing.
Not to be alarmist, but if you want one of these GMPP intakes, I'd go hunt it down now. I don't think these intakes will be "core business" for the new GM. I'd hate to see them stop making these, but it may have already happened.
God Bless, Marc
Have any of you used DynaMat? I am thinking that a few bands of that inside the metal housing would probably cut the noise a bit. It would eliminate sympathetic waves in the steel housing.
Not to be alarmist, but if you want one of these GMPP intakes, I'd go hunt it down now. I don't think these intakes will be "core business" for the new GM. I'd hate to see them stop making these, but it may have already happened.
God Bless, Marc
Senior Member
Joined: 06-29-2008
Posts: 839
From: Crystal Lake
Hi VictorySpark, Oddly, I noticed the moan of the intake more with the windows down. It may be that you are harder on the gas with the air on (due to the drag of the compressor), so you get more into the range where it moans? Just a thought.
Have any of you used DynaMat? I am thinking that a few bands of that inside the metal housing would probably cut the noise a bit. It would eliminate sympathetic waves in the steel housing.
Not to be alarmist, but if you want one of these GMPP intakes, I'd go hunt it down now. I don't think these intakes will be "core business" for the new GM. I'd hate to see them stop making these, but it may have already happened.
God Bless, Marc
Have any of you used DynaMat? I am thinking that a few bands of that inside the metal housing would probably cut the noise a bit. It would eliminate sympathetic waves in the steel housing.
Not to be alarmist, but if you want one of these GMPP intakes, I'd go hunt it down now. I don't think these intakes will be "core business" for the new GM. I'd hate to see them stop making these, but it may have already happened.
God Bless, Marc
Joined: 08-10-2009
Posts: 6
From: Frisco, TX
OKAY I am convinced
Alright, this post got me. Just ordered mine from GM PartsDirect. Good price compared to list. I have ordered from these guys before and they are great. Will let you know when intake arrives and I get it installed. This will be my first alteration to the new HHR
