HHR Panel Part Numbers
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Senior Member
Joined: 07-16-2011
Posts: 267
From: Georgia
Nah if i was going to do it was going to be right , the interior i could just custom fab pieces, the removal of glass, weld in sheet metal, fill in gaps, sand, prime paint etc.... was the big expense lol
Rest In Peace
Joined: 06-13-2010
Posts: 2,301
From: IL.
Just trade in for a used 2 LT Panel.
If you could do the work yourself thats one thing, a labor of Love, but having to pay for all the Labor Costs out of pocket makes it cheaper to just get a Panel to start with.
If yours was an AA5 Optioned HHR (No rear quarter glass) then all you would have had to do is buy a pair of used Panel doors. But, then you need the electric Poppers, on your key fobs and there are 3 button releases on the dash for the rear doors, there isnt an easy way to do it up the same as oem.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-06-2010
Posts: 6,869
From: Ohio
If I was going to do this, and I have thought about it quite a bit, I'm just not physically able to do the work anymore. I wouldn't have done something that looked like a panel that I could just go out and buy.... What's the point?
I would have done the "sculpted" look of the old panel delivery wagons. Where the indentations are there, where the windows would have been......
Keeping the two separate windows and leaving it a 4-door but with shaved rear door handles. (those two photos are two door, but 4 doors were also done back then) THAT would be a worthy modification!
I would have done the "sculpted" look of the old panel delivery wagons. Where the indentations are there, where the windows would have been......
Keeping the two separate windows and leaving it a 4-door but with shaved rear door handles. (those two photos are two door, but 4 doors were also done back then) THAT would be a worthy modification!
Rest In Peace
Joined: 06-13-2010
Posts: 2,301
From: IL.
If I was going to do this, and I have thought about it quite a bit, I'm just not physically able to do the work anymore. I wouldn't have done something that looked like a panel that I could just go out and buy.... What's the point?
I would have done the "sculpted" look of the old panel delivery wagons. Where the indentations are there, where the windows would have been......
Keeping the two separate windows and leaving it a 4-door but with shaved rear door handles. (those two photos are two door, but 4 doors were also done back then) THAT would be a worthy modification!
I would have done the "sculpted" look of the old panel delivery wagons. Where the indentations are there, where the windows would have been......
Keeping the two separate windows and leaving it a 4-door but with shaved rear door handles. (those two photos are two door, but 4 doors were also done back then) THAT would be a worthy modification!
I still like the 2 door look with the larger relief area, doing an HHR as a 4 door would break it up into small reliefs and may look too busy.
I'm just glad I INSISTED on a Black Panel for myself to begin with, otherwise I'd be looking into alot more Extensive Custom work.
Rest In Peace
Joined: 06-13-2010
Posts: 2,301
From: IL.
I didn't just end up settling for what was available at the time I was looking. I was prepared to get a oneway plane ticket if need be, to GET a Panel.
I had 2 Requirments when I was looking for my Panel. There was NO settling on these.
1) It Must be BLACK.
2) It Must be a PANEL.
Some people will settle on a Color they really did not want, just because they could not find what they wanted the day they went looking.
Guilty of that myself with my work vans. Wasn't happening with my HHR purchase.
I did Not care about a sunroof at all. I Prefered it Without one, if it had one and was otherwise what I wanted, I might have taken it. Future broken parts and leaks and even less headroom did not appeal to me.
Had cars with power sun/moon roofs before, never really liked or used them once the newness wore off. PITA to repair later as well.
But I really did Not want one in mine, and luckily mine was a 2LT without it or the Luggage Rack. So I got pretty much as I wanted it. Leather off the bat would have been nice, But I added it, front and rear OEM Heated Leather Seats in Black, not covers.
What I mean, as shown in your posted pics, is the fact that the filled in place were a window could go, is one large area. not broken into 2. And on an HHR which is ALOT Smaller than either of those cars, would break it up into 2 very small recessed areas.
The larger areas on those vintage cars worked well in their day for a decent sized advertising space. Most stores had home delivery for just about anything you bought in those days.
As I said, Doing the small recessed areas is pretty Easy. For the Quarter panels just remove the glass, cut a well fitted metel piece, slip it in up to the Lip that the glasses rope glue is on (Gotta Remove that stuff) and just weld that inside edge, do a little fill work to smooth it out and your ready for primer. And an easy recess area. Basically the same for the rear doors, remove glass cut metal, and weld it behind the front part of the opening, fill the welded area, smooth it, and prime, Ready for paint in a day.
I was just pointing out that they would be pretty small, and the quarter panel section would be even smalleer than the rear doors. Might look a little odd, to me at least.
Had/has Nothing to do with weather I like HHR's with all glass. I just don't see the 2 smaller recesses looking as good as those vintage examples you posted.
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Oct 27, 2024 07:45 PM