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Using a Cadillac ATS or Buick Regal chassis for AWD conversion?

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Old 05-02-2014, 02:40 PM
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Using a Cadillac ATS or Buick Regal chassis for AWD conversion?

I know the idea of an AWD HHR had been brought up a half million times. But I'm pretty sure this would work with less cost and difficulty than everybody else has mentioned. I just bought a 2009 HHR SS. Thinking about putting a stage one kit on it. It's already chipped. The power aspect isn't an issue. Cost isn't really much of an issue either, I just wanna know if this would work so I can start planning. I know I would need to get a driveshaft tunnel built, the fuel cell would need to be raised. But other than that, I'm 99.9% sure this would work. Give me some thoughts on this!
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Old 05-02-2014, 05:09 PM
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What chassis? Unibody construction.
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Old 05-02-2014, 08:05 PM
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Different transmission for awd for sure. I would imagine with some modifications it's definitely a possibility. The ss's exhaust is in the way....and so is the tank like you said
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Old 05-02-2014, 08:09 PM
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There's nothing you can do that can't be done! John Lennon and Paul McCartney, not hot rodders but gave us the confidence to try anything!
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Old 05-02-2014, 10:29 PM
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Yes, it could be done. But, I would think it would take about 40-50 thousand $ to do it right.
The results wouldn't be worth the money and headaches.
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Old 05-02-2014, 10:47 PM
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I've seen a lot of decently done 4X4 conversions and some pretty shabby ones. One of the coolest was a guy who put a 1974 MGB on a Chevy Luv frame. One of the worst was a guy who put a 1969 Jaguar XKE on a butchered up Dodge chassis.

I'm thinking you could go monster truck and build the frame and such then just stab your HHR body on top of it. Might be downright ugly but hey,...
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Old 05-03-2014, 01:08 AM
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Many years ago a 4x4 conversion was discussed here, and with a fair amount of modification, you could plonk an HHR shell onto a Jeep CJ-6 chassis.

But it would be a long hard job, and you'd end up throwing away about 90% of the Jeep, and 50% of the HHR.
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Old 05-03-2014, 03:55 AM
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I could be mistaken here but I do not think that the OP is talking about making his/her HHR into a 4x4. The OP seems to be wanting to do an all wheel drive vehicle.

OP look at Lasters (sp?) V8 build for some of the mods that would be needed like the fuel tank relocation, enlarged driveshaft tunnel and some kind of rear drive axle conversion.
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Old 05-04-2014, 07:36 AM
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Seriously, has the idea of an AWD HHR really been brought up a half million times? The OP must have been trolling. Hasn't been back since 2 minutes after the original post......
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Old 05-04-2014, 09:13 AM
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Not saying that anything is impossible, and my apologies for mentally converting AWD into 4x4. But to those of us who've reached a certain age(Old Farts), AWD cars are still a new idea.

I'm not thinking the first post was trolling, but maybe the enormity of the proposed task took a while to sink in.

I miss the days when pulling a 305 out and plopping in a 350 was a Saturday afternoon job involving a couple of buddies and a six pack of beer. These days, an engineering degree plus a grounding in electronics is almost required beyond a certain point.
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