Crazy Question - AWD or 4x4?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 02-15-2008
Posts: 339
From: Stockwell, Indiana (Lafayette Area)
Crazy Question - AWD or 4x4?
I can't remember if this subject has been brought up before, but here it goes. I was wondering if anyone has had the idea to convert their HHR into an All Wheel Drive or 4x4 vehicle? I have always been disappointed that GM never offered the HHR in an All Wheel Drive format. I have kicked around the following idea for later on (when my HHR is paid off and I have another vehicle to drive). Finding a 4x4 vehicle with the same wheel base as the HHR (most likely a Jeep Unlimited) and swapping bodies. Does this sound plausible????
Senior Member
Joined: 03-06-2010
Posts: 6,869
From: Ohio
It would be a lot of work but anything is possible...... If it were an AWD setup the car would be better handling and more road worthy.... a 4X4 setup would end up more like a monster truck...... Cool but not "sporty"
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
The only real way to make it affordable is to slap it on a jeep or truck frame. Or weld up your own frame. Both take tools and skill to do it right.
Better off if you want a 4X4 is to just buy a Jeep and leave it alone if you don't have the time, place, skill or money to do it right.
75% of these swaps people do are messed up and never really well sorted out. But most are just for off roading and get rolled over or trash in the short term anyway.
The other issues are you would need to do some engine work too as many people forget that most AWD and 4x4 systems need more power to drive them. A larger engine would really be needed to make to drive well.
We did a 32 Ford Street rod at work and it was AWD. We used a Syclone drivetrain and ZR1 rear axle. The front drive took 150 HP to drive it. To note the cost of the car. was well over 6 figures and much of it went into the rengineering of the drive line.
The AWD did give up 0-60 times of 3 sec but it was faster in the 1/4 mile with the front drive shaft out.
Better off if you want a 4X4 is to just buy a Jeep and leave it alone if you don't have the time, place, skill or money to do it right.
75% of these swaps people do are messed up and never really well sorted out. But most are just for off roading and get rolled over or trash in the short term anyway.
The other issues are you would need to do some engine work too as many people forget that most AWD and 4x4 systems need more power to drive them. A larger engine would really be needed to make to drive well.
We did a 32 Ford Street rod at work and it was AWD. We used a Syclone drivetrain and ZR1 rear axle. The front drive took 150 HP to drive it. To note the cost of the car. was well over 6 figures and much of it went into the rengineering of the drive line.
The AWD did give up 0-60 times of 3 sec but it was faster in the 1/4 mile with the front drive shaft out.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
I saw the English Top Gear guys to that with a Reliant Robin
Senior Member
Joined: 03-22-2010
Posts: 2,108
From: Russia Ekaterinburg
Will it be good?
Loss of dynamic features. The increase in fuel consumption.
In addition, the Jeep Unlimited has bridges and a frame. This iron is difficult to install on the HHR. If the body HHR put on the frame of the Jeep Unlimited - the center of gravity too high.
It makes sense to look for a donor among cars with monocoque body. I did not know the American market. But I think that it is not difficult. In this case, the donor should not be "auto offroad". Better-AWD, aimed "to jerk" as the Subaru.
Loss of dynamic features. The increase in fuel consumption.
In addition, the Jeep Unlimited has bridges and a frame. This iron is difficult to install on the HHR. If the body HHR put on the frame of the Jeep Unlimited - the center of gravity too high.
It makes sense to look for a donor among cars with monocoque body. I did not know the American market. But I think that it is not difficult. In this case, the donor should not be "auto offroad". Better-AWD, aimed "to jerk" as the Subaru.
Senior Member
Joined: 01-04-2008
Posts: 2,366
From: Long Beach, Ca
I dont know about all that. I do however, think our cars would look wicked lifted just enough to put some tall tires on it. Kinda like when they used to lite lift VW sedans and run larger lite offroad tires and wheels. Someone photoshop this!
