HHR LS Swap Rat Rod
 

Hey hows it going. Brought home an '08 HHR Panel Yesterday. Blown engine. Ive been wanting a panel to do a v8 swap for quite a while. Finally have a place and the means to do it. Im thinking my idea is about as simple as it gets for a v8 swap into an HHR. I cut the whole front end off from the firewall up and left the frame rails for now.

Plan is to use the front subframe from a 70-81 Camaro. Will take care of brakes, steering, suspension, and an engine cradle. Motor mounts will be a simple swap. More than likely the front frame rails will be cut off, but Ill leave them until im sure. I'll connect the front end subframe and the rear with a steel tubing frame similar to what lasater did with his HHR V8 conversion. Im a welder by trade, and was a mechanic for a few years. I'm pretty comfortable with this project. I've got a little more research to do on wiring. Doesnt seem too difficult, just time consuming.

I'll try to use the factory mounts on the HHR for a 4 link. I'll build a frame for attachment points and strength. Ideally ill find a Ford 9" out of an econoline that will be wide enough to let me run some smoothies and tall tires outside the rear fenders. The biggest challenge will be attempting to remove the rear fender flares. I'll probably just end up cutting the flare off the rear door and welding the door shut. Patch with sheetmetal and let it go. Im not gonna make anything look perfect, as long as it functions properly ill be happy.

For an engine i'm looking for a 5.3 ls and 4l60e transmission. My quick measurements land the very front of the engine at the end of the frame rails, and the transmission tailshaft would be right where the exhaust hump starts. If I can run the front frame low enough for the driveshaft to clear by a few inches in the tunnel at ride height ill be happy. Full suspension compression to bumpstops im guessing i need about an inch of clearance? These are just my initial plans, I know how fast theyll change :roflol:

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/memb...cture-a-34206/

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/memb...removed-34207/

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/memb...trimmed-34208/

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/memb...cture-a-34209/

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/memb...cture-a-34210/

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/memb...cture-a-34211/

Hi Ratty, :welcomewagon: to the forums!!

Sounds very interesting! Don't forget the pics!!

Thanks!! I tried to upload a few but had no luck

Here we go

I wonder why I spent my time creating the tutorial.

Cause you’re you, a helping kinda guy! Thanks for that!

What am I missing?

Well, you got your pics uploaded to your gallery albums, that's good. :twothumbs:

Looks like you might have attached your pics to your post, directly from your device, not from your gallery albums. I'm not sure if one way is easier than the other. Still fine to do it either way. :thumb:

There may be a limit on how much data you can store in albums. There seems to also be a separate "limit" on attachments. There is some evidence that suggests that older attachments will disappear from posts when that unknown limit is exceeded. To my knowledge, no image has ever disappeared from a post, that was linked from a gallery album.

Awesome!! Thanks for the info. I'll have to check and see what I did wrong. Been posting pictures in forums for 15 years or more, but I reckon they're all different. I attempted to link them from the gallery. I reckon I'll look up this tutorial this evening and gain some knowledge. Thanks for the help.

Okay so I read the tutorial. I'm thinking my problem is with my computer. I'm running Windows 10 which I haven't picked up on very fast. Normally when I right click a picture (for instance after opening that picture in my album) a properties tab will appear. I click that, find the URL, copy, paste, done. For some reason when I right clicked the pictures last night from my album, it said "investigate" or something along those lines, and my screen would split in two with a bunch of jargon. But I could see what I thought was the URL of the picture. I attempted to copy and paste numerous times without success. Thanks for all the help.

You may have the correct URL, but I think you attached(with the paper clip icon), instead of linking(with the yellow/mountain postcard icon). So I think you were very close.

When you right click on image, you'll want to select "copy image location(or address)". I use Chrome, I see what you selected(inspect), you get the split screen and a bunch of code.

Sweet! Thanks for taking the time to help. I used to be the kid that helped everyone with technology, looks like times marching on :bluesbrothers:

It is not the OS or the browser. If you followed the directions as posted it will work; there is no mention of right clicking on the image, there is mention of copying the URL in the box, with a right click.

There are screen shots.

Attachment can be used, I don't like them except for screen shots.

here is a thumbnail from your gallery using the R click/copy IMAGE location/paste into yellow mountain. In Chrome it is Copy image address. NOT copy image.
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/memb...e-a-34206t.jpg

That method does not work for non-owner in full screen pic. It works for the owner of the album.

You thinking of open front wheels??

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...c1ab247a73.jpg

Exactly what I'm thinking!!! Instead of taking all the time to fab and stuff everything under the fenders, I figure I would eliminate that whole process. As Ricky Bobby said, I just wanna go fast!! I like the lines of the HHR, and using a new body is gonna keep me sealed up and quiet inside. I'm hoping to have heat/air in this puppy. I drive all across the country doing ornamental steel work. I live in TN, but Ive been out west for 3 months this year. Started in Az, in central California right now. I got super lucky and am able to stay at my girlfriend's parents ranch. It's a hot rodders heaven. 2 lifts, tire machine, welders and torches galore. Her dad used to own a shop so tools are everywhere. There are probably 20 cars from the 40's-60s out here in the field. So I have a nice parts supply house for anything off/custom I need right here.

10-4

Like the look OB. Why hide it all, great concept.

Our resident V8 stuffer, likes to hide his V8

http://www.lsxmag.com/image/2014/12/...ompartment.jpg

The inner fenders and radiator support are good for hanging stuff on.

Like the new "open concept" home design. It's great, but without interior walls, where do you hang your photos and artwork?

Here’s his thread

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/gene...r-build-48646/

Thats the cleanest V8 HHR I've ever seen. I've read his thread probably 20 times now. :peace: Amazing work and incredible dedication. I'm not going for anywhere near that build quality, but I think my rat will be pretty nice. Luckily I have a few good bodymen around, it's just figuring out how many beers they charge per job :beer:

You're right!! I'll fab up a core support for whatever radiator/condenser I go with. I'm also planning on boxing in where I cut the inner fenders off, and running a nice bent piece of dom tubing going down for support. I'm not really a photos and artwork kinda guy :rof: Less junk the better!!

Like this Nova clip?

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...Vjz5fWtgku6xyN

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j9...h/P2240031.jpg

Exactly!!! Minus the powder coating and tubular a arms :dancingchili: I found a complete front clip from a 73 Camaro this morning for $250. Already off the car, has brakes, steering, suspension, and crossmember all there. I'll probably go pick that up Saturday and start figuring out the safest way to join the two. I've got a few ideas running through my head about that. I could cut the factory frame rail level, and weld a piece of 1/4" steel plate to it, do the same for the frame I use and bolt them together. I could also cut and weld the frames together and then weld fish plates onto the frames. Or I could completely remove all of the hhr frame rails, and weld new frame rails from front to back, and weld the new front clip to that. Just really depends on the frame rail width of the front clip I use. Anyone have any suggestions?

Old hot rod way of getting modern brakes and steering and a V8 to boot, weld in a front frame clip.
I’ve gone so far as welding in an AMC Pacer front piece, it gave me motor mounts for a V8 ( the six cylinder mounts line up fairly nicely) it gave me coil springs, power disc brakes, and power rack and pinion steering, bonus. Put this into a 1946 Ford convertible, back in 1978. That car is still rolling out there I saw it at our Last Chance show last summer, 38 years later, so it has worked well , or somebody would have cut it out years ago!

Perfect!! I'll go grab that front subframe this weekend. I figure later down the road I can buy a tubular a arm kit and update it if I feel the need. Thanks for the advice!!

It a great improvement

How to Install QA1 Race Series Control Arms on a 1973 Camaro



Speedway Motors has them

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/1970-...-Arm,2122.html

Those are perfect, and the price is right!! Might be able to swing an extended set to get the stance I'm looking for. Great find Old blue!!

Looks like they have a lot of good stuff I can use!! I can save a ton of time by leaning on the engineering of others for the critical parts, and make sure everything I put together is strong.

Check out here, they have tons of parts

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/shop/muscle-car~128-949

Fella could spend a lot of money there!

Im thinking this is where I should make the mounting points on the HHR. I'll cut the frame rails flush with that flat plat, and weld a thick plate all the way across both. Then modify the Camaro front clip to bolt up/weld to this mount. This is where ill attach my frame rails that will run to the rear suspension.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/memb...0213-34212.jpg

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/memb...0204-34213.jpg

Wait till you get the Camaro subframe and measure 4 to 6 times, before you think of cutting anything

Just thinking out loud :smile:

This will be loud when he opens the cutouts

in for updates and burnouts!!

I can guarantee burnouts!!

great build and dam nice panel u got there LOL ,,,, keep me posted on the build and if u need any other HHR parts ,LMK ,, this kid is the deal he is honest and up front was great meeting u and the best with your building i know u can make it happen ,and your girl friends dad was a real gentlemen also ,, hellshotrod

Nice to meet you too!! Im gonna get that cradle and other parts over to ya this weekend! Fixing to start on the wiring. Any idea where I can find a service manual or wiring diagrams? Just planning on removing the old engine harness wires. Im hoping power windows/radio/dash controls will still work.