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You are talking about doing $6,000 of work on a $1000 car. Why not just spend $10,000 on a good clean SS?
I am guessing that you are not a mechanic, so add somebody else's labor.
BTW, the turbo and bumper cover are not the only differences
But who in the hell is going to spend 10k for a 20 year old car.. like that's crazy
Lots of level-headed value-conscious enthusiasts, that's who.
But I understand where you're coming from. Think of it this way; assuming your (rust-free?) HHR is worth say $3000 and you can find a non-so-pretty but rust-free SS for ... $6000? Bam! You have a 150MPH 290HP car, with the potential for 350-400HP pretty cheap without even taking the engine out.
On the other hand, you could have a lot of fun scrounging parts for the car you have. You could stay n/a and still have a lot of fun. Just watch your engine speed. The Ecotec's Achille's heal is the timing chain, and doesn't like high RPM's.
Keep in mind that lots of classic sports cars had less HP, and even the LS in stock trim handles pretty well. You already have room for and intercooler.
But that motor is not ever going to come close to making even the bone stock HP of an LNF. And you don't have VVT in your 2.2, so limited potential gain with ethanol blends.
The 2.0 LNF turbo has very good forged crank, rods and pistons, and you hear about 500 hp without modifying that bottom end.
BTW both the 2.2 and 2.4 could be had with the F23 manual. It is strong enough that some LNF owners use it to replace their F35.
The auto in the SS is a weak link but still stronger than the auto in the LS. The SS auto tunes typically protect the auto from shock loading.
Non-turbo engines like the 2.2L are designed with relatively high compression ratios (10.0:1) for more power.
Turbo engines like the 2.0 LNF are designed with lower static compression ratios (9.2:1) to prevent detonation under high boost.
The LNF stock max boost is about 18psi. Putting anything near that amount of boost on a 2.2 will likely blow the engine. Supercharger kits for non-boosted engines usually limit boost to 5-7psi.
"Bolting on" a turbo (if it matched up to manifolds) is the easy part. The computer control systems necessary to keep the turbo from damaging the engine or transmission in certain conditions are very complicated. Maybe a turbo with a manually adjusted wastegate set for low boost could be made to work within the parameters of the existing computer controls, but it wouldn't have the performance of an LNF.
I bet the guy who is buying Firemangeorge's SS can hardly wait to get it!
A low mileage car in pristine condition. Sure. Why not ? I would.
Originally Posted by Dayg0619
But who in the hell is going to spend 10k for a 20 year old car.. like that's crazy
Not crazy in California the land of fruits, nuts and quality rust free vehicles if your willing to dig.
As a New Englander for forty years I am amazed at Pick and Pull will pay the entrance $2 just to walk through and look at the history there!
Or maybe it's me that's crazy?!!
1993 GMC Vandura high top Quigley conversion 4X4 could have mentioned it here before.
county owned Hazardous Materials Response unit 9000 miles garage kept.
Purchased 9/2019 for $8,500 almost good as new 26 year old auction purchase worth every cent to me!
Throw on fresh treads and off to the mountain adventures for under $10k still smiling even at 11mpg
I’m in the lane for buy low spend a few bucks and sell high, when someone offers you good money take it!!
Purchased with front collision damage $6,000, new front clip and hood $2,300, new 350ci 4 bolt main vortex heads , 2,900. New Gearstar 4 speed automatic, 2,500, sold 12 years later $35,000.00 he offered cash and had it with him! There were other expenses like paint, custom mirrors fibreglass tonneau cover , molded roll pan. Suspension work, and the one of Boyd’s.
Hey, OldBlue...... You showed the photo before and I mean to ask...... The car next to you with the unusual hood, WHY? just for show. Is it mirrored. Always wondered.
