No pics this posting but I got my rear wheels back from Eric Vaughn last week. He had them for almost 3 months. (nobody ever said he was fast) but it was worth the wait. Eric is one of the few guys that still does alloy wheels the correct way. They are Moon Speedmaster wheels. They started as 17x7 and now they are 17x 8 1/2. Now that I have the wheels mounted with the tires I was able to get a good measurement on the rear axle width. I took my good (not the bent one in my mule) axle to Sutton Engineering in La Habra yesterday and they are narrowing the housing and making custom axles for it. It should be really nice. Camaro on the inside of the axles, HHR on the outsides of the axles.

Once I get it back I can weld on my brackets and concentrate on the panhard bar. That will complete the rear suspension. Then I can flip the car on its wheels and begin on the engine/drive shaft tunnel fabrication.

 

Do you plan on tunneling for exhaust?

 

turn downs under the rear seat would sound nice. Just sayin :)

 

I haven't thought that far ahead, if it needs it I will carve out a route for the exhaust. I will be using electrically operated cut outs on the system tho. I just think it would be a blast to idle up to someone at a stop light un-corked.

 

Just a thought--a set of mid 60's Corvette side pipes would look REAL good on a HHR

 

I'm coming in late to the thread, so if it's been asked already, i am sorry.
I read a few pages, and i'm left wondering why not do a V8 front wheel drive mod?
I'm thinking of using the V8 out of the newer Impala SS, i know i'll need to do some beefing up on the front end and frame.
Was the rear wheel drive a must have, or just something to try?
I'll keep reading the thread, i may answer my own question's.

 

Limited space? Weight balance? And..not rear wheel drive....

 

Converting to rear wheel drive is an absolute must for me. It's much more important than the V8. I have always hated fwd in any car, I feel the auto manufacturers have crammed fwd down our throats for their financial gain, MUCH cheaper to build, MUCH more expensive to maintain. IMO there is no fwd car on the planet that is as fun to drive as a performance rwd car. You may flame me for my opinions but the best thing about the HHR is it's looks and body style.....fwd not so much. I don't think you can compare a Mustang or Corvette or Camaro driving experience with a fwd car. Now if you are talking fuel economy that's another subject. Altho my RWD Panel will be a daily driver, in reality it will be a streetrod that will be driven for fun things like cruising, car shows, ect. I will continue to drive my fwd HHR for transportation to work.

 

I agree,, RWD is the best,, Smoking tires from your rear is better then up front Now a 4 wheel drive HHR would also be cool :) When the car co. went to FWD like you said it was cheaper for them but they still jacked up the price of the cars lol

 

The 4T65E-HD behind the LS4 is made of glass. Torque steer sucks, and so does FWD.