I am very familiar with the Year One project HHR. I have dozens of pictures of it. I spoke to the current owner or the car in Texas. This is one of the two cars that proved the concept of fitting an LS into the engine compartment. The problem with the Year One is it was built in 8 weeks to get into SEMA
This doesn't leave much time, I don't care how many guys are working on it. It is carbureted and doesn't have cats. This car can't be registered....at least in California.

However, it showed how to route the steering colum, power steering rack, and the coolest idea......reverse the front spindles to go from rear steering to front steering. It showed how to mount the trans.

I didn't care for the way they ran tubing in the rear passenger compartment to support the rear suspension. I think they did this due to time constraints. I'm going to go a different way.

 

y go through the hoops? just pay the extra to get it to pass smog ^_^

 

any idea what this is going to cost??

 

As in all of my projects, if I knew the true cost of it I would never do it.

 

In my research for this project I have been in contact with Terry Beaty of Cleveland, Tenn. He owns the best example of a V8 powered PT Cruiser that I have seen. He has been very helpfull in this. I have had my HHR up on a rack beside a PT Cruiser to compare them. Altho the PT has a slightly flatter floor than the HHR it will be possible to build the same setup he has for the RWD. Ill show you what the plan is:

These are the rear trailing arms/floor supports

This is the plan.

 

fun project , reminds me of a '48 Anglia project I stuffed a SBC & powerglide into , that was tight, I had a Buick V6 in a Morris Minor back in the day the difference is they both were already RWD, have a blast post pics and enjoy the ride!!

 

I set the engine/trans next to the panel today to get an idea of just how much room it will be taking up. It's gonna be cool. First step is to get the rear axle and suspension in the mule, then I'll work on the engine compartment. I hope to begin over Christmas, time permitting.

 

The engine and tranny look gigantic!

 

i think it will be a fun project i will be watching

 

That should be HOT not cool at your feet lol. Seriously though that will be very cool once you are done and should be a fun project albeit a very labor intensive one. Are you planning to leave room for future access to the rear cylinders? I noticed on that PT the rear cylinders were next to the gas pedal area but that is that stupid cab forward design so ours may not have so much of that problem. Or should I say were in the spot where the gas pedal normally would be lol. Also do you think you will be able to get enough thermal blocking materials in there to keep the heat out of the foot area?