Seeing the SS in person reminded me of a few questions that have been on my mind since it's introduction. And I am sure every other non SS owner has been wondering the same thing.

Which performance parts are transferable?
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Personally, I would love the quicker steering. Is this done electonically (since our cars are drive-by-wire) or is there a mechanical difference?

I heard that the steering wheel is smaller diameter, but according to my tape measure it is only by about 1/8 inch. Am I wrong? Are the connectors for the air bag, cruise control and radio the same, making for an easy swap?

Are the SS springs equivalent to the leveling springs, or is the whole vehicle lowered and stiffened? On that note, is the front sway bar the same with just a rear added? The SS rear mounts different than the add on I installed. But, which is actually stiffer?

Finally, I assume the rear disks would be easy to swap. But what about the proportioning (front to rear bias). Is that changed by the computer?

I have too much into my 06 to trade it in, so I would like to make mine as close performance wise as I can. (I am banking on more engine mods being developed to match the HP in the future).

 

I would say most everything will be a direct swap except the rear axle/assembly, since the SS has disk brakes. I would imagine the front swaybar is thicker on the SS due to it's suspension design.

 

Nobody has any thoughts about any of this???

 

IMHO you would be way better off just putting the money towards buying an SS and be happy with yours the way it is for another year or two. I think it is safe to say the SS will be worth more if/when you eventually sell it, and any SS mods (as we all know from experience) will be worth almost zero on your old car.

 

I am not that interested in making it super fast-I just located a 1998 Jeep that I am going to drop a small block in and build a pro street car, so having a fast car is not an issue to me. I just wanted to see about changing to all disk brakes and the quicker steering. Most of my money will now be directed to the race car.

The base 2.4 is 172 horses, and the mods I did should have brought it to around 200 which is close to the 220 the auto SS puts out. And, there should be more stuff in the future for the 2.4 like lighter pulleys that will help narrow the gap even more. And I have so many mods on my 06 I cant trade it in. I generally keep my cars for a long time, changing them around to meet my needs instead of changing cars.

 

Lee, the auto puts out 235 HP in 1st & 2nd, and 250 HP in 3rd & 4th.
I tend to agree with c2vette and put your money towards an SS, instead of swapping alot of parts.

 

I did not realize that. How do they change the HP like that? Timing, boost, ???

 

Not really sure, but they feel the Auto can't handle the additional torque that the 5 spd puts out, so we shall see what happens down the road........

 

Has anyone actually driven the SS with a 5 spd against the auto to see if there was any more power? i have the 2.4 5spd and my girl friend has an auto with the only difference being the trans and the color (both have no performance mods) and i can gain about 2 car lengths on her by the time i hit 3rd gear. i would hope the 5spd SS is WAY faster than the auto...


(If money were no object then i would add the turbo and make it a sleeper SS)...

 

Lee, I couldn't find anything anywhere stating that the steering rack is a quicker ratio on the SS...can anyone confirm that it is? You could have your HHR outhandling an SS fairly easily if you wanted to put the coin into it. Konis, springs, heavy sway bars & 18" wheels with sticky tires...you'd be in business. Disc brakes in the rear, that's nothing $1K wouldn't take care of. It's all in what you want...if your HHR is the way you want it except for better handling & better brakes...upgrade it. You could always add a nitrous kit for an extra 50 ponies!