So I'm looking to buy another engine, for modifying and other things. I have a 2011 HHR LT. Comes with the 2.2L EcoTech engine 8th digit on the vin is w. My real question is if I buy lets say 2007 HHR 2.2 would that sit in the engine bay correctly? I plan on putting all different parts on the block so the pistons and valves ECT... Will be removed and replaced with stronger parts that can handle the upcoming performance it will have. That being said what do I do with the wire harness? I know there is a big difference between 07 and 11. Would it be a better idea to just find an 11 engine? Like always thanks for your help

 

The 07 will fit in there physically but it won't have the VVT or the wire harness for it, and the ECM won't communicate correctly, so get yourself an 11!

 

X2, with HHR engines it's "Like for Like" unless you're into pulling out your hair trying to make an engine from another model year run in a later or earlier production HHR.

 

Ive thought maybe a 2.4 with a 2.2 non VVT head, but haven't confirmed it'll work , or if there's any gain!! and if there is is it worth the funds and fun of doing it?

these pictures show nothing below the head for the VVT solenoids, these are pictures from ZZP of their 2.0 litre which has VVT, so I'm thinking the 2.4 would be very similar in respect to the VVT

 

Kind of like plonking a Ford engine into a Toyota, more trouble than it's worth really, good used 2011 HHR engines are out there, and they'll plop right in without reinventing the wheel.

 

That's why I've procrastinated so long!
I'll scrap that experiment!!

https://www.google.ca/search?q=toyot...d_r4Bwl7DLM%3A

Apparently a SBC shoehorns in

 

Aw heck son, a Small Block Chevy can be shoehorned into anything if you're creative and crazy enough.:)

Like say, an old horsedrawn hearse for example, but wouldn't it FUN this time of year.

 

In the day you could pretty well put what ever engine you wanted into pretty much any car body you had.

You still can to an extent, making things work 'right' again is the problem.

I used to put Ford engines in Chevy bodies all the time. Used to be the Ford engines were more reliable than Chevy engines and the Ford bodies held up much better than Chevy bodies so the swap seemed to be reasonable.

For a while I was putting whatever engine anyone wanted in whatever car they had or could get. One of my favorites was putting a Buick V6 in a Hillman station wagon.. Putting the 454 in the Vega was very challenging and worth it in the end I guess but a lot of work.

I put a lot of V8's and V6's in older Jeeps for a while there too, didn't seem like anyone ever wanted a straight 6 put in their buggy.