Just a thought here.
Would it be possible to find a write off and cut the section out of the firewall and bolt in yours?

 

That is an option.


I found this as what someone did. Granted it is on the Colbalt but as stated before the problem is the same

 

That might work. This might be your part, # 10, GM P/N 20842466 fits HHR only, not Cobalt(see they are different!)




2006 Chevrolet HHR BRAKE PEDAL MOUNTING

 

Welcome to the site, maybe it's not common to our folks because of the small population of 5 speed manuals?
Just to bring the thread in question to light for anyone jumping in here

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/prob...r-fixed-46413/

It's sad a car has problems, but they don't last forever and yes you have to fix them once in awhile. I wasn't thrilled with the frame cracking on my 1966 Fairlane , but I repaired it !

 

Interesting, I found another part number on a different diagram. It is for vehicles built 05/16/2008 & prior. GM P/N 15253760 Perhaps it was redesigned to the part I listed above, because of this problem. This part is a little less money, but I think you would want the new design.



SHEET METAL/BODY PART 1-ENGINE COMPARTMENT & DASH

 

Well I ran the P/N and we have a bingo for the HHR

Genuine GM Reinforced Plate (15253760) : OEM GM Parts and Accessories | GMPartsCenter.net

 

That 15253760 part may not be quite appropriate - note that the page refers to Auto Trans. Which is the same as at Chevrolet. #15253760: Cowl Panel Reinforcement. Reinf plate. auto trans

 

Both part numbers say auto, but they both say manual also. I don't know what happened on May 16, 2008, but that's the last production date for 15253760. 20842466 is good for all HHRs, 2006-2011. I bet if any of you auto guys looked, you'd see the provision for the clutch. But I don't know that 100%, because I don't have an auto.

 

The 20842466 has a longer fit list, might be the superceeded P/N and it shows for manual transmission!

Reinforced Plate | Genuine GM | 20842466 : GM Parts Direct: Your direct source for Genuine GM Parts

But it's special order