Yes,it seems I really do need an engine. Last fall I noticed the antifreeze was always a bit low and the cooling fan ran a lot after I would go somewhere and shut the engine off.

Around Christmas time I changed the oil and found antifreeze mixed in with the oil so parts were ordered and my younger brother did the job for me. While the head was off we sent it off to be magnafluxed to check for cracks none were found.

After the job was completed everything seemed fine for a month or so then one morning when I checked things before we went off to a doctors appointment there was oil in the antifreeze again and vice versa.

I was pretty well skint broke for a long time and only now am able to afford to attempt to repair again. We have been talking a lot about just getting a different engine and doing a full swap.

Now comes my confusion. I thought a 2.2 ecotech engine was just that a 2.2 ecotech. I did not know that one from a Saturn or Cobalt or even a Cavalier would be incompatible.

I have found several engines on eBay and a few other places for fairly decent prices and there was even one here on the HHR site from a 2007 that I thought was reasonably priced. From my looking around online I find {on eBay} a notation that the engine from the 2007 is not compatible.

Does anyone know a real reason that it might not just fit and work? Would I just need to swap the ECM or can you even do that?

 

Is your car an 07? If it is then I would have a hard time believing that they are not the same as the other L61 2.2's from 07 cars.

Here is a listing that states it will work in each of the 07 cars that came with the 2.2.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/60K-07-08-HHR-MALIBU-ION-G5-COBALT-2-2-Engine-2-2L-VIN-F-8th-digit-opt-L61/390649806139?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222008%26algo%3DSIC.MOTORS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3D6630182458755941704%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D20131003132420%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D310947113747&rt=nc#ht_814wt_916
There may be some hoses or other external parts that may be slightly different since our engine bay is somewhat different than most of the others but the blocks should be the same I would think.

 

No, mine is an '06

 

Pardon me, but your info page says you have a 06 with a 2.4.

Swapping to a 2.2 would not be a straight swap. ECM is going to be different for one.

 

I know and I was really surprised when we went to replace the head gasket or maybe when we replaced the water pump and found it was a 2.2 I mentioned it in a thread somewhere on here.
I'm not sure where this information page is or I would change the information.

 

Oops. Sorry.

But, you really should change your info page to state it's a 2.2.
I, like a bunch of others, will check a persons info page to make sure we're giving out correct info based on year/model/engine etc.
I've got in the habit of doing this(checking owner info) because so many people don't bother or think it's irrelevent to list the details of what they own.

Believe me, it is relevent if you want accurate help with a problem.

 

To[ right of any page hover over your screen name select "user CP" from the drop down menu. CP stands for ControlPanel, from there you can change your profile.

Back to the subject, best advice is to contact a local Auto Recycler (junkyard). They are the people who know what will fit what and if the don't have one they can get one. Many times they will even do the swap.

 

Then there is your problem. The 06 used a slightly different version of the 2.2. It was more like the earlier 2.2's if I am not mistaken. I think there are ignition system things that may not be able to be swapped from one version to the other.

 

Alright, I found the user CP thing and went in and changed my engine size and a few other minor things.

I have found a 2.2 from a 2007 Saturn that the owner will sell for $300.00, within easy driving distance, but I am hesitant to buy it because it might not be plug and play.

 

"back to the subject, best advice is to contact a local Auto Recycler (junkyard). They are the people who know what will fit what and if the don't have one they can get one."

just to be redundant again one more time.