Hope I didn't blow it; Continued

[davkat]

Re: Hope I didn't blow it; Continued

I will keep an eye on it; thanks. I've been thinking about buying an HHR SS, I noticed you have an '08, is it the Manual or Automatic? There is a used '08 I was looking at with 8,000 miles on in victory red that I liked. It has the automatic tranny which I know is detuned vs the manual but I do like the idea of the remote start, especially here in Alaska.

How do you like yours?

 

[Sy-1177]

Re: Hope I didn't blow it; Continued

I will keep an eye on it; thanks. I've been thinking about buying an HHR SS, I noticed you have an '08, is it the Manual or Automatic? There is a used '08 I was looking at with 8,000 miles on in victory red that I liked. It has the automatic tranny which I know is detuned vs the manual but I do like the idea of the remote start, especially here in Alaska.

How do you like yours?

Its a pretty fun car. Mine is the victory red also and its a 5 spd. Although I don't like driving a 5 spd everyday for a daily driver, I wasn't about to buy a de-tuned car just for the automatic! There are already a few tunes out for the car as well. Mine is bone stock with a K&N and a tune and i'm pushing 300hp and get 30 mpg! (when I keep my foot out of it) Its a quick little car! I've never driven the auto although a guy at my work has one that he said I could take for a spin. Just haven't done it yet.

 

[davkat]

Re: Hope I didn't blow it; Continued

Do you know if the engine tuning on the automatic can be modified to have the same HP figures as the manual? I'd like to get the 5spd but we already have a manual transmission car and my wife doesn't want us buying another manual. I've driven this particular automatic and it does run well tho not as fast as my stock Sy. Also how does your HHR SS run compared to a stock Syclone? Thanks.

 

[Sy-1177]

Re: Hope I didn't blow it; Continued

Do you know if the engine tuning on the automatic can be modified to have the same HP figures as the manual? I'd like to get the 5spd but we already have a manual transmission car and my wife doesn't want us buying another manual. I've driven this particular automatic and it does run well tho not as fast as my stock Sy. Also how does your HHR SS run compared to a stock Syclone? Thanks.

I'm not exactly sure what they de-tuned for the auto, but they did it to preserve the tranny. So i'm not sure how much hp that auto trans can handle..... and the tunes i've seen available, have all been for the 5 spd. I bet you would still have alot of fun with it even if it is the auto though.

Now compared to a stock sy/ty.... well, there really is no comparison! :rotf: Honestly, the HHR pulls hard above 3500rpm up to 6500 and of course there is torque steer. Tires like to light up pretty easily too. I would say it will beat my stock Ty in the 1/4 but not my Sy. From a dig though, a sy/ty would eat the HHR up.

 

[davkat]

Re: Hope I didn't blow it; Continued

From what I have researched GM detuned the automatic for that reason though I don't know why they didn't put in a strong enough tranny to handle the power. The HP rating for the automatic is 235 for 1st & 2nd gear only then it goes to 250 for 3rd & 4th gear.

I've been thinking about selling my Syclone to get an HHR SS as a daily driver that I can rely on. If my truck is running super well after we get the timing set right tonight then I may decide to just keep it. I had financed my truck when I bought it in August of '07 so I still owe around $9500. I can't afford to keep the Sy and buy the HHR.

I do like the fact that a remote start is included with the Automatic edition of the HHR which is a big plus here in Alaska. I know remote starts can be installed on manuals but they can cost a lot more than their automatic tranny counterparts.

 

[davkat]

Re: Hope I didn't blow it; Continued

Got the timing all set and also checked the system out on a computer; everything looks great the truck runs perfectly!!! Sy #2227 is back on the road :rotf: Thanks again to Timbo and akryder86 for all of your help!

 

[Sy-1177]

Re: Hope I didn't blow it; Continued

From what I have researched GM detuned the automatic for that reason though I don't know why they didn't put in a strong enough tranny to handle the power. The HP rating for the automatic is 235 for 1st & 2nd gear only then it goes to 250 for 3rd & 4th gear.

.

Oh, no kidding... I didn't even know that. I hear ya about the reliability thing though. A Sy isn't the best daily driver, but i'd keep it along with the lower monthly payments over the hhr. Now that you got it back on the road, you should be good to go for a while!

 

[davkat]

Re: Hope I didn't blow it; Continued

Well my truck broke because of my own stupidity in the first place so I am not going to repeat the mistake I made back in March. After driving my wife's Hyundai Elantra and other small 4cyl cars; driving the Syclone feels like a brute in comparison with so much torque available. I believe my truck runs better than it did before because I replace some cracked and rotted vacuum lines and fittings; installed the correct plugs (NGK's) and replaced plug wires that had also began to rot and fray apart.

When this engine was installed in Nov 07 it was a 17 year old crate motor that had never been used so the rubber type stuff had begun to deteriorate and fall apart. They should have been replaced then but weren't. A lot of "blood sweat and tears" have gone into repairing this truck so I'm not so quick to get rid of it.

 

[davkat]

Re: Hope I didn't blow it; Continued

I guess a final post for this thread...My truck is running great; will probably install an autostart in the near future. I need to replace the front lower ball joints and repair the bent front bumper drivers side where the tow truck damaged it last March.

I would also like to find a tonneau cover and an another Syclone Glove box door to finish things up. The motor rebuild was very successful and it's running strickly premium from now on. The highest pump gas octance we can buy in Alaska is 90 which is better than 87. My last fill up I added a 32oz can of Torco to 20 gal and the performance was awesome.