4x4 Chevy HHR Panel

4 minute(s) of a 51 minute read

Note to self - don't ever paint a chassis anything other than black - you won't like it!

Since I am not a painter, I prefer to shoot a bottom coat then assemble the whole thing and shoot a couple more finish coats.  The Korea/Vietnam era olive drab paint is single stage synthetic enamel - very easy to paint - 4 parts paint, 1 part xylene - tie straw bundles to a brick and dip it in the paint and throw it at the car until it is painted!  As soon as I had all the doors and bumpers painted and installed I just had to roll it outside to look!  Thank goodness I like it!

I don't recall if I mentioned that I cut a foot off the back of the chassis.  All the way to the rear spring bracket.  Still had to notch the rear bumper cover to clear but that's all part of the game! As a result I lost the spare tire storage area, so will have to come up with plan B,  like a swing out tire carrier from an old Bronco II.  At least it should tow anything a 2000 4x4 Blazer with tow package can tow!  

It's quiet a bit taller than a stock HHR  - kind of more like a truck, which was the goal all along.

I had just about given up on finding rear door panels in black when a HHR panel turned up at the local salvage yard.  It was picked in days - but I got the door panels!

Most of the cargo area will be custom - but I wanted stock door panels.  It will soon be time to get to work back there! I'm leaning towards plywood with black boat carpet - easy peasy!

And up front!  Already have the stainless steering column, wooden steering wheel, 1948 dash.  I want to figure out how to disguise the auto trans shift as a floor stick shift - is there a kit for that?  

I am looking forward to doing the dash! Picture a resto-mod 1948 dash and you will be on the same page! I will call this the before picture. It is rusted and beat-up and has a big hole in it - but it has 1948 DNA and will live on a while longer in the HHR.  From my experience this is the 50% completed point!  We pause for a small but sincere celebration!