4x4 Chevy HHR Panel

5 minute(s) of a 51 minute read

I have been making frequent junkyard trips for bits and pieces - found a nice set of black HHR leather seats - but I had to work for them!

But my suffering was soon forgotten!

I bred the front HHR park brakes to the rear Blazer park brakes and got the black console and brake handle from the same car as the seats. The original interior was gray...

Next up was deciding on which brake master and pedal to use.  Oh, I used the stock Blazer cable gas pedal.  Lack of room decided I would use the HHR booster and master, it fit much better.  I cut the brake pedal off and welded on the the bottom foot of Blazer pedal - it was oriented better.  Also cut up the HHR brake pedal support and grafted it to the 1950 dash.  

I almost forgot to mention the heat/air!  I spent over a week fitting and modifying the firewall for the 1948-1953 Vintage Air unit!  It was a lot of install remove kind of work and then installing the vents, controls, hoses added greatly to my suffering back!  But, it finally gave up and got installed! The hoses are unseen behind the glove box liner!

Looks nothing like a Chevy HHR Dash!

When I got to the instrument cluster and speedo I discovered what I never noticed earlier.  I had ordered a mechanical speedometer - months ago! Oh NO!!!  But, I had a leftover GPS 3" speedometer - same kind works good in the Brat.  So I cut open the mechanical speedo and carefully glued in GPS speedo internals.  You would not be able to tell - except I needed to use the orange needle instead of the black original.  I don't think it is very noticeable.... I may replace it down the road if I really love the 4x4 HHR.

It wasn't a conscious endeavor when I started soldering wiring. I wanted to position the 50's style tag holder and light. It had a couple of pigtail wires. So I mounted it and ran the wires into the body. And then the trailer light wires were right there, and then the backup lights, tail lights, brake lights, 3rd brake light, electric door latch, dome light, fuel pump, fuel gauge - and after a few days the back half was wired! I used a junk battery to test stuff as I went....all four third brake light bulbs were out!

Back wires done...

Front wires done

Middle wires done

But then I realized none were really done  - not until they were tied into the 21 circuit wire harness that was still in the box!

The old wires - a big mess - but I may need a connector so they stay until the car runs.....

The OMG wire pile - you gotta look at them one-at-a-time - just like reading this build one word at a time!

Let the sorting begin!!!!

I use a couple of pamphlets to help figure stuff out - basically I am wiring just like you would a 64 Chevy Impala with power doors!  It don't care if you leave your lights on, run yourself out of gas, or even wear a seat belt!  You have to be responsible for your own actions to drive this kind of car!