dcc15

Hi all, I'n new to chevyhhr.net and posted this question in my "introduction" but thought that might be too much of a question to ask there.
My engine is the 2.2L VVT flex-fuel (LE8). Can anyone tell me if there is much to be gained from any head work? If so is there a place(s) that specializes in Ecotec motor/head work?

Thanks in advance,

David C.

masterchief1112

head work will help your engine flow better but i cannot give you a deffinite amount of power increase but it is a good supporting mod. personally head work would not be my starting point. mainly because it is expensive. always reccomend checking out ecotecperformance.com because they really know their stuff over there.

txbass06

X2. Based on what they're sayin and some of the cars some guys have built, there's not really much gain from head work on the ecotec motors. There's a guy running almost 450hp in a cavalier with a stock top end...

1Panel2NV

It depends on what you want to do with it in the end. If your goal is f/i then it would make a difference. If you're staying n/a, it probably wouldn't be worth it.

dcc15

Thanks 1Panel2NV,
Sounds like you're in the know (at least way more than me) on the HHR Ecotec's, do you have any links or suggested reading material that would help educate myself on the ECU programming/ recalibration that seems to be required for almost anything I might do to the drive train (laptop programming, PROM flashing...), Not that I'm going to be doing any of that, just would like to be educated or less ignorant than I currently am.

Thanks,

David C.

1Panel2NV

The site masterchief mentioned and the gm performance build book are good places to start. You can get the book from your dealer or crateenginedepot.com.

For programming I would recommend finding someone who is very familiar with hptuners. For smaller modifications you could go with trifectaperformance.com.

Two people that have experience with this are JoeR on this site and DeathScythe on cobaltss.net, if you want to try contacting them.

masterchief1112

cant tune the 2.2 with HP tuners. Just FYI. unless something has changed recently

JoeR

Unfortunately HPTuners hasn't dealt with either of the 2.2 ECMs (E16a and E37). Then GM standardized the 2.4 from the E67 to the E37 in '08. So right now HPT can only do the early 2.4 and the SS Turbo.

Panel... Thanks for the props! Oh, Deathscythe is one sharp dude, but ask him who his tuner is.

HPTuners is only a (very good) tool, but no better than the tuner. For you 2.2 and later 2.4 guys I highly recommend Vince at Trifecta.

To the OP, headwork alone will not be worth the cost. Other stuff will be of minimal gain, if any. Go boost or go home!

1Panel2NV

I've been watching the header test thread on css. How's that going? Besides the jbp header. Seems like you guys really liked that one.

JoeR

Yeh, if you want honest, unbiased info, stay tuned on that thread. We have no agenda.

Yesterday we put the Vibrant header on the dyno. Put down 320 WHP even though the temp was 97*! If it were cooler we could have done better.

The JBP header was a huge bust!! We couldn't believe how bad it turned out. We had to pull considerable timing and retune the PE AFR. We spent time trying to max the tune, went back to dyno again and still put down those terrible numbers. I wouldn't recommend that header for a lawn mower, let alone a car.

It's been a fun experience. Time is hard to come by for both of us, too. We do all the work at my place (I feed him too much!).

More to come... His Hahn header was "stolen" during his last deployment, but we confronted the guy yesterday. The police are being notified today. We have a Clear Image header, too. We expect that one to put down the best numbers, but there are always surprises. We'll see.