....but this is the project I have in mind. Input greatly appreciated.

I have a 2009 HHR panel and a 2006 LT that is pretty much loaded including sunroof and 2.4. Both are in pretty decent shape

My thought is to take the quarter panels off of the panel and put them on the LT. Use the panel doors and rear plastic interior on the LT as well as well.

When I paint the final assembled car I will also paint the original LT doors and keep them in case I want to switch to a half panel at some point

The goal is to end up with a pretty nice loaded up Panel

Im curious if anyone here has had experience with these quarter panels as I cant find them anywhere on line and certainly not in Canada

 

If you know how to weld on a unibody I guess you could do that. But, wouldn't it be easier to just delete the windows with some sheet metal? Then you would have an AA5. Or, install a sunroof.
The panel doors are bit more problematic with the latches and wiring for them.
The 2006 probably has a lot more miles on it.

 

Pretty easy to do $20,000 worth of work and end up with a $5,000 car.

 

Take 2 decent cars. Cut them up to make 1 panel with a couple extra options ? Seems like a waste of time and money and a whole car.

Why not just sell both and then buy a nicely optioned 1LT or 2LT panel ?

 

You can do anything you put your mind to.
I’ve spent time and money on projects over the years , some were a at a loss , Some break even, 2 or 3 made a profit. But I built what I thought was cool. 😎

 

I'm a certified welder so no issues with a little welding here or there.
I dont see changing the quarter panels to be near as much work as welding sheet metal over the windows which would still leave me needing back half interior pieces.
The LT has been mechanically rebuilt so immediatee concerns there.
This is retirement project...something to do. I never considered it an "investment" of any kind. I really like these little cars and I have more money into my drone stuff than what I have in either car.

Great input!!!

 

The thing is they are not "quarter panels". How do you figure the interior panels would not fit in the LT? If you look at it the window hole is just not cut out. Somewhere on this site there are a couple of threads where LT/LS was turned into a panel. Blocking up the windows would be child's play for a body guy, as is installing a sunroof.

There is a link in my sig to FREE shop manuals, that include body repair.

 

I'd concur with if you have two titled running HHR's you need a junk "donor" of some type.
Goal would be end up with two modified and or changed to your liking.
Love the panel or AA5 look from the outside, but hampers the dogs view from the back inside.
Most of all enjoy your retirement project(s)!

 

I have three of them. One I use as a daily driver. It saves me from mileing out my Dodge Cummins prematurely
The Panel was bought because I got it for very cheap. I always liked these and figured one day I'd find a "purpose" for it. I have a supercharged Grand Prix GTP motor here on a stand that I gave serious thought to putting in the panel. It would have ended up a rear wheel drive. Unfortunately health issues have a sneaky way of becoming reality checks so I parted with that idea. I then found the LT and decided I'd put the two together just for the fun.

"Fun" is the key word. I can't take it with me and my sons don't need it so why not?????

Paul Harvey (some here will remember him) said once, "if you are thinking of retiring, just take a week off and watch daytime television, you will change your mind".

Never sit still...

Cheers to all

 

I miss Paul Harvey......