Based on what I've been able to find, this is the only 2.0l swapped 1st gen. And for good reason, the wiring is a nightmare.
Building The Cruzen2.0
Background:
My 2012 ECO MT has been named "Cruzen" so this is the build of "Cruzen2.0"
My ECO is worth too much to do all these modifications to it.
I WILL build the first(?) 2.0t 6MT CRUZE!
2014 Buick Verano Premium, 2.0T, 6MT, 17k miles, salvage- runs/drives, $3k (PURCHASED)
2012 Chevy Cruze LS, 1.8L, 6MT, 195k miles, bad clutch, $3k (PENDING AS OF 5/30/18)
The Buick was delivered today (5/30/18) and this it the first bit of prep so I could find out what replacement parts I needed to buy.
As Delivered
![Land vehicle Vehicle Car Mid-size car Compact car]()
After removal of front crash bar and upper rad support (and hood)
![Land vehicle Vehicle Car Auto part Automotive exterior]()
Messed up rads. No leaks tho, AC still blows cold! Only part not usable or the same with the recipient Cruze is the main engine radiator
![Radiator Vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper Auto part]()
![Vehicle Auto part Tire Automotive tire Car]()
As of now the wheels haven't fallen off the project, but they did have to come off the car
![Land vehicle Vehicle Car Collision Mid-size car]()
![Tire Alloy wheel Spoke Wheel Rim]()
JUNK!!!
![Alloy wheel Tire Rim Wheel Spoke]()
The wheels I will be using from now on (including the final look) will be 17x7 5x115 from a 2012 Equinox with 225/50/r16 tires to look stock and be the same size as the factory Cruze ones while fitting the Buick hubs and not saying "BUICK" on them.
Something like this
![Alloy wheel Rim Wheel Spoke Auto part]()
Updates will come as I make progress
My 2012 ECO MT has been named "Cruzen" so this is the build of "Cruzen2.0"
My ECO is worth too much to do all these modifications to it.
I WILL build the first(?) 2.0t 6MT CRUZE!
2014 Buick Verano Premium, 2.0T, 6MT, 17k miles, salvage- runs/drives, $3k (PURCHASED)
2012 Chevy Cruze LS, 1.8L, 6MT, 195k miles, bad clutch, $3k (PENDING AS OF 5/30/18)
The Buick was delivered today (5/30/18) and this it the first bit of prep so I could find out what replacement parts I needed to buy.
As Delivered
After removal of front crash bar and upper rad support (and hood)
Messed up rads. No leaks tho, AC still blows cold! Only part not usable or the same with the recipient Cruze is the main engine radiator
As of now the wheels haven't fallen off the project, but they did have to come off the car
JUNK!!!
The wheels I will be using from now on (including the final look) will be 17x7 5x115 from a 2012 Equinox with 225/50/r16 tires to look stock and be the same size as the factory Cruze ones while fitting the Buick hubs and not saying "BUICK" on them.
Something like this
Updates will come as I make progress
61 - 80 of 214 Posts
There's another person working on it in NY, but knowing him it won't be successful lolBased on what I've been able to find, this is the only 2.0l swapped 1st gen. And for good reason, the wiring is a nightmare.
anthonysmith93- Harsh
It's possible, just not easy. I've done alot of this stuff before but never at this scale. Unless you can find someone to program the computers to play nice, using the buick harness is the only option and will require quite a bit of modification to fit the cruze. The worst part is just figuring out what is different between the 2 vehicles, and that NONE of the wires to the same things are the same colors and most of the connectors are a different pinout. I think i spent as much time doing wiring things as I did changing over the drivetrain and pulling the dash.
It's possible, just not easy. I've done alot of this stuff before but never at this scale. Unless you can find someone to program the computers to play nice, using the buick harness is the only option and will require quite a bit of modification to fit the cruze. The worst part is just figuring out what is different between the 2 vehicles, and that NONE of the wires to the same things are the same colors and most of the connectors are a different pinout. I think i spent as much time doing wiring things as I did changing over the drivetrain and pulling the dash.
Lol yeah it's harsh but he's got a bit of a bad reputation, so it's probably more true than it is harsh lol.anthonysmith93- Harsh
It's possible, just not easy. I've done alot of this stuff before but never at this scale. Unless you can find someone to program the computers to play nice, using the buick harness is the only option and will require quite a bit of modification to fit the cruze. The worst part is just figuring out what is different between the 2 vehicles, and that NONE of the wires to the same things are the same colors and most of the connectors are a different pinout. I think i spent as much time doing wiring things as I did changing over the drivetrain and pulling the dash.
I definitely understand it's possible though, but it helps to have you're knowledge and determination. Otherwise we'd all have a 2.0T cruze lol.
Anyone could have a 2.0T Cruze. Only it'd be a diesel....
Cruzen, very good job. Thats flat-out moving for a swap nobody's done before.
I find it hard to believe that GM changed wire colors for the same things between the models, as that is not "normal" procedure....but I guess anything is possible. Different pinouts make sense, though.
Cruzen, very good job. Thats flat-out moving for a swap nobody's done before.
I find it hard to believe that GM changed wire colors for the same things between the models, as that is not "normal" procedure....but I guess anything is possible. Different pinouts make sense, though.
True but the diesel is much less fun on the interstate with its 100 less HPAnyone could have a 2.0T Cruze. Only it'd be a diesel....
Cruzen, very good job. Thats flat-out moving for a swap nobody's done before.
I find it hard to believe that GM changed wire colors for the same things between the models, as that is not "normal" procedure....but I guess anything is possible. Different pinouts make sense, though.
Will the Buick exhaust fit without any modification? What do you think the possibility of connecting it to a Cruze 1.4 is?So far I've got the heatshields, exhaust, fuel system, rear suspension, and shifter cables moved over. Not sure if I'm going to run the buick exhaust tips or use downturns to make it look like a stocker, not really sold on the look of the buick tips anyways. I'll probably make up my mind as soon as I get a bumper on the car to see where they end up.
How much of the changeover have you documented?anthonysmith93- Harsh
It's possible, just not easy. I've done alot of this stuff before but never at this scale. Unless you can find someone to program the computers to play nice, using the buick harness is the only option and will require quite a bit of modification to fit the cruze. The worst part is just figuring out what is different between the 2 vehicles, and that NONE of the wires to the same things are the same colors and most of the connectors are a different pinout. I think i spent as much time doing wiring things as I did changing over the drivetrain and pulling the dash.
I'll start with the question of documentation, I didnt take as many pictures as I wanted to. Most of what I did was "little" tweaks, for the doors it was just reshaping the existing buick wire routing and changing the power mirror connectors, for the dash harness it was again mainly reshaping and extending a few wires for the onstar module. Wouldnt have been much help if I had documented the piles of wires, each car and set of options would require slightly different tweaks and you really have to put the harnesses next to each other to make sure they are as close to the same length and shape. The only thing that would be the same for another harness swap car is the wiring for the lights, and I didnt think anyone would really want to see that.
As for putting the buick exhaust on a cruze 1.4, I would go with the 2.0 exhaust if you want the dual tips and from the 2.4 if you just want a bigger diameter pipe. The issue comes from both buick engines having rear exhaust, I will have to look again but I know the buick exhaust has a 90 degree bend to attach to the bottom of the dump pipe. Also, the o2 sensor locations are different, the 2L has them both in the dump pipe (along with the first cat) and the 1.4 has one in the dump and one in the main exhaust.
EDIT: I didn't document much of the drivetrain install as I swapped it and the subframe and suspension and wheels as one unit, meaning it was just "take out big bolts, put big bolts back in" same story on the rear end and fuel system. Actually, the wiring is the main issue, everything else is just put the bolts in where you took them out. Also, the buick exhaust has additional mufflers at the tips, with a heatshield that the cruze only has 1 mount for.
As for putting the buick exhaust on a cruze 1.4, I would go with the 2.0 exhaust if you want the dual tips and from the 2.4 if you just want a bigger diameter pipe. The issue comes from both buick engines having rear exhaust, I will have to look again but I know the buick exhaust has a 90 degree bend to attach to the bottom of the dump pipe. Also, the o2 sensor locations are different, the 2L has them both in the dump pipe (along with the first cat) and the 1.4 has one in the dump and one in the main exhaust.
EDIT: I didn't document much of the drivetrain install as I swapped it and the subframe and suspension and wheels as one unit, meaning it was just "take out big bolts, put big bolts back in" same story on the rear end and fuel system. Actually, the wiring is the main issue, everything else is just put the bolts in where you took them out. Also, the buick exhaust has additional mufflers at the tips, with a heatshield that the cruze only has 1 mount for.
Oh, Id be willing to bet you on that. There's this little thing called "torque"....True but the diesel is much less fun on the interstate with its 100 less HP
You have no idea what these diesels are capable of.
Sorry for mucking up your thread, Cruzen. Love what you're doing.
Broken pictures on our end too, but you're right I bet.Now that you mention it...
2014+ Cruze diesel in North America
View attachment 264545
2013+ Verano 2.0
View attachment 264547
And I think it's safe to assume the gas engine is lighter
EDIT: pictures aren't showing up on my end, let me know
thebac, or anyone else with a diesel- does it make boost noises?
The 1.4 doesn't make much at all (mine anyways), but the 2.0 you can hear a pretty good whistle and blow-off sound.
Also, the MT makes this 2.0 a blast to drive! (Around my neighborhood, still not legal yet)
The 1.4 doesn't make much at all (mine anyways), but the 2.0 you can hear a pretty good whistle and blow-off sound.
Also, the MT makes this 2.0 a blast to drive! (Around my neighborhood, still not legal yet)
The 2.0TD makes 280 lb-ft on overboost - and it actually makes more than that in real life. Ours dynoed (stock) at about 260 wtq or something like that. But yeah, the horsepower figure is wayyyy lower.
You can hear the turbo and the wastegate a bit in the LUZ, yeah.
You can hear the turbo and the wastegate a bit in the LUZ, yeah.
Small update, got a few of the little things taken care of in the last few days.
Park brake cables are in and working
the rear lights and decklid wiring is finalized
repaired brake booster vacuum line fitting
installed T for boost gague if/when I get that far
married the buick shifter and boot to the cruze boot trim and bezel
bled rear brakes AGAIN
replaced busted battery tray from buick with a good one from the junkyard
fixed some of the wire routing
started looking at how to install/rewire cruze start button
Still waiting on some parts, as well as replenishment of funds, and it doesnt help that the remaining tasks involve a lot of work and a lot of thinking.
Park brake cables are in and working
the rear lights and decklid wiring is finalized
repaired brake booster vacuum line fitting
installed T for boost gague if/when I get that far
married the buick shifter and boot to the cruze boot trim and bezel
bled rear brakes AGAIN
replaced busted battery tray from buick with a good one from the junkyard
fixed some of the wire routing
started looking at how to install/rewire cruze start button
Still waiting on some parts, as well as replenishment of funds, and it doesnt help that the remaining tasks involve a lot of work and a lot of thinking.
Sweet!! It’s come such a long way!Small update, got a few of the little things taken care of in the last few days.
Park brake cables are in and working
the rear lights and decklid wiring is finalized
repaired brake booster vacuum line fitting
installed T for boost gague if/when I get that far
married the buick shifter and boot to the cruze boot trim and bezel
bled rear brakes AGAIN
replaced busted battery tray from buick with a good one from the junkyard
fixed some of the wire routing
started looking at how to install/rewire cruze start button
Still waiting on some parts, as well as replenishment of funds, and it doesnt help that the remaining tasks involve a lot of work and a lot of thinking.
It continues to surprise and annoy me how different these sisters are, the rear calipers are the same casting and park brake linkage, but the verano has 1 boss drilled and threaded and the cruze has another, about 270 degrees off from each other. Actually had to drill and tapp the other boss on the verano callipers so I could clock the park brake lever and bracket properly for the cruze cables. Would have been easier to start with an rs or ltz with rear disks so I could avoid this little mess with the park brake and cable. I think I'm doing pretty good on cost so far though, about what I expected, but more than I hoped it would cost. Hope I can get the hood and rear bumper local to avoid the shipping or repaint costs.
taxman- looking at car-part.com too, deffinately better prices than local places or even ebay if you don't include shipping
EDIT: If you want to see the barely modded callipers, let me know and I'll post pics
taxman- looking at car-part.com too, deffinately better prices than local places or even ebay if you don't include shipping
EDIT: If you want to see the barely modded callipers, let me know and I'll post pics
Earlier this month I drove 190 miles round trip to pick up a $100 hood for my ML350. And it was in the correct very rare color (Black Opal / Green-Black Metallic). It wasn't perfect, but once I clean up the surface rust under the Mercedes badge it'll be fine. Both the rust spot and the one small dent were disclosed in the car-part description, and were the reasons is was $100 and not $250. Got it from a place in the middle of nowhere east of Milan. Would have no idea that store ever existed without Car-Part.taxman- looking at car-part.com too, deffinately better prices than local places or even ebay if you don't include shipping
Last year I bought a headlight for the ML from a place in Ohio. It was only $40 and in A0 condition. They charged $25 more to ship it. Then it came here, lens was very yellow and a mounting tab was broken off. I don't buy plastic headlights by phone any more.
1/2" of toe out, a half inch! All I did was change bodies!
Combine that with a pull to the left from a steering wheel position sensor in need of calibration and it explains why it was such a handful.
The car now has properly bled and functional power brakes. Also, I have decided to forego the purchase of a matching hood. I plan to replace the hood on my eco and use it's mangled and straightened hood on 2.0 after giving it a rattle can paint job to "match" the black of 2.0. That way I only have to buy 1 hood and it will help with the resale value of the eco. I am currently working on sourcing the correct rear bumper for the rear sensors to mount, not sure if I care what color as the hood will already be mismatched so what is one more panel at that point.
Anyone have or know anyone that has a set of stock eco springs they are willing to part with?
Combine that with a pull to the left from a steering wheel position sensor in need of calibration and it explains why it was such a handful.
The car now has properly bled and functional power brakes. Also, I have decided to forego the purchase of a matching hood. I plan to replace the hood on my eco and use it's mangled and straightened hood on 2.0 after giving it a rattle can paint job to "match" the black of 2.0. That way I only have to buy 1 hood and it will help with the resale value of the eco. I am currently working on sourcing the correct rear bumper for the rear sensors to mount, not sure if I care what color as the hood will already be mismatched so what is one more panel at that point.
Anyone have or know anyone that has a set of stock eco springs they are willing to part with?
When I replaced the subframe and lower control arms on my '98 Cavalier (after the stock subframe developed a 360 degree crack between the front and rear mounting points of the passenger-side LCA while we were driving, about a mile from our house at the time), I want to say it had about 3 degrees of toe out on each side. Driving it to the dealer to have it aligned was absolutely terrifying.
My Camaro, right now, is even worse. The alignment was a quickly done eye-ball job, and clearly is nowhere near close to good, but with the massive dead zone in the steering box, it was nearly impossible to keep in the lane on a straight portion of the road - let alone in a gradual bend.
My Camaro, right now, is even worse. The alignment was a quickly done eye-ball job, and clearly is nowhere near close to good, but with the massive dead zone in the steering box, it was nearly impossible to keep in the lane on a straight portion of the road - let alone in a gradual bend.
61 - 80 of 214 Posts
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