Building The Cruzen2.0

41336 Views 213 Replies 17 Participants Last post by Cruze CTRL, 5 mo ago

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · May 30, 2018

8

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

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Reactions: 4

81 - 100 of 214 Posts

Taxman

· #81 · Jun 27, 2018

It doesn't have 16k miles on it, and it doesn't come with a Verano subframe, but...

a2chris

· #82 · Jun 28, 2018

TheCruzen said:
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.

Could more of the Buick parts be swapped into the Cruze to avoid some of the wiring issues? Like dash, door panels, etc.

Amazing job BTW.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #83 · Jun 28, 2018

A2chris- No, because of the odd shaped A-pillar and door the buick has a different shape to the interior as well, meaning the dash might fit but wouldnt line up with anything else in the interior and all 4 doors are different shapes inside and out.

Reactions: 1

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #84 · Jul 6, 2018 (Edited)

2

Got the condenser in, the bumper put togeather and on the car last night, I'll get a pic of it this evening. Still need to find some way of calibrating the steering sensor and finish some interior things like the radio controls and seat wiring. Also pulled the bent hood off my Eco last night and set it aside to get painted rattle-can black, picked up the replacement hood for the Eco this morning and it makes a heck of a difference.

First pic is of the Eco before I straightened the hood and made it a bit more ugly (but so it would close), seccond pic is it with the new hood. I'll get a pic of the red good this evening as well.

Probably going to stop and pick up a black rear bumper and move the sensor mounts from the buick part to the cruze part. I wanted to get one with the sensor mounts but they are hard-ish to come by as they only ever came with blind spot on the later cars and only the Ltz (I dont want an rs bumper).

EDIT: So there is no confusion, the red cruze is my Eco and NOT the 2.0 swapped one

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MP81

· #85 · Jul 6, 2018

Just make sure to seal the connections for the blind spot sensors - the crazy electrical gremlins they can cause when they corrode and short can be pretty, well...crazy.

Reactions: 1

Blasirl

· #86 · Jul 6, 2018

TheCruzen said:
Got the condenser in, the bumper put togeather and on the car last night, I'll get a pic of it this evening. Still need to find some way of calibrating the steering sensor and finish some interior things like the radio controls and seat wiring. Also pulled the bent hood off my Eco last night and set it aside to get painted rattle-can black, picked up the replacement hood for the Eco this morning and it makes a heck of a difference.

First pic is of the Eco before I straightened the hood and made it a bit more ugly (but so it would close), seccond pic is it with the new hood. I'll get a pic of the red good this evening as well.

Probably going to stop and pick up a black rear bumper and move the sensor mounts from the buick part to the cruze part. I wanted to get one with the sensor mounts but they are hard-ish to come by as they only ever came with blind spot on the later cars and only the Ltz (I dont want an rs bumper).

Starting to look pretty good!

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #87 · Jul 7, 2018

7

Got the start button installed in its final location, loose paint off hood, hood painted and installed, radio controls trimmed to fit in cruze dash, and mounts made for rear exhaust shields (my dad did that last one because he was bored)

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thebac

· #88 · Jul 7, 2018

I was just thinking today how your swap was going. Nice to see the great progress.

I want 1/4 mile times next....LOL

Blasirl

· #89 · Jul 7, 2018

3

TheCruzen said:
Got the start button installed in its final location, loose paint off hood, hood painted and installed, radio controls trimmed to fit in cruze dash, and mounts made for rear exhaust shields (my dad did that last one because he was bored)

Great spot for the button

Can you get a wider shot here - not sure what I'm looking at?

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TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #90 · Jul 7, 2018 (Edited)

4

Got the car out for a test of the steering sensor calibration (still not right) and took some pics of it in the neighbors driveway.

Blasirl- plate bracket attaches to the car via one of the rear bumper crash bar bolts, then has a hole to bolt the buick heatshield mount to. The first pic is looking down on the drivers side of the bar, the second from underneath. In one pic in this post you can see the passenger side bracket peeking out from behind the crash bar

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Automotive exterior Bumper

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TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #91 · Jul 7, 2018

Still looking to find a set of stock ECO springs, local places all tell me thier databases dont distinguish between ECO and standard but do list the diesel and standard as sepparate after the 2014my (first my for diesel in NA) Not having much luck on eBay or Craigslist. If you have or know of someone that has a set please let me know.

Any assistance would be apreciated.

Taxman

· #92 · Jul 7, 2018

Is the 2.0 an aluminum block engine, or would diesel springs possibly be more appropriate?

Eco auto front springs are $52ea, Eco manual springs $56 at Ed Rinke:

https://www.gmoutletparts.com/v-201...4-gas/front-suspension--struts-and-components

Rears $42 and it looks like Eco is the same as LT:

https://www.gmoutletparts.com/v-201...-1-4l-l4-gas/rear-suspension--rear-suspension

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #93 · Jul 7, 2018 (Edited)

Taxman- LUJ/LUV (1.4T) is 250lbs dry, LHU (2.0T) is 310-330lbs dry, and the LUZ (diesel) is upwards of 380lbs dry.
The 6T40 is 180lbs incl fluid, the F40 is 125lbs, and the Asin trans is 200lbs

What I WAS beginning to look at was ECO front and 30mm lowering springs rear, thinking the extra weight in the nose should match them fairly well without dragging the front lip on the ground. At the same time I was also considering ECO springs with spacers in the front to lift it just enough to compensate for the extra 80lbs of heft (if it really looked that bad).

Then I looked up the weights of the transmissions and discovered the 2.0T + F40 is only max 25lbs heavier than the 1.4T + 6T40, my work toolbag weighs more than that and it sits in the passenger footwell more often than not (in my ECO), so the Auto ECO springs should work perfectly.

EDIT: upon further consideration, Maybe manual ECO driver and auto ECO passenger should keep the difference from stock corner weight about the same? to keep the front level? the M32 only weighs 92lbs putting an extra 30lb on the LF and 60+ on the passenger, so with time it should sag level?

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thebac

· #94 · Jul 8, 2018 (Edited)

Just looked at Rockauto. They show the 2.0T Verano strut/spring assy is the same as the Cruze Diesel.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #95 · Jul 8, 2018 (Edited)

Thebac- That's probably because of the added weight from all the options and extra sound deadening the Buick has, but even before I tore apart the Buick it sat higher than I liked (may be due to living with my ECO the last year+) so I'd like to try matching that

thebac

· #96 · Jul 8, 2018

Then Id just use the 1.4T/auto springs. As you said, you're only looking at a 25lbs or so difference...and if anything, it would sit very slightly lower which is what you're after.

Taxman

· #97 · Jul 8, 2018

@TheCruzen: Since you started this thread, I'd been looking again at 2.0 engine cars and started thinking about buying a stick shift GS for a project.

It looks like I'm going to have to budget 800lb for the cradle, suspension, drivetrain, radiators and two wheels. That sounds like 1300lb for an Ariel Atom type vehicle or 1400-1500 for a dune buggy.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #98 · Jul 9, 2018

Just an update of the financial situation of the project.

So far I've spent $8003 on this swap, using up my savings and then some, with another $500-ish still left in parts and services needed (eg. rear bumper & ac recharge). Hopefully I will be able to get some things sorted out in the next few weeks and get my bank account back to a less restrictive state. In the mean time there are still some things I can do on the car (I actually have a list) with the parts I have on hand, a few of them not requiring parts at all. In addition, I have a bunch of things I can put up for sale to help recover some of the costs I have incurred during the process of carrying out this fantastic project.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #99 · Jul 10, 2018 (Edited)

Accidentally got in contact with the guy in new york via instagram (I assume its the same guy, how many 2.0 swapps can there be?) seems like he will be successful from what we've conversed about so far

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #100 · Jul 11, 2018

Finally got arround to taking a vid of the thing...

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