Building The Cruzen2.0

41398 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

See less See more

Reactions: 4

121 - 140 of 214 Posts

Merc6

· #121 · Jul 21, 2018

thebac said:
Ive been "working on" swapping a Duramax into a 1/2ton RC/SB 2wd Silverado for over 5 years. Lost interest, and it just sits in the garage. I really like what Cruzen is doing. It should be a very fun car when he's done.

My thing is when it runs, how long will it run before something else breaks? LOL Already in pieces it can't break anymore, right? I changed jobs and the funds slowly came back to positive but the days off kinda left, Reason you barely see me here or the FB group(s) The new job almost stopped me from doing Lordstown this year hopefully it will happen again next year.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #122 · Jul 21, 2018 (Edited)

In terms of funds, I've been looking for a project (and have had a few come and go, leaving me with slightly increased funds each time) for the last 5 years or so, with a full time job and relatively low expenses my reserves have grown rapidly in the past two years.

On the subject of not being "that guy" avoiding that title is the reason I didn't post anything till I had the Buick paid for and only started this thread after receiving the car.

Trying to make this thing a daily is helping to keep me interested in the completion of this project.

SOS said 2 weeks max

For a bit more background, this will be my 3rd engine swap (the first 2 were just direct replacements for dead ones), I'm into electronics so I've done a lot of "complex" wiring in the past both for personal projects and for work, and I just like having something to work on (even if individual tasks annoy me)

UPDATE: stock verano tips would probably require quite a bit of trimming

Reactions: 1

Blasirl

· #123 · Jul 21, 2018

TheCruzen said:
I'm into electronics so I've done a lot of "complex" wiring in the past both for personal projects and for work, and I just like having something to work on (even if individual tasks annoy me)

UPDATE: stock verano tips would probably require quite a bit of trimming

Could I persuade you to try and build an interface for a radar/laser detector to mute the stereo when it goes off?

Verano Tips - was that in reply to me?

thebac

· #124 · Jul 21, 2018

I think he was replying to my question concerning the Cruze bumper with the rear exit exhaust (instead of down exit). Id jump all over that dual exhaust if it fit.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #125 · Jul 22, 2018

@thebac - correct, I was refering to your post asking how the exhaust would interfere with the bumper. I was only partially correct, however some trim is still required. If you would be satisfied with only one tip, you could use a regular/base 2.4L Verano muffler and final section, then you could just flex the bumper a bit and let it rub on the tip. If you are set on duals, since you will have to cut a notch on the other side, another inch or 2 of trim on the drivers side shouldn't be a problem (as you've already "damaged" the bumper to make the second tip fit). Keep in mind that the Vreano exhaust requires an additional exhaust hanger on the passenger side and is NOT the same as the drivers side. That said, all the other exhaust hangers are the same. The final thing worth thinking about is that the Verano has secondary mufflers by the tips, and along with those are heat shields that have only 1 mount on the cruze body and all 3 on the Verano body (thus the brackets my dad made up).

@Blasirl - Without investing too much time into your question, there are only 2 ways of implementing such a system and both would require some small ammount of soldering or modification on your end. Also, money and car parts are good motivators...

I was able to do a final assembly of the front end, assemble the rear bumper with sensors (via jb weld), cut off and begin installation of exhaust tips, and an oil change.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

thebac

· #126 · Jul 22, 2018 (Edited)

Thanks for the detailed reply, Cruzen.

Blasirl

· #127 · Jul 22, 2018

PM'd

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #128 · Jul 24, 2018

Little crooked, but I can fix that later if it bothers me.

See less See more

Reactions: 3

Aussie

· #129 · Jul 25, 2018

I don't know if this is legal in the US, but the stock exhaust pipe on my 2012 diesel finishes just before the rear diffuser. It points down and is invisible to following traffic. It is I believe about 2.5 inches in diameter and in 6 years I have never had any soot on the bodywork.

Aussie

· #130 · Jul 25, 2018

TheCruzen said:
Little crooked, but I can fix that later if it bothers me.

Just my opinion, but I think a small space between the "N" and the "2" would look more balanced. This is just my taste and not being critical.

Reactions: 1

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #131 · Jul 25, 2018 (Edited)

2

@Aussie My ECO has a similarly hidden tip, as did the black cruze before I got started. I might mimic this at some point, but I kinda like the oddness of the polished stainless downturns sticking out from under the bumper, at least for the moment. I agree about the spacing, that's more what I was referring to than the slight crookedness (but now thats bugging me too, will have to fix).

EDIT: The attached pictures were taken yesterday and the badge pic was taken this evening

See less See more

thebac

· #132 · Jul 25, 2018

I like that look. ^^^

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #133 · Jul 25, 2018

@thebac The more car I put around them, the more they grow on me. As I said, for now that's the way it is, but I may change them later.... which is the same story with every build.

Merc6

· #134 · Jul 25, 2018

2.0 badge will make folks google and still find the diesel. Sleeper even when you try to not make it be.

Reactions: 1

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #135 · Jul 26, 2018 (Edited)

@Merc6 One small indication of what the car is, most wont care to look into what it means, the rest will find out what it really is (most would probably google "cruzen 2.0" rather than cruze 2.0 because it doesnt say cruze on it). The badge is acctually more for my personal enjoyment so that I know it doesnt LOOK like any other cruze but it still blends in

Reactions: 1

Blasirl

· #136 · Jul 26, 2018

TheCruzen said:
@Aussie My ECO has a similarly hidden tip, as did the black cruze before I got started. I might mimic this at some point, but I kinda like the oddness of the polished stainless downturns sticking out from under the bumper, at least for the moment. I agree about the spacing, that's more what I was referring to than the slight crookedness (but now thats bugging me too, will have to fix).

EDIT: The attached pictures were taken yesterday and the badge pic was taken this evening

Is it possible to take a few more of the rear. Less glare / shadows and some side shots would be nice.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #137 · Jul 26, 2018

@Blasirl I will try for better pics tomorrow, it was getting dark when I took the last few

Reactions: 1

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #138 · Jul 29, 2018

6

Pics

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Taxman

· #139 · Jul 29, 2018

You might want to take that fender off, warm up the paint with a heat gun, and give it some whacks with a rubber mallet from the back side.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #140 · Jul 29, 2018 (Edited)

@Taxman
.... You haven"t seen my first car, last/second car (ECO was the third), or the family fleet. I really would rather it not look good so I don't have to worry about it.

Also, that rocker panel looks a whole lot worse in person...

121 - 140 of 214 Posts