Building The Cruzen2.0

41372 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

161 - 180 of 214 Posts

anthonysmith93

· #161 · Aug 16, 2018

TheCruzen said:
Apologies for the lack of recent updates, life and trying to figure out why I can't upload pics has kept me from you....

In summary, it runs, it drives, it's quick, i'm getting used to the quickness (and the 28+mpg). Also, my list of things to fix is only 2/3 of a page long! (down from 2) I also have yet to get the ac filled and the steering sensor calibrated due to a SLIGHT lack of funds (like owing my parents no less than 4 digits of money to pay for insurance and my last paycheck being a little light, but I WILL/ALWAYS recover).

In more recent news, I ordered and modified a single 90 degree bend (with a welded extension) to be 2 "perfect" exhaust tips. No more chrome, even less drone! And I continue to ignore the lack of air bags because of lazy and the lack of TC because I plan to have the AC and TC taken care of at the same time, and funds.... But then again, maybe a tune might have priority.... (maybe, prob not)

Since you can't upload a photo currently, maybe you could do the almighty 0-60 video and upload to youtube?? You'd likely be the fastest cruze on there!!

:wink:

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #162 · Aug 17, 2018 (Edited)

@anthonysmith93 Not fastest/quickest cruze, maybe fastest/quickest FWD cruze. Whilst helping my father with finding a chevy 292 6-cyl I met a guy that has such an engine... and he has a buddy with a ls powered rwd cruze built with the sole purpose of drifting (no idea which bodystyle). So ya, for price to performance, I win, until someone builds one for a total cost under 10k with more than 220hp.

Also, feel free to let me know if there is something specific you want to know about my 2.0L cruze.

Aussie

· #163 · Aug 17, 2018

This was taken on the racetrack where the Bathurst 1,000 is raced each year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV2OaPdzDhk

anthonysmith93

· #164 · Aug 17, 2018

TheCruzen said:
@anthonysmith93 Not fastest/quickest cruze, maybe fastest/quickest FWD cruze. Whilst helping my father with finding a chevy 292 6-cyl I met a guy that has such an engine... and he has a buddy with a ls powered rwd cruze built with the sole purpose of drifting (no idea which bodystyle). So ya, for price to performance, I win, until someone builds one for a total cost under 10k with more than 220hp.

Also, feel free to let me know if there is something specific you want to know about my 2.0L cruze.

I shoulda been more specific, cuz that's totally what I meant haha. The fastest fwd Cruze without being a full on crazy build of course. I know there's race car Cruzes with only Cruze shells, and there's a couple crazy big engine RWD ones in Australia too.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #165 · Aug 19, 2018 (Edited)

Had to make a run up I75 for work today, on the way back I met a subaru wrx (of unknown year, but looked like a 2014-217) that was able to get ahead in first gear (my traction control still is not working and it spins the tires mid to top of 1st gear so I have so short-shift to second) but wasn't running away from me either...

Went down to woodward as well but didn't see anything interesting or find anyone else to run with.

MP81

· #166 · Aug 19, 2018

TheCruzen said:
Went down to woodward as well but didn't see anything interesting or find anyone else to play with.

You should have come up to Square Lake...Kingswood plaza was nuts. All of Bloomfield Hills PD, along with some of the state troopers, had to come in and shut everything down - every spot was full, easily a thousand people. I've never seen it even remotely that busy in years past.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #167 · Aug 19, 2018

Maybe I'll drop by this afternoon/evening

MP81

· #168 · Aug 19, 2018

It'll be dead - Woodward attendance even on a Friday is basically nothing the week after the cruise, haha.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #169 · Aug 21, 2018

Currently working on getting the airbags and steering sensor working, as well as figuring out a best of all worlds (NVH, performance, longevity) solution to the sloppiness of the stock Verano engine + trans mounts. The first two should be solved by swapping some steering column parts/sensors that I shall pick up later this week. As for the last, I am looking at adding an additional torque mount/limiter and will be posting pics of the final result.

Reactions: 1

rjones1214

· #170 · Aug 22, 2018

Man just found out about this build! I'm just up in Saginaw and really want to see and ride in this beast!

Join our Facebook Group - Michigan Cruze and Sonic Collective

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #171 · Aug 24, 2018

@rjones1214
If the guy in NY gets his 2.0 cruze running properly with all the mods he's done to the car and the engine, then his will be the true beast (he's cruze_dirtydiane on instagram). My setup is (at least for now) stock engine and no tune, I also have the added weight of using the entirety of the buick's electronics (even the wiring harness is 2x the weight) whereas he is using the entirety of the cruze with a 2.0l dropped into it. That said, after 9 days mine was daily driveable and I think it's been close to 2 weeks since he pulled the 1.4 out of his...

rjones1214

· #172 · Aug 24, 2018

I have seem his build and I know it's going a lot slower for him. It would take me a couple months to do the swap as well. I'm just surprised I just found out about yours and it's even close by

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #173 · Aug 24, 2018

I do realize that I'm the odd one, between my comparatively immense amount of free time, my large monetary reserves (at least when I started I had 6k in savings), my age (22) with no relationship and living with parents (I do pay rent though), and my ability to quickly discern and overcome obstacles has made it so I (even regardless of funds) can make, find, or buy a solution to just about any problem.

That said, my current income, my current bills, and what things I need to purchase have slowed my progress somewhat.

Aussie

· #174 · Aug 24, 2018 (Edited)

Don't know if this link will work, but this is a video of a RWD burnout Cruze.

https://www.facebook.com/1989301884673520/videos/321752195067156/?hc_ref=ARQXER5MpFxQlIKQu5twCGxrrZvjqBjVeLuN00hY5eMFrbxwnoNyNVCdzb6KqsS9NBM&fref=gs&dti=112488162942&hc_location=group&__xts

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Motor vehicle Chevrolet cruze

See less See more

Reactions: 1

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #175 · Aug 26, 2018

Any interest in an abridged version of this build log after it's "finished"???

I'm contemplating a simplified/ how to version of this long winded build.

Please let me know your thoughts on the matter.

Reactions: 2

anthonysmith93

· #176 · Aug 26, 2018

TheCruzen said:
Any interest in an abridged version of this build log after it's "finished"???

I'm contemplating a simplified/ how to version of this long winded build.

Please let me know your thoughts on the matter.

I'm sure at least a few of us would be interested in that!

Blasirl

· #177 · Aug 26, 2018

I think it would be a worthwhile endeavor.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #178 · Aug 28, 2018

11

Photo Backlog (image upload and view are broken on mobile)

Best shots of the outside so far. A couple things have changed since, exhaust tips are different and more hidden, and the front emblem is on. (please ignore crooked 2.0 badge, it was fixed shortly after)

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Chevrolet cruze Chevrolet

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Full-size car Alloy wheel

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Chevrolet cruze Full-size car

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Chevrolet cruze Chevrolet

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Chevrolet cruze Chevrolet

Land vehicle Vehicle Chevrolet cruze Car Chevrolet

Additional torque mount to combat flop in stock Buick mounts. It's not pretty, the welds are absolutely atrocious (just the body side mount), but it ain't coming off on its own. The link was about $9 on ebay and the brackets were thrown together with stuff I had on hand.

Auto part Engine Fuel line Vehicle Automotive fuel system

Auto part Engine Vehicle Automotive engine part

Auto part Fuel line Engine Automotive fuel system Pipe

Auto part Engine Fuel line Automotive engine part Vehicle

Auto part Fuel line Automotive fuel system Engine

See less See more

MP81

· #179 · Aug 29, 2018

That totally looks like the torque strut on the bottom of a Cavalier. I had to replace mine when the subframe cracked 360 degrees around:

See less See more

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #180 · Aug 29, 2018 (Edited)

@MP81
Not quite, the cav (at least the last generation) is the same width both ends (I fixed one up, my mother drives it), the one I got is for some late 80's pontiac and the small end is noticeably narrower. This was not deliberate, just looked like I could make it work. In the end the slightly narrower end made it so it would fit without hitting anything right there at the end of the engine (mount, frame, air box, etc)

EDIT: I had to replace 3 of the 4 engine/trans mounts on my cav due to excessive engine movement that made shifting a bit weird.

161 - 180 of 214 Posts