Cruzen3 - Project Canceled

4248 Views 14 Replies 6 Participants Last post by -loki-, Mar 7, 2020

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · Jul 1, 2019

So this is a direct result of me being completely insane.

A 450+hp RWD manual Cruze done the hard way.

The plan is as follows:
Cruze body
3.6L twin-turbo v6 from an ats-v
Gtrag F40 6 speed manual transmission
rear mounted and RWD

I already have my eye on an ECO Manual Cruze to use as a base for this project.
I have a line on an engine through the guy at the junkyard across the street from me.
I bought a spare F40 for 2.0 and have it sitting on my shelf, just have to sort out a clutch.

Plan to cut the suspension, frame rails, and subframe from the front of another Cruze and stuff it in the back so I can have all the suspension and drivetrain mounting points. Also plan to run Verano/diesel hubs with the bigger brakes and the same 18x8.5 malibu wheels that I have on 2.0. The radiator will stay where it is and the fuel tank will also be mounted up front. Will try to retain the A/C. Will probably run an air to water charge cooler or mount an intercooler in the back. Probably going to have to run an aftermarket ECU.

I will try to do a better job at documenting this planning and build process than I did with 2.0

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TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jul 20, 2019

This is the newest member of the Cruzen family which will some day become Cruzen3

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Reactions: 2

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 26, 2019

A brief update to anyone who knows about this thread and is wondering, car was listed as having keys but came with the wrong ones. Having to wait for the title so I can go to the dealer and get a key made so I can at least move the thing (or even find out if it runs). Dealer says that by (michigan) law they can't cut a key without having a title in the name of the purchaser.

Additionally, just to curb your expectations, I do not currently have the roughly $7k to buy the engine so progress will be sparse and slow for quite a while.

MP81

· #4 · Jul 26, 2019

That's strange it came with the wrong keys...how does that happen? Nobody noticed it didn't unlock the car?

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 26, 2019

@MP81 copart doesnt check if the keys acctually go to the car or not, basically said "too bad" when i complained

MP81

· #6 · Jul 26, 2019

Well that's some BS.

Reactions: 1

Thebigzeus

· #7 · Jul 26, 2019

TheCruzen said:
A brief update to anyone who knows about this thread and is wondering, car was listed as having keys but came with the wrong ones. Having to wait for the title so I can go to the dealer and get a key made so I can at least move the thing (or even find out if it runs). Dealer says that by (michigan) law they can't cut a key without having a title in the name of the purchaser.

Additionally, just to curb your expectations, I do not currently have the roughly $7k to buy the engine so progress will be sparse and slow for quite a while.

7k for an engine???

MP81

· #8 · Jul 26, 2019

Thebigzeus said:
7k for an engine???

TheCruzen said:
3.6L twin-turbo v6 from an ats-v

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 9, 2019

Big problem with the title that i've been trying to sort out

Reactions: 1

Blasirl

· #10 · Aug 10, 2019

I would hope Copart will fix this at least.

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 10, 2019

@Blasirl not their mistake

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 25, 2019 (Edited)

4

Finally time for an update!

I got a title and a key for the car!!

The direction of this mess of a "project" has changed completely!!!

For now I'm looking to just get it up and running so I have something to drive for a little while. After I got the new key programmed to the car (and cranked it over without the ignition to get the thing lubricated again) it started right up and seems to run and drive fine. Just needs a few little things and registration+insurance to be road-ready.

On the list of things to get taken care of so far:
Bleed brakes
Oil change
Looks like the battery has been leaking
Find out why there is oil all over the front of the engine
One wheel is a bit bent but not an immediate problem
Windshield has a crack near the middle that looks like the bottom of a beer bottle

That's pretty much it, and for a car with 214k miles that's been sitting at least a year with no keys, that's not bad. Even has tires with good tread and late 2017 date codes. The interior looks pretty good too, shifter is a bit worn and the heater control plastic dial is broken but everything else looks seriously like new.

EDIT: Brake master and the clutch are both shot, both drivers side wheels bent

Here is where it's been sitting until yesterday.

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Chevrolet Chevrolet cruze

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Chevrolet Chevrolet cruze

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Chevrolet cruze Mid-size car

And now in the barn.

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Reactions: 1

FieroJonney

· #13 · Dec 30, 2019

Looks good man. Bummer about the wheels, hopefully you can straighten them. I love the eco wheels.
Good luck with the project.
I just got a 2011 Cruze eco MT with 150k miles. Got pcv problems... lol

TheCruzen

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 6, 2020

At some point I decided just to drop all this. The idea, the project, and the name. The blue Cruze is just gonna keep getting fixed over time and will stay stock. 216k on it now, got everything but the turbo housing and the windshield taken care of.

Getting Cruzen2.0 running again is probably the last project I'll do other than just fixing things when they break/ regular maintenance. Right now I have no motivation or intention of having another project.

Reactions: 1

-loki-

· #15 · Mar 7, 2020

After a point it does get old... but it's nice to have something to wrench on when the wife pisses ya off.

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