[Brian.C]

I live in HOT Kansas. I had ceramic side & back tint done in 2019 which made a huge difference, but I just had LLumar AIR 80 film applied to the inside of my windshield. WOW what a difference, as the windshield surface area is massive. The film is clear and blocks 43% of the sun's radiant heat, which is about what most non-ceramic tinted films block. Since it's ceramic, it does not block any cell signals, so your phone and/or GPS works with no issues. I have the AEM intake as I prefer a dry vs Oiled filters. May as well save and get the tune and Down pipe at the same time, no use spending that tuning $$ twice. Remember if you are looking for performance, stay away from larger heavy wheels. Lighter is faster when it comes to anything in the rotating drivetrain. Check out ZZP's tech article. I'm a huge fan of dynomax super turbo mufflers, so that's what I am running. Custom done tucked up behind the bumper. You know its there, but you can't hear me down the block. Welcome.

AIR Clear Window Film | LLumar

LLumar AIR is a clear window film with the same, proven nano-ceramic technology used in premium auto tint, minus the window-darkening color.

llumar.com

How to modify your 1.4L turbo Cruze/Sonic

First I would like to start this with these cars are not ok running 87 octane. They are boosted engines, even stock, everyone should be running premium fuel. Now you can run 87 safely with these cars, but to do it safely, I would run the stock tune, but add our complete exhaust and intercooler...

zzperformance.com

I will need to look up some windshield wraps before long. Ill be getting ceramic next on the rest but I'm not worried about it right now. I worked at a sign shop for years. we also did wraps. Car isn't scalding hot when I get in it anymore and it only takes like 30 seconds to cool all the way down. It's more the humidity outside at this point.

Also the ZZP cold air intake isn't out of stock any more so ill be picking that up. And the BNR tune is unlimited custom tunes. Every time I add something I just scan and send them the data to get another tune. They fine tune til you're happy.

Although yeah ill be doing the intake resonator delete, cai, downpipe/midpipe all at once now so ill need fewer retunes. I may not ever change the rest of the exhaust. That being said I am still looking at "quieter" but nice sounding systems. Ill check out that dynamax.

And as far as wheels go yeah lightweight. I Haven't really checked specs for any yet. But thanks for the weight reminder heh. I used to have some lightweight racing rims on my 2002 Nissan sentra spec-v. Had a family member wreck that though. So now I have a cruze! Lol

Thanks mate!

 

[2014 Encore]

The car already has a CAI. Most newer vehicles do.

 

[Brian.C]

The car already has a CAI. Most newer vehicles do.

Yup. The stock cai leaves a lot to be desired. Going zzp though. And doing reso intake delete when the new one goes in. Was about to just do the delete but the ZZP back in stock.

 

[2014 Encore]

Yup. The stock cai leaves a lot to be desired. Going zzp though. And doing reso intake delete when the new one goes in. Was about to just do the delete but the ZZP back in stock.

What is left to be desired ?

 

[Brian.C]

What is left to be desired ?

More air flow mostly but also sound. They're designed to silence your car. Gotta hear the flow and the turbo!

 

[2014 Encore]

Plenty of flow for the stock turbos.

 

[Brian.C]

Plenty of flow for the stock turbos.

Thats not the point lol. More flow. Thats the point. Increase flow and increase power. Makes the intake able to be heard. Also makes the turbo spool noise louder as well as the bov. But the increased flow is going to help overall and more with the exhaust additions. Make the car breathe better as a whole.

 

[72chevman]

Although yeah ill be doing the intake resonator delete, cai, downpipe/midpipe all at once now so ill need fewer retunes. I may not ever change the rest of the exhaust. That being said I am still looking at "quieter" but nice sounding systems. Ill check out that dynamax.

Thanks mate!

Here's my setup. I originally had a straight thru flowing Magnaflow(1st pic), but once I installed the down and mid pipe, the muffler had a nasty drone over 74 mph at cruise or under any load over 70 mph. I got real annoying even after applying sound deadener, so I went to the Dynomax Super Turbo PN 17731.(2nd pic)

 

[Brian.C]

Here's my setup. I originally had a straight thru flowing Magnaflow(1st pic), but once I installed the down and mid pipe, the muffler had a nasty drone over 74 mph at cruise or under any load over 70 mph. I got real annoying even after applying sound deadener, so I went to the Dynomax Super Turbo PN 17731.(2nd pic)

View attachment 299567
View attachment 299566

And the drone is gone with that one? I definitely don't want drone or too loud. Thats why for a while ill just be stock catback. But maybe next year or something I would go for new muffler and tip.

 

[72chevman]

Yes, zero drone or resonance. If I was to do it over, I would go with the offset in and offset out and have the tail pipe bent so tip was in right spot. The offset in offset out has less flow restriction that the offset in center out.

 

[Brian.C]

Hurricane Ian will be delaying the start of the mods. We need to focus on our home and make sure we don't need to replace any major appliances or rewire the home due to constant power surges.

We had to call the Fire Department last night because there was a strong burning smell coming from one of the bedrooms. They couldn't find anything but I suspect it was a power strip that blew. We had to make sure the wires in the walls weren't getting hot.

We were far from the center of destruction but have close friends whose entire neighborhoods were demolished. Bridges to their islands are gone. If they have a home then they don't have water or power.

I will still be starting the upgrades soon-ish. But I am at least a few weeks behind schedule now. I will update here and also most likely make a new post with pictures and the such about the actual installation.

p.s. My car is filthy right now and it makes me sad lol post hurricane wash upcoming this weekend!