[Merc6]

​2013 Black Granite Metallic Chevrolet Cruze Eco 1.4T 6MT

I guess it's about time I started one of these instead of posting a million threads.

Mod list will grow as I remember/complete them.

Exterior

*Black Reflective Vinyl Front/Rear Bowties and Side Markers
*Grafx Werks Red Tail Overlays W/ Reverse Cutout
*Debadged Trunk Lid
*Malibu 2.0T Turbo Badge
*5D Black Carbon Fiber Vinyl Chrome Trunk Bar
*Autozone Chrome Exhaust Tip
*LTZ (GM Accessories) Exterior Handles Upgrade
*VG Shark Fin Antenna
*Z Spec Grille

Interior

*Hot Wheels Camaro Wheel Swap
*RS Gauge Cluster Swap
*5D Black Carbon Fiber Vinyl Interior Pieces
*Weathertech Floor Mats Front and Back
*Eco Drivers Convenience Package Trunk Panel
*Korean OEM Sunglasses Holder
*Trunk Cargo net


Engine

*NGK BKR8EIX Plugs
*Intake Snorkel Delete
*Airbox Opening Enlarged
*Zip Tube Now Hard Pipe
*K&N Panel Filter

In the works/Future:

*Sell parts at Lordstown Meet as the car is gone as of 12/5/15
*Weathertech Floor Liners $70
*VG Fin $40
*LTZ Handles $40
*Eco Drivers Convenience Storage Panel $20
*Korean Sunglass Holder $8
*Custom Airbox $Free
*K&N Panel Filter
*Cargo net $15

***Link to most parts used during this build can be found here***

http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/94-cruze-owner-projects/84457-merc6-build-thread-4.html#post2265505

 

[Mrhawaiibound]

Any pictures?

 

[Merc6]

Any pictures?

In the process of digging though my photo bucket for them. I didn't separate them like I did the Legacy so they are spread out with other pics.

 

[Merc6]

Bowties and Side Markers CF Vinyl were the 1st mod day 2 of ownership.

Debadging the trunk was next up on the list of Items to do

After that was the eBay exhaust tip

Next up was MAD Red Overlays

Shortly after, CF Vinyl Chrome Trunk Bar

 

[Merc6]

New trunk button undid the CF Trunk Bar, Dip was next step.

Once I got my confidence up with the trunk bar, Interior got dipped next.

Video contains "language" from copyrighted music I don't own.

 

[Merc6]

I was doing a comparison shot and was thinking, Only thing missing besides Cruze on the plastic piece behind the door was the chrome handles.

LTZ Handles Installed

Steering Wheel Re Dip and lock circles 1st Dip, Bowtie didn't come out right so undone for now.

 

[iTz SADISTIK]

Looks good so far!

 

[Merc6]

One of the loners I had was an ATS and after blowing the horn at someone I decided I wanted it.

Would love to perform an engine swap, but I'm sure buying the car with engine already inside would be the better solution.

Same engine in the CTS base but let me not derail my own thread.

Been complaining about that eco single quieted weight reduction horn for the longest and finally did something about it.

Out with the old Single Low Tone

In with the new High and Low Tones

Fun situation is the original bracket does not just directly bolt up and call it a day, roll the credits we all go home.

After walking away and looking over what I did when I installed new horns on the Legacy, I remembered reusing parts from the old horn to make it work.

Bracket from single horn went to the dual horn, and horns re positioned downward afterwards. (those were the last resort brackets up top)

Horns in behind bumper cover and good to go. Connections are the same as horn taken out(most GM of same years are like this).

Video of the finished product. I didn't feel like taking it apart and getting a before video after it was all said and done. It was also early morning so didn't want to bother too many people. Compared it to the 11 LS and they are slightly louder and different tones.

6 months in the ATS horns failed so I go the 2 tone non ECO horns to replace them. May try again in the near future seeing they were only $35 shipped.

After a year of resonator bypass I had the vibrating issues and undid it. Since I had the bumper off, I decided to take another approach.

Snorkel Delete. Still hear the turbo and feel some quick response. This is a good alternative to those who had the vibration issues from the original resonator bypass. You have to really want this to pull the bumper. I'd say wait till you do horns, grill update/upgrade or add fogs to do it unless you just get bored and want to pull the bumper off.

 

[brian v]

how many knuckles did you bust ? If zero you still have lots of work to do until you bust some knuckles !

 

[Merc6]

how many knuckles did you bust ? If zero you still have lots of work to do until you bust some knuckles !

The Legacy is full of my blood. Everything on that car seized up from being in Ohio. Is it technically a 1 time use bolt if it breaks before you get it off the engine/car?


Sent from my iFail 5s

 

[Merc6]

While under there I decided to look at the exhaust and that Goatsee engine shield again. Figure eco under shots are low so why not post a few more to the population.

Verano Shield needed, I'll probably order that before the summer is over or before 1st snowfall.

I was thinking about swapping this out for a Bullet style resonator or another muffler. Since the mid pipe goes straight for quite a distance, I may have some room to play around with ideas. This isn't going to be a performance mod, mostly sound so don't follow my route hoping to grab a few more ponies. I'm only saying this because you will see some unethical **** happen here until I get the sound I want and be compliant with the locals. Legacy has it's own rules so that's a different story and build thread on another forum.

This bend is going to stay, if I go dual pipes it's going to be after this. Here is the rear eco under body piece briefly described a few times but not pictured much.

Rear muffler shot with 3 eco panels in view. I also played around with the idea of swapping just this out or also this in conjunction with the front resonator. Straight piping may be too loud or add rasp/drone so I'm avoiding it. Had fun with that on the many different combinations of mufflers and resonators and cans on the Legacy.

Also played around with idea of throwing 2 mufflers on the midpipe long run and possibly a resonator back this direction before it exits if It gets too out of control. Another idea was to leave most this stock and run a cut out from the mid and modify the rear eco panel I speak of multiple times and have that be loud when i want to and still be able to sneak in and out the neighborhood at night times w/o letting the world know I exist.

Up close view of part number if someone needed it

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/oe-gm/20926537

LOL Plastic

 

[cdb09007]

It all looks good, good plans for le future. It's about time you conformed to a build thread like everyone else!

 

[Merc6]

It all looks good, good plans for le future. It's about time you conformed to a build thread like everyone else!

It's also easier to find pics in a single thread vs trying to dig into 77 pages of Photobucket.

 

[Mrhawaiibound]

I like it! The horn upgrade is pretty cool too. Were the LTZ handles hard to swap? I was thinking about doing that on mine but wasn't sure about taking it apart.

 

[Merc6]

I like it! The horn upgrade is pretty cool too. Were the LTZ handles hard to swap? I was thinking about doing that on mine but wasn't sure about taking it apart.

No, they aren't that hard to do. Now that I have YouTube access, I'll post it. Skip the removal or cutting of plastic grommet and allen keys if you are using the GM Accessories handles. Yank one then replace one.

 

[BowtieGuy]

chrome door handles

I really like the chrome strip door handles. I did the same on mine. I also used the same video! ccasion14: They really add to the look of the car and its subtle things like this that help the car stand out from all the other Cruzes on the road.

 

[Merc6]

I really like the chrome strip door handles. I did the same on mine. I also used the same video! ccasion14: They really add to the look of the car and its subtle things like this that help the car stand out from all the other Cruzes on the road.

When I wanted the door handles I also wanted the chrome strips on the bottom. Now that the handles are on, I believe that may be too much chrome even if it's OEM.

 

[trevor_geiger]

Well done! You've done a great job so far!

 

[Blue Angel]

Nice job so far!

Your pic of the muffler from the rear illustrates exactly why I'm going to paint my muffler black. Every time I'm behind another Cruze all I can see is that bright silver muffler hanging down. Looks terrible! It would be especially bad looking on a car with the lower rear facia painted black, as I plan to do someday.

 

[Merc6]

Nice job so far!

Your pic of the muffler from the rear illustrates exactly why I'm going to paint my muffler black. Every time I'm behind another Cruze all I can see is that bright silver muffler hanging down. Looks terrible! It would be especially bad looking on a car with the lower rear facia painted black, as I plan to do someday.

I recently repainted the BBQ grill with hi temp black and silver. The thought came across my mind as my Subaru had all black exhaust till rust got to it. I ran out of black and didn't want to start another project before going to bed from night shift.





I also did that with my 1st car, dodge neon. That muffler was the same but larger. Looked like an up skirt shot with bright silver depends on.


Sent from my iFail 5s