Turbo I, Mike's build thread

[mja]

Thanks for stopping by to check out my mod thread.

The car when I first bought it in April of 2014, no plates yet!

My favorite picture of the sonic as it was when I bought it, outside Minute Maid Park (the Astros ballpark) in Houston.

Original mod list, from AndrewGS' thread:
All-LED Lighting (Except Forward)
PIAA JDM Forward Lighting
LS Window Molding
Window Tint
GM Fog Lights
GM Chrome Insert Door Handles
GM Chrome Mirror Caps
Chrome Hatch Trim
GM Splash Guards
GM sunglasses holder
ECO Emblem (Replaced LT Emblem)
PIAA Superior Bass Horns
Cruze ECO Wheels
GM Sport Pedal Covers
DDMWorks Resonator-Only Cat-Back

If you're interested in these, check out the thread below. Thanks to AndrewGS for all the mods!
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/build-threads/745-my-mod-thread.html

 

[mja]

The full current mod list:
Updated 3/3/18

Exterior:
BNR shark fin antenna
HID low beams, custom projectors
GM Korea power folding/blinker mirrors + chrome caps
JDM PIAA 3500k high beams
VLED Micro LED 5000k H11 fog lights
VLED V3 Triton rear brake, front/rear turn lights
GM chrome insert door handles
GM splash guards
Aftermarket Korean chrome mirror caps
GM chrome hatch trim
ECO emblem
PIAA horns
LS window molding

Wheels/tires/suspension:
Cruze ECO wheels
205/50/17 Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season tires
GM Sport Suspension Kit, 0.8" drop

Engine/exhaust:
BNR EFI live tune
BNR GTX turbo kit
Bosch 42# fuel injectors
BNR midpipe
BNR cat delete pipe
ZZP downpipe
DDM resonator only cat-back exhaust
MPFab intake
MPFab garrett intercooler kit
DDMworks coil cover

Interior:
Center console/armrest
Limo tint - rear 3 windows, tint strip on front windshield
Headrest mod
Weathertech digital fit floor mats
GM sunglasses holder
GM sport pedal covers

Stereo:
Pioneer AVH-4200NEX
Belkin Miracast wifi adapter
4x Kicker DS65 Coax 'CS'
Rockford Fosgate PBR 300x4 amp
1x Rockford Fosgate Punch P3 Shallow 10" 300-W & box
Rockford Fosgate PBR 300x1 amp

Other:
Estimate curb weight 2,680 lbs with parts added + weight reduction
Cruze ECO underbody panels

 

[mja]

Beastlick test fit:

Can't wait to install these, thanks Brett!

Here's the reference for where I ordered my parts, contact Beastlick on the forum if you're interested in HID's.
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/co...-xenon-mini-stage-3-kit-d2s.html#.VQML2OGSY90

Saikou Michi does custom order catch cans, they take a while but are top notch. If you'd like one of these, contact me for measurements.
Saikou Michi Co. Home

The headrest mod. Thanks to Stimpy2301 for the sticky!
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...n/15900-headrest-insanity-finally-solved.html

Floor mats - will update with pic later.
2012 Chevrolet Sonic | Floor Mats - Laser measured floor mats for a perfect fit | WeatherTech.com

BNR shark fin antenna - will update w/ pic later.
http://store.badnewsracing.net/Chevrolet-CruzeSonic-Shark-Fin-Antenna_p_22.html

 

[dkennedy1989]

I see you put Pirelli tires on your car, how do you like them? I have Toyo Proxes 4 Plus on my car on the front 2 tires for now, hated the stock rubber that came on my Sonic RS.

 

[mja]

I see you put Pirelli tires on your car, how do you like them? I have Toyo Proxes 4 Plus on my car on the front 2 tires for now, hated the stock rubber that came on my Sonic RS.

I like these better than the previous ones that were on the car, Bridgestone Ecopia's. The P7's have given me a few tanks up to 48-49 mpg which I didn't see with the Ecopia's, which are specifically designed and marketed as 'mpg' tires. The P7's also soak up bumps and potholes better than the previous tires, the ride is much comfier even with my sidewall of I think 45 series (17" wheels?), and handling is worlds apart, it's much better now. It's an all weather tire and I've yet to hydroplane even in tricky situations ...Houston is a good measure for this since it doesn't stop raining incessantly for 11 months of the year. I wouldn't know how they perform in cold weather.

All around, these are the best tires I've ever bought. Definitely not a good track/performance tire but great for everyday driving. With a 70k mile warranty it's nearly as good as a high end Michelin warranty.

 

[AndrewGS]

Nice car, bro!

I'm glad you got a build thread going to highlight the changes.

 

[mja]

Nice car, bro!

I'm glad you got a build thread going to highlight the changes.

Thanks Andrew! I figured it was about time

 

[mja]

Trifecta tune.

This will explain. I was on my best tank so far, seeing a solid 50mpg about 3/4 of a tank down.

Reset the DIC after uploading the tune - 15 mpg opcorn:

Thanks a TON to AndrewGS for emails back and forth to trifecta, and EPYON96R for loading it up!! Ya'll are the best

My thoughts on the tune -
It transforms the 1.4T into a respectable powerplant for passing and driving around town and such. No more v6 cars leaving it in the dust. It doesn't make it into a street machine. But... what I like better is with using low throttle and shifting under 1500 rpm I'm seeing much better mpg than before. I think 40mpg should be relatively easy to achieve even with a few fun times on the throttle per tank, but I dont' know if the DIC is off compared to pre-tune. Will see after a few fill ups.

 

[mja]

These pics are long overdue, Beastlick did a gorgeous job on the headlights. My fave mod by far, and I can SEE at night.

...lol should probs adjust those fogs ^^^

 

[mja]

DLS MB6.2 speakers:

I dremeled out the stock speakers and used the plastic housings and stock connectors to mount these up. Here's a guy that had fun with a dremel too, can search the forum for more speaker-mounting info:
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/do-yourself-articles/8606-my-sound-system-install.html


Just have the speakers for now, haven't installed the tweeters/crossovers yet, or an amp I have sitting on my floor :/ A big improvement over stock as-is, I can roll the windows down and hear my music normally on the highway, which was one big issue I had with the stock speakers, and they give a lot of midrange a little bit of bass.

 

[mja]

I couldn't fill one hand with the number of times I've had people in the backseat of my car so... weightloss:

70 lbs total removed, weighed on a bathroom scale. (Rear seats, buckles/brackets, trunk trim pieces, tools/jack)
-15 lbs? for the zzp cat-back resonator exhaust that was installed by Andrew.
-30 lbs spare?

I've added about 30+ lbs of stuff:
-Floor mats, speakers, oil catch can, HID's, fogs, wheels/tires, mexi blanket.

Original: 2720ish
Current: 2640 lbs
Goal: 2550 lbs

 

[mja]

Here's the ebay-special armrest:

love it

 

[AndrewGS]

Lookin' good!

 

[mja]

Lookin' good!

Thanks bro, I saw that BNR is offering a turbo upgrade/tune for around 200+hp... gota get the car ready opcorn:

 

[mja]

Aero mods begin, underbody tray from a Cruze eco:

I just got the passenger side since it was a steal on ebay. If this plan is a fail, not out too much money. The panel is really light and a lot bigger than I thought. It's some type of fiber, doesn't feel like plastic.

Will do a test fit & trim this Sunday. If it works, I'll take some pics and make a thread for it. Broke a water pipe for my sprinkler system this week, so will hafta get to that first on my 1 day/wk off :blankface:

 

[carsNskis]

Great idea, looking forward to seeing the results!

 

[mja]

Great idea, looking forward to seeing the results!

Thanks! It'll be interesting to see how it fits.

Some numbers:

1st gen cruze:
Width:70.7"
Height: 58.7", 58.1" (eco)
Length: 181"

Sonic:
Width: 68.3"
Height: 59.7", 59.3" (RS)
Length: 159" (hatch), 173.1" (sedan)

The only reasonable solution from this data is to lower the car to match the cruze's height

 

[mja]

Decided not to do a write up on the eco underbody trays, because unfortunately it's not a simple bolt and go with a few cuts.

Jack up the car and started cutting, metal shears work well for this. Patience is the most important tool. This wasn't the final product, but you get the idea:

The material is fiberglass, but it's different than I'm used to, it's a soft fiber. I'll glass in those big indents/holes later on when I get the time.

I used 2 bolt locations on the unibody beams? that had small drilled holes with a larger hole next to it so you can sink a bolt if you can fit your fingers in there. There's only 2 locations for this. A third bolt hole I drilled in the exhaust shield (in what would be a trans tunnel). Spacers/lock washers to hold the panel in place.

Bolting it in:

Drilled a small hole in I'm guessing the plastic fuel pump shield at the passenger rear. A plastic rivet connects the back tab to that panel:

At this point I ran out of bolt locations, so used 3M tape around the edges, pressed on with a jack. There's no pics of the long seam under the doors, but it's pressed on with 3M too. 3M + fiberglass don't mix well:

View from rear:

View from front:

For perspective, here's the drivers side w/out panel (can also see one of the tiny bolt holes at the top of the pic that was used to drop a bolt through):

 

[troy_audi0]

Nice being an "Im guessing better MPG? plus a cleaner underside.. looks good.

 

[mja]

Nice being an "Im guessing better MPG? plus a cleaner underside.. looks good.

Thanks, yes hoping for some MPG increase when it's all done, the plan:
- cruze eco underbody trays
- upper grille block
- Aluminum rear underbody tray
- custom rear spoiler, extended 3-4"
- lowering (either GM kit or coilovers), weight reduction

The MPG idea may go out the window with more power looking at BNR's kit since it should keep similar MPG to stock, instead of a turbo upgrade which would kill MPG.