2013 Chevy Cruze Mod Thread

[Eastwood]

Just getting the thread started for now. Pictures and more to follow. This will be a WIP thread for a little bit. I'll keep this first post updated as things progress. This is my first real mod that's required any creation on my part. I've had the tires aired up and have been working on the driver for a while now.

I don't have the Cruze Eco, which has automatic adjustable grill blocks in front of the radiator, so I'm making my own. I'm doing it a bit different from other Cruze owners and putting my blocks in front of the grill. Others I've seen have placed theirs on the backside of the grill. I'm interested in aero mods as well, so that's why I'm putting them in front.

Grill Covers

Here's what I've started with:



Actual openings to the radiator are outlined in yellow.

Materials:

• Poster board
• Painter's tape
• Pencil
• Box cutter
• Coroplast
• Black Plastidip
• Adhesive backed velcro strips

I started by taping some poster board to the front of the car and quickly trimming it down to a rough outline for each grill. Then I took a pencil and pushed in to trace the line that I wanted for the coroplast. Next was cut, test fit, trim, etc.



With that done, I taped the template onto the coroplast and went to work with the box cutter. More test fitting and slight trimming followed.



Rinse and repeat for the upper and lower grills.



Here's some of the velro going on to the grill (more velcro at left and right edges added after this picture):



And here are the plastidiped grill covers on the car:

[Eastwood]

Excellent suggestion. I'm using the same width as the Eco model's opening, basically stretching from the farthest tip on the left and right of the Chevy bowtie, but mine is only about half as tall.

[Eastwood]

Here are a few pictures from the process.

Tracing and trimming.



Transfer template shape to coroplast.



All done minus black plastidip and velcro backings.

[Eastwood]

Getting ready to do the rear wheel air deflectors.

Here's a picture of the rear wheel air deflectors on a Cruze Eco, courtesy of user 99LeCouch:



Is it just me, or could that go further towards the outside of the car? It's missing almost a 1/3 of the tire. Surely that's not the best that can be done?

Here's what it looks like from the other side on my non-Eco Cruze:



Notice the gap between the side skirt and the wheel well.

[California98Civic]

Nice. Subscribed.

[BrandonMods]

Hi Eastwood. I have a 2013 Cruze 1LT. Mine is non-eco and it came from factory with the tire spats. I wonder why yours did not.

[Eastwood]

Originally Posted by BrandonMods

Hi Eastwood. I have a 2013 Cruze 1LT. Mine is non-eco and it came from factory with the tire spats. I wonder why yours did not.

Hey Brandon. Mine has the RS trim so it's a little different than a 1LT. I've seen other 1LTs with them, but no 1LT RS's with spats on all four tires. The side skirt is different, so that may be the contributing factor to lacking the spats.

[BrandonMods]

In the next few mods I had planned to do was concerning the tire spats. How do you plan on a-fixing them your to your cruze? Im not so sure if I feel comfortable drilling into mine. However i'm open to suggestion on that one. Also are you going to use coroplast or another material for the tire spats? How are the tires treating you at 50 psi? I assume you have the 215/60/16s' like I do.

[Eastwood]

Given the odd shape, I'll probably have to make something to take up the space in order to provide a flat surface to attach the air deflector. Otherwise it will only cover up 2/3 of the tire like in that picture from above.

Others have had success with double-sided tape. I do have some double-sided duct tape. I might also try some industrial strength velcro left over from doing the grill blocks. I'll use coroplast or cardboard. Either one I'll coat with black Plastidip to match the rest of the car and to waterproof/protect from the elements in the case of using cardboard.

The 50 psi has been great. I've found it makes a huge difference in coasting and thus mpg. Yep, same tires and probably the same wheels.

[BrandonMods]

I have been running my tires at 40 psi just to be cautious but if you say they roll good it looks like im firing up my air compressor tomorrow morning before I head into work. Do you have your grill blocks installed yet? If you do how is the preliminary data looking for engine coolant temp? I have long waned to block off the lower grill area but am unsure how the intercooler will handle it.