Broke the Cruze 1.8 Turbo at the 1/8th Mile Next Weakest Link Found Upgrades in the Works!

I broke the Cruze 1.8 Turbo at the 1/8th Mile Track. Next weakest link found so it's time to make some more upgrades!
Installing the $113 eBay Turbo on the Chevy Cruze 1.8 Daily Driver Part 1 - • Installing the $113 eB...
The eBay Turbo is Building BOOST!!! Chevy Cruze 1.8 Daily Driver Build - • The eBay Turbo is Buil...
PCV Issues we had - • Something Went WRONG w...
Making an equal length turbo manifold - • How to Make a DIY Turb...
Making a log style turbo manifold - • The DIY Turbo Manifold...
Custom Forged JE Pistons - • Custom Forged JE Pisto...
How to Install an Upgraded Fuel Pump - • How to Install a Repla...
Custom Camshafts for the 1.8 Cruze - • My Reground Camshafts ...
Upgraded Stage 5 Clutch and Aluminum Single Mass Flywheel - • Single Mass Aluminum F...
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[@djmyth84]

Time for a update video on how yourself is doing now. We know the last year has been hard and we want you to have a great life and continue making the great content you make. You are such a great builder buddy

[@scottc78]

I agree, going custom dog box would not only be some cool content for the channel, but help prevent more transmission issues hopefully. I say go for it!

[@cmattdabrat]

I think so too! Certainly could just keep installing stock transmissions are breaking them, but I think it'll be worth the time to source a vendor to help me create a dog gear set. Just will take some R&D.

[@johnsnow1355]

@@cmattdabrat just depends on the budget. The stock trans should last if u don't try to get the 60ft dumping the clutch. Slow off the line and getting into it after the cars rolling will prevent shock loading the transmission so u can work on the tune. Personally I would source another transmission just to get the car driving so u can keep pumping out videos to grow the channel more and help u smooth out the ecu issues

[@mrrpm246246]

​@@cmattdabratlook to Europe for a more stout gear box either sabbs Vauxhall or Opel they are all GM so I'm relatively sure one should work

[@cmattdabrat]

I appreciate it @@mrrpm246246 just in the process of saving and waiting for it to cool down here in Houston. I've looked into the F40, but haven't pulled the trigger on one yet.

[@ThankMeNowBro]

Another lesson in the books! It's all trial and error and I wish I could mess with my Cruze they way you are! Way to stay positive through it all

[@cmattdabrat]

Thanks! I've been having fun driving the car off camera tuning, which is a tedious process, but ready to get some runs in, and... well... lol. Going into this stuff, definitely takes a positive mindset to keep going. I'm enjoying the process of getting this platform to achieve my goals.

[@modeverything1]

May not have been a 1/8th record, but it might be fastest broken trans with street tires! I would get an adapter made to use a transmission that has more aftermarket like for a k-series. Or maybe see if you can get an f23 to work?

[@sebastiansmithvw7155]

Glad to have you back keep them videos coming

[@ravensulaiman5322]

Been watching your journey. Dont give up you'll get er sorted! Great video

[@cmattdabrat]

Thank you! Will do. Just sorting some life stuff out atm. :) Racing is an expensive hobby lol.

[@802Garage]

Dang man I wanna see this thing rip!

[@cmattdabrat]

Me too! I should have recorded more just driving around the street stuff. It's been running well and have put well over 3k miles on it, but a lot of it has been testing and tuning... and learning how to tune. She's pretty dialed aside from getting it on a dyno to see what it likes for timing and the VVT sweep on both intake and exhaust cams.

[@802Garage]

@@cmattdabrat Well can't wait to see more.

[@superkampion]

DO NOT GIVE UP! I Hope these words can encourage you to continue the journey, you're amazing dude, I've been following you since the early days.

[@cmattdabrat]

Thanks! Not giving up by any means. Just a setback I'll resolve.

[@Ismaak5]

Get a transmission out of a mini cooper s r32. Those things can handle 300 to 400 hp stock. Very similar design to the m32 box too

[@cmattdabrat]

I think they're the F40 trans? But looking into it!

[@Slo_300c]

Bin 4 months since we last heard from you man hope all is well I’m praying for you and your family

[@cmattdabrat]

I'll have a video up soon! It's just been in the 100's lately, but weather is getting cooler. Also had a lot of life changes that made money tight. Got plenty coming this next more and moving forward. Also just needed time to mentally heal.

[@SaneCayne]

These things are lemons from the factory. (Which I only learned after I bought my '13 LT four years ago.🙄) So hot-rodding one is something I'd never consider. I found your channel a couple years back and have been following your progress ever since. So keep fightin' the good fight! There's gotta be a decent aftermarket or heavier-duty OE trans you could swap in place of the stock unit.

[@cmattdabrat]

Thanks! You're right about that. It's been a fun project though and just takes some digging to find the next stronger part.

[@victorwilks88]

good luck buddy

[@mastercricket7626]

Hope u doing well broski. Look forword to a update from ya even if just a whats up update lol ... Peace n love bro keep it rad stay safe and build on l8z fam

[@jaycalibre609]

The goat has dropped another gem

[@cmattdabrat]

LOL, thanks!

[@builtbybagsy]

Ouch. Always something with this build. Looking forward to he day it all comes together. Just happy to see you still keeping on keeping on at this point. As for ecu, whatever your local tuner recommends. Here it would be Haltech, as for the states?

[@cmattdabrat]

True! All part of it. She's been doing well on the streets, which I should have recorded more, but had just been enjoying driving it and just posting highlight moments, or trial and error stuff.

[@dripperformanceandlighting5459]

Not knowledged in trans stuff, but you could just get some billet gears made to replace the stock weak ones. Also get a billet shaft (the shaft that goes through all the gear rings). Would be WAY cheaper than a dog box.

[@cmattdabrat]

That's what I'm looking into. Although, dog engagement so I could shift without having to wait for the synocros to mesh. I was already getting 4th gear syncro grinds. Too much RPMs.

[@dripperformanceandlighting5459]

@@cmattdabrat upgrade to carbon syncros. I get most of my info from boosted boyz. They experimented with forged gears and dog boxes. Of course they went to dog boxes but they are all running 800+whp

[@dripperformanceandlighting5459]

@@cmattdabrat just remember, if you got with a dog box setup, you have to shift it hard and fast every time. Dog box doesnt like slow shifts.

[@technicallyeco.2751]

Been miss your videos man🤙🤙

[@basedemt6608]

You might try a set of liberty face-plated gears too. Waaaaay cheaper than a dogbox and can help hold more power than OEM/Synchro gears.

[@cmattdabrat]

Thanks! I'll check em out. Got to wait until my finances are looking a little better.

[@AllTheBoost]

Dam bro I used to check up on you all the time to see what was next. Life sucks I know. Miss you bud

[@cmattdabrat]

Back at it! I hear that.

[@Brock_Landers]

Matt I need some longer vidjyas broham. I love these oddball builds, but especially when it's built by such a great guy. I always like to see the ins and outs of these cool builds.

[@bryarhattabaugh7313]

It’s takes a real car mechanic to make a slow ass car fast for sure!!!

[@cmattdabrat]

I could do that. What would you like to see? I could do a deep dive.

[@jessemshelton]

There are a lot of m32 resources out there. There are like 6 different options for the varying years/trims/models, but just type your model number from the trans sticker and you will get a lot of upgrade options, mainly from Europe. I am in this boat as well and have done some research due to a no shift above 4k between 1-2. I'm just going to upgrade the gear set and add a pumped cooling radiator as well, guess they get really hot. Hang in there my dude, she should be a runner! P.S. find a quarter mile to run, 1/8th won't even allow for your +5K boost to shine! Cheers....

[@cmattdabrat]

Thanks! Have looked into it some time ago. The price tag is up there, but worth it. I'd really like to take one of these M32's apart, get measurements, and find an overseas vendor to cut some gears. Heck, it was $380 USD to CNC the parts I designed for the intake. Designing the dogs to be CNC'd, and a gear cutting vendor based on my specs shouldn't be to difficult. Should save $$$ and could potentially turn into some sort of small side business. And down the line, who knows... full CNC bellhousing / figuring out an AWD setup. But one step at a time.

[@cmattdabrat]

Forgot to mention, I agree. I had thought about taking the car to the 1/4 mile, but closest track now is 380 miles away.

[@jessemshelton]

Yeah I had a tab open on my old phone for like a year, lol. It was an upgrade kit for my M32, I just couldn't pull the trigger cause it was like $850! But there's just no way around it, if we are going to make more then 300 HP, we need to solve the drivetrain issue. I know some high end Euro cars use m32's I'm sure there is a solution. Just need to find it

[@reod12x25]

The delayed 1-2 shift above 4k rpm is simply the 2nd gear synchro not being able to handle the inertia of the flywheel. Stepping off the gas prior to shifting helps limit rev hang, actuating the shift lever a little later as the rpms drop and approach the 1000rpm threshold of gear 2 instead of right away, and last an aluminum flywheel all help with the 1-2 shift at speed. The LT manual gearbox has a higher first, while the LS gearbox has the lower first

[@jessemshelton]

@@reod12x25 Lifting before engaging the clutch isnt an option for me, that basically means it's malfunctioning for what I need it to do. You are right about the lighter flywheel but it turns out I was able to reduce the driver demand 0% row to -60 plus a few other table adjustments, and removed a clutch engagement delay I found on the hydraulic line. Shifts 1-2 with no problems now. 👍

[@pelecho]

Yeap… the transmission is gonna be a problem then the axles … best of luck !!!

[@builtbybagsy]

How are you travelling Matt? Hope things are atill doing well.

[@cmattdabrat]

Thanks! Things are getting better. Took a while to heal from everything and get back on my feet. My money was looking funny but going the right direction and I'll get back on the car content once I do.

[@4406bbldb]

Dang I wanted to hear it.

[@cmattdabrat]

Me too!

[@technicallyeco.2751]

Been miss ya videos man 😢

[@cmattdabrat]

I’ll post again in the near future. I’ll do an update.

[@Brock_Landers]

Also, if you dont think that we have ALL gone through some dumb stuff in our goals to obtain that magical quarter or eighth mile trap, then idk what to say bro. All I can say is, "par for the course." It happens ALL the time.

[@cmattdabrat]

True! Broke the diff in my El Camino years ago doing just that. Then upgrade the diff, axels, and TH350 trans / stall. :) All part of the process, so I'm not mad about it. Gives me some more stuff to tinker on and solve.

[@jeankitching8044]

Get the D33 trans that I got in the diesel, 680nm and I haven't broken it yet😂

[@cmattdabrat]

lol, I'm working with a vendor now to turn mine into a dog box.

[@chikunman133]

Hope you're doing well bro

[@cmattdabrat]

Hanging in there! I'll post an update soon. Just taking care of life stuff behind the scenes and getting my money back to where it needs to be.

[@chikunman133]

@@cmattdabrat hell yeah man. Take care of yourself first and foremost. We will all be patiently waiting for if and when you return. Keep your head up

[@davidgriggs3967]

Upgrade your cv's joints and axle while your at it .

[@cmattdabrat]

True! I'll have that done while it's apart.

[@DavidWeinberg-cm9xd]

Sorry to hear that. The trans is the weakest link on the FWD econoboxes? I grenaded the manual on my modified 85' GLH Turbo, also. An LSD is almost mandatory on FWD cars? Wish I had one on my current 04' Focus? It is a horrible right wheel peel deal, at the moment? Good luck, sir.

[@cmattdabrat]

Thanks David! I currently have a LSD, but these boxes are pretty weak. Rated at like 230 tq.

[@franklaun7142]

Stock ecu simple talk to fuel tech transmission good luck

[@technicallyeco.2751]

Make an adapter plate to k series transmission lol an maybe axels

[@cmattdabrat]

LOL, right! Let's see if turning this trans into a dogbox does the trick. Part of me was like, f' it. I'm converting it to RWD hahah

[@djcybercorgi]

Go overkill on the transmission, once you have it built then all you have to worry about is the engine! I had a supercharged S2000 back in the early 00's and I kept blowing up the stock diff and the only option at the time was a custom $8,000 SR240 Diff swap or something like that. I sold the car and went to a Supra!

[@cmattdabrat]

Definitely! Lots of ideas going on. Once the trans is situated, I'd say the only other thing would be creating custom mains with a girdle. So far I've been pushing the 1.8 to the ECU limits and no issues just yet.

[@Savoke]

The overboost code is the most annoying thing to overcome on the cruze lol

[@aniqcubacubajer2074]

Hi mat , i still waiting for u new video

[@cmattdabrat]

Another coming soon.

[@intolstuning3735]

was that the rear 02 sensor hanging under the vehicle ? if so then i know u prob need it plugged in so it dosnt make codes but its also going to think that the sensor is reading super lean all the time compared to the front ones, usually best to have the rear plugged in and in the exhaust just so its reading actual even if disabled in the tune, some ecu dont like big discrepancy's between the front to rear and do weird things maby even the limiting ur seeing at high boost

[@cmattdabrat]

I have both the up and down stream sensors in. The down stream has an extender so it's not see too much.

[@viralspewage]

run what ya brung, Matthew, and then get it re-hung with some new dog ears. do they wobble to and fro like Apollo's?

[@viralspewage]

where did she bleed out through?

[@cmattdabrat]

Got it all sorted out now that I've had a chance to crawl under the car, at least I think. Broke the passenger side axle off right at the splines. I'll report back soon.

[@viralspewage]

Box or wheel side? Knowing a CNC artist is waiting for your request. Billet dog ears FTW! Does Apollo have a six axis in his back pocket? I have a 1.4L LS from '18 waiting on pistons after cyl 1 spit a chunk out. Interested to see GM's LSPI-proofing tune.

[@abigbrain1967]

​@cmattdabrat that's where I broke my axel on the auto....had 32 psi on E85....the record run was just 26 psi on pump gas 93

[@GTsGarageTech]

F40 swap it!! A company also makes straight cut gears for them

[@johnsnow1355]

Oh no 😲 too much sticky for the stock trans

[@cmattdabrat]

Time for a slipper!

[@johnsnow1355]

@@cmattdabrat were u doing a full launch on the two step when it blew up? I hear really good things about ecu master for a aftermarket ecu option.

[@199rocks94]

What ended up being your spark issue?

[@cmattdabrat]

Needed to raise the dwell time in the higher RPM range. Stock it was around 2.5 seconds. Inched it up until it cleared. It's at about 3.8-4 milliseconds.

[@mikes.4811]

If at first ya don't succeed! Is that the M32 transmission?

[@cmattdabrat]

It is! Looking into the upgraded Gen II case and dog gears... a slipper too should help.

[@mikes.4811]

@@cmattdabrat Yeah, I'm not very impressed with the M32. Better 6 speed would be nice!

[@cmattdabrat]

@@mikes.4811 I agree! Been the bearing issues they have, their 230 ft lb torque rating, and heat issues... they need a lot of help. If I didn't already spend $800 on an LSD, Flywheel and clutch $1k, I'd just opt for a F40. Not sure what all swaps over, but I'm betting I'd have to buy those all over ago, figure out a way to stuff it in / mods the subframe, clutch, all that jazz, so just going to source a use M32, take it apart, design some dogs to send overseas. Should be more budget friendly, but time consuming.

[@thepunisher794]

Hi, I have a 2019 Chevy Cruze hatchback automatic. Is there a way to raise the psi up just a little bit? It is a daily driver, but just want a little more power. Looking to get around 200whp or as much as I can without any modifications. l Looking to keep it all stock except for raising the psi, thank you!

[@hagensperry119]

Probably found them by now but @zzperformance is a great platform for all Cruze and sonics. With that being said 200whp is super unrealistic on your Cruze without mods, you might be able to bump psi up with a tune from zzp

[@SaneCayne]

I hit the drag strip about 3-4 times a year and have never once seen a Cruze out there. (Even a stock one.) Do you know of anyone that has had success dialing up the HP on one of these? If so, what did they do for a HD trans solution?

[@cmattdabrat]

ZZP has a sonic that's doing 10's. Same trans, but lots of slipping from a dig, and granny shifts to get the syncros to align up and hold the power. Being able to do quicker shifts, I'm sure would shave off a good amount of time.

[@SaneCayne]

@@cmattdabrat ZZP! Of course! Forgot about them. Good to hear they're still around. They were just getting started when I got my '97 Regal GS back in '00. I used a pulley or two of theirs on my M90. Now those cars (Buick Regal GS and Pontiac GP GTP) had a decent drivetrain you could hop up by 50-75hp and not blow up every time you went to the track. Got my GS down in the mid-13s with some basic mods. 👍

[@johnsnow1355]

@@cmattdabrat going to a automatic is what everyone dose that wants to go actually fast on drag strips. Cleetus McFarland has all automatic vehicles except for Leroy and Leroy is now one of the slowest cars in his drag racing fleet. Shifting gears is fun but for dragstrip straight-line u need to do a auto swap. I would rather see you change the focus to track days and auto cross instead of just flat foot drag racing.

[@nicholascarrillo9462]

Whens the next video

[@flatearthrealm7846]

I have a question if u can answer it ty cause I'm getting some conflicting advice. I'm up in Canada and I'm going to straight pipe right to the back...will it throw codes if I do this? Thx

[@cmattdabrat]

More than likely because the down stream sensor will see higher flow and will have an incomplete catalyst error.

[@flatearthrealm7846]

@@cmattdabrat is there any way a tune can negotiate that? Reprogram the ecu?

[@franklaun7142]

Stock ecu simple talk to fuel tech

[@w.r.1356]

🤘😎🤘

[@marcosvillalobos2897]

Why you stop making videos? I use to watch your videos while I made glasses

[@cmattdabrat]

I'm going to start making more again. I'll catch everyone up. Lot's of life changes, so money has been tight, and it's been really hot here in Houston.

[@arthurhenderson3853]

Dog gears all the way

[@cmattdabrat]

I'm thinking so as well!

[@azzmomootr]

And aftermarket ecu

[@azzmomootr]

Yes custom box do it

[@victorwilks88]

25 k subz

[@cmattdabrat]

Yes! I'll do a live stream soon to celebrate.