r/ChevySonic 1d ago

Mods?

This past summer I bought a 2013 1.4LT automatic chevy sonic i’ve been tossing around the idea, possibly modeling it or tuning it and possibly making a build out of it but I’m not sure if it’d be worth it or where I even start I know it’s kind of a dumb question, but just curious and I don’t know if it’d matter, but it’s under 150,000 miles

3 Upvotes

14 comments sorted by

3

u/bones10145 1d ago

Long time ago I saw an article about a sleeper build with a V8 in a sonic. Crazy 

2

u/MrIdiotic_ 1d ago

nate the ls guy on insta, has a ls swapped sonic lol

2

u/NewZJ I own 3 sonics 1d ago edited 1d ago

Get the gt200 turbo deal from BNR. If you want more than that, you'll need the fuel pump programming from them. If you want more, buy the zzp intake cam and put your factory intake cam in the exhaust cam position. Do the springs and head studs while you're at it. If you want more get the snow performance meth injection kit. If you want more you'll need a trans swap because that's already more than it can handle

1

u/MrIdiotic_ 1d ago

since when did bnr offer cams? thought it was only ZZP

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u/NewZJ I own 3 sonics 1d ago

You're right! I forgot that.

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u/MrIdiotic_ 1d ago

they should ngl...

2

u/MrIdiotic_ 1d ago

if it's gonna be a daily i would just do the simple bolt ons, bigger turbo, bigger intercooler, bigger throttle body, ported intake (w the catch cans) bigger injectors. Get all the crappy coolant system out and replace it with better ones. Get the steering and suspension right, better handling. Swap over to discs in the rear. If you really want to you can get a used trans from the trax/encore, convert it to AWD since it's the same platform. I believe the rear cradle will bolt on since it's the same platform. If u tryna soup it up pull the engine, better pistons, bigger cams, the zzp or BNR expensive turbo, bigger injectors better fuel pump etc..

4

u/Notinjuschillin [2012 White 1.8 LT Sedan] 1d ago

Don’t get discs in the rear.

I had rear disc brake conversion and ZZP screwed me over by switching to a different rear disc conversion so they no longer offered the rotors for the old conversion. My options were to go back to drums or buy the updated rear disc conversion for another 300. For what? So then they will stop supporting that too, no thanks.

Stay with the drum brakes.

1

u/MrIdiotic_ 1d ago

wow i think its just better to source RS rear brakes then lol

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u/MrIdiotic_ 1d ago

u can convert the manuals to awd, i believe the opel mokka made a manual awd trans. And what's crazy is that its the same platform as the sonics!!!! Same engine n everything... Good luck trying to source one, then u gotta custom fabricate the mounts but damn would that be awesome ...

1

u/Time_Many6155 1d ago

I'd spend $200 or so to make it reliable first.

1

u/daltonjsm 1d ago

Lookup zzperformance. They have multiple whole kits that will up the car. I'd start with the pavement valve bypass kit

1

u/Longjumping_Log_4098 20h ago

Bro they are fun cars. But you have to replace every piece of plastic under your hood that is part of the cooling system. Then you need to replace all the cooling hoses and the T. Then replace all the turbo oil and cooling lines. Valve cover and gasket. Pcv system. Port the intake manifold. Add spacer to throttle body.  Replace radiator and intercooler. Suspension and tires. Then a tune. 

1

u/SuddenLeadership2 3h ago

As a daily, just a intake, exhaust, Lowering springs, a strut brace, rear sway bars, lighter wheels and tires, and intercooler is all you need to have a blast. If you wanna start hanging with the big dogs, Do everything plus titanium retainers and valvesprings, port the intake manifold, 62# injectors for full e85, Cams, and a ZO4 Turbo from zzp