Chevy Aveo hop up?

I have been lookin around and a TON of Chevy Aveos are out there for under a grand--many under or around 500$. These cars are in good shape except for the fact that in every case, the motor is toast. I guess the timing belt really is the weak point in these lil motors.

So assuming that you pick one up for cheap enough what are your options for engine swaps. I think it the car is Daewoo based (could be wrong there) and the motors share lineage with Hyundai engines. So options there.

What engines/ trannys can you swap into these suckers? Not looking for a rocket but just something that can scoot and be a lil bit fun. Suspension?

What swaps in between with other cars?

Im not starting this thread to discuss how crappy the Aveo is....hell this is GRM where we glorify Yugos and sub $20XX cars.

Thoughts? Info?

Thanks

N*?

Where's the guy that had the DaeWoo project car in Korea? He can help!

Forget swap though, I'd make one of those suckers rear-engine. They are even already kind of styled for it.

Apparently, the 2 litre from the Chevrolet Optra can be dropped in. You need everything though, engine ,all ancillaries,ecu, etc. Now, you aren't going to find an Optra in Ohio, but they were available in Canada.

http://daewootech.com/forum/index.php

You may be able to find some info there. There is also an Aveo forum, but there isn't a whole lot of modding, or tech expertise. I have ground some cams for them, and do have some excellent profiles. I'm thinking the usual stuff would work. The Sprongl's made their car work VERY well against this WRX

Contact this guy, and let us know what he has

http://daewootech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14140

Where are these $500 Aveo's at?

The cheapest Aveo listed on craigslist in Chicago is $3900. The rest are $8-10,000.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/2413623812.html

Those cars suffered the same fate that many Yugos did. They were so cheap that many people considered them disposable, and opted not to change the timing belt and other maintainence. So come time for a rebuild after a timing SNAFU, people sometimes just salvaging them.

Personally, I think one with a lil shot of spray would be fun until it blows up... again.

All I know is a light front end hit will total one. Happened to my coworker.

I had an Aveo rental car once...I was underwhelmed.

pete240z wrote: Where are these $500 Aveo's at? The cheapest Aveo listed on craigslist in Chicago is $3900. The rest are $8-10,000. http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/2413623812.html

no kidding...cheapest I found was 1900... needs a little buffing

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/2347467587.html

I want to cheaply build one for B-spec racing...

I keep hearing rumors of Ecotec swaps in these. Never seen one documented... but that'd be one helluva little stormer.

Zomby woof wrote: The Sprongl's made their car work VERY well against this WRX

What CAN'T Sprongl do?

BoostedBrandon wrote: Those cars suffered the same fate that many Yugos did. They were so cheap that many people considered them disposable, and opted not to change the timing belt and other maintainence. So come time for a rebuild after a timing SNAFU, people sometimes just salvaging them. Personally, I think one with a lil shot of spray would be fun until it blows up... again.

some dealers were giving them away for free if you bought a full size truck at sticker price. well, they were until GM found out about it and put a stop to it because they thought it cheapened the Aveo brand or something..

i wonder how that worked from the financing end- did you have a lien on both vehicles, or was the Aveo legally yours free and clear?

stuart in mn wrote: I had an Aveo rental car once...I was underwhelmed.

Reminds me of my Ex B-I-L. Had a Daewoo that died on him for some reason I forget. The shop couldn't get the parts to fix it. He swore up and down about he will never buy one again, ect. 2-3 years later he had a rental Aveo and loved it to the point of almost buying one.

"Pat, you know that it is just another Daewoo with a bowtie on it"

"What?"

After renting one, I wouldn't bother.

Steering was vaque, over boosted and lacking feel.

Engine was noisy, transmission didn't want to shift very well.

I love small, cheap cars, but they have to have a soul. They have to want to be driven hard and they have to reward that hard driving with a smile in my face. Not a frown.

turboswede wrote: I love small, cheap cars, but they have to have a soul. They have to want to be driven hard and they have to reward that hard driving with a smile in my face. Not a frown.

My long lost, obscenely rusty B12 Sentra base 2dr comes to mind. No front sway bar and zero options made every road a rally stage. I also had a '98 Tercel coupe that was an absolute blast(except in a straight line) in stock form with the only mods consisting of up'd tire pressure and a distinct lack of muffler.

I long for the cheap front drivers of yesteryear that had a touch of personality... The Aveo/Versa generation isn't quite doing it for me.

ValuePack wrote:

turboswede wrote: I love small, cheap cars, but they have to have a soul. They have to want to be driven hard and they have to reward that hard driving with a smile in my face. Not a frown.

My long lost, obscenely rusty B12 Sentra base 2dr comes to mind. No front sway bar and zero options made *every* road a rally stage. I also had a '98 Tercel coupe that was an absolute blast(except in a straight line) in stock form with the only mods consisting of up'd tire pressure and a distinct lack of muffler. I long for the cheap front drivers of yesteryear that had a touch of personality... The Aveo/Versa generation isn't quite doing it for me.

Looking forward to the Fiat 500

I also had a '98 Tercel coupe that was an absolute blast(except in a straight line) in stock form with the only mods consisting of up'd tire pressure and a distinct lack of muffler.

I don't know. My son had one of those (recommended by me), and it was, IMO, one of the worst cars I've ever driven, and that says a lot, because I've driven a lot of junk. The whole time he drove it, I worried about his welfare. That thing handled so poorly, I would characterize it as unsafe.

I've done a lot since, to make up for that bad recommendation.

Zomby woof wrote:

I also had a '98 Tercel coupe that was an absolute blast(except in a straight line) in stock form with the only mods consisting of up'd tire pressure and a distinct lack of muffler.

I don't know. My son had one of those (recommended by me), and it was, IMO, one of the worst cars I've ever driven, and that says a lot, because I've driven a lot of junk. The whole time he drove it, I worried about his welfare. That thing handled so poorly, I would characterize it as unsafe. I've done a lot since, to make up for that bad recommendation.

Really? I loved mine, granted it had a very easy life before I did awful, awful things to it. What year? The '91-'94 cars were woefully under-suspended, but the later '95-98('99 in Canada) cars were heaps of fun with 185/60/14s('98/Blackhawk-only in the US), fresh struts/front end bits. Aftermarket swaybars and brakes for the JDM Starlet GT would've completed the car, IMO. I never had the cajones to find the handling limit on mine after mounting up Z rated 195/50/15s and dialing in some camber.

I'd never want to be T-boned in one, mind...

The answer is never Aveo.

In reply to poopshovel: As an Aveo owner (wife's car) I concure completely. The suspension is soft and moves around and is also quite weak. Every time the car clips a curb I have to replace some suspension part. I absolutely hate that car but we are to cheap to replace it. If you get one and need parts I have a complete 08 parts car that was rolled with 18,000 miles on it. I got it just for the spare engine and suspension parts. Did I mention the are slow and vague? I considered trying to autocroos it but decided it probably wouldn't hold up to the abuse.

Years ago, Shortly after I wrecked my WRX I rented an Aveo to get around while I sorted out my car situation. Shortly after dropping my daughter off at school I was rear ended by a Korean lady in a Toyota 4 runner, it was a relatively light hit but it positively demolished the rear hatch.

The story does have a happy ending, when I returned to the rental company they did not have many cars available, so they asked if I would be willing to rent the miata, of course they gave me a discount...

Aveo horror stories aside, I say do it! The more hatefull the car the more fun it is to hop it up and watch people go, WTF?

Capt Slow wrote: Aveo horror stories aside, I say do it! The more hatefull the car the more fun it is to hop it up and watch people go, WTF?

You make a convincing argument there. It's probably why I'm consistently wanting to do bad things to Festivas. TERRIBLE cars in stock form IMO, but a little swap here and a little massage there, and we might have something.