I Need More Power!! Its A Must!!!

1202 Views 14 Replies 9 Participants Last post by wait4me6920, Nov 23, 2005

jonnyd

Discussion Starter · Nov 22, 2005

Ok so I have a 2003 3.2L..... I was reading some other threads on here... I just really need more power. I can't buy another car yet, because I JUST bought this one. I know the cts does 6.6 0-60....I wonder if somehow, without spending 7 grand on a supercharger to get it under 6 seconds...maybe atleast 5.9 or even 6 flat!! and of course i know it depends on the driver as well. I mostly liked the CTS because the looks....but this power just isnt cutting it! What do I do!?!

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TripleOught

· #2 · Nov 22, 2005

we have a crap-load of threads concerning intakes and exhausts. for the money, i strongly suggest you go with those 2 options first. just to make your thread searching a little easier, try some of these for exhausts

stock 3.6L duals on the 3.2L
V exhaust on 3.6L or 3.2L
corsa for 3.2L
borla for 3.2L
b&b for 3.2L

the first 2 will save you a bunch of money, but i don't think you'll be getting the HP or tuned sound as you will from the manufactured exhausts (of course they cost considerably more).

for intakes, you basically have 3 options...
tonya mod (a mod using the stock airbox and high flow filter)
volant CIA (a favorite among the users here)
k&n fipk (may be more powerful, but considered to be much louder than desirable)

try researching the 3 name brand exhausts and 2 intakes online from their websites also.

goodluck

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skepticman

· #3 · Nov 22, 2005

The 3.6L engine's 0-60 has been measured in various reviews from low to high 6 seconds. The 3.2L engine usually measures low to mid 7 seconds and high 6 seconds at best.

I think forced induction or nitrous are the only way that a 3.2L is going to get into the low 6 or high 5 second range. This would risk damaging the transmission or differential. You would also probably need wider rear tires to handle the power increase.

dqw1

· #4 · Nov 22, 2005

Any chance you can trade up for a V? There are some excellent prices out there and 400hp will have you addicted and there's room for mod's.

odysseus

· #5 · Nov 23, 2005

Unfortunately, there's no way to get anywhere near a 6 flat zero to 60 time out of the 3.2L. The only real mods we can do are intake and exhaust, which increase HP 10 to 12%. You'll need to be pushing well upwards of 300 HP to get under 6 seconds. (The 400 HP V does it in the low to mid 5's depending on the driver). The stock 3.2L car does it in a hair over 7 with 220 HP. With the Borla exhaust and a cold air intake, my 3.2L car just dyno'ed at a mere ~250 HP (203 RWHP).

Spend some time reading through the forum. These mods have been intimately discussed over the past two years. Incidentally, no one makes a supercharger for our V6's any more, 3.2L or 3.6L. The rest of the drivetrain probably won't take that much power anyway. Pete at Cadillac Motorsports is rumored to be soon realeasing his electric supercharger for somewhere in the $2300 range for an 80 HP increase. He's developing it for the 3.6L, but it should be adaptable to the 3.2L car. It's only good for 15 second bursts, though, and not continuous use.

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Slywun

· #6 · Nov 23, 2005

N2O is always an option....

skepticman

· #7 · Nov 23, 2005

odysseus said:
(The 400 HP V does it in the low to mid 5's depending on the driver).

GM claims all the V-series cars are under 5 seconds. My 2005 CTS brochure claims 4.6 seconds for the CTS-V. But with the wheel hop problem and probable wheel spin at launch, 5+ seconds might be more realistic on the street.

There aren't too many choices for affordable sedans that can do 6 seconds flat or less. The 330i, G35 or TL might be close. The new IS350 is well under 6, but probably expensive with options. There are sub-luxury cars like the Charger, Grand Prix GXP and Impala SS. Much more expensive sedans like the S4 or M5 are under 5 seconds.

RobertCTS

· #8 · Nov 23, 2005

Pete in his testing his ESC has discovered the CTS rear differential is only good for about 300HP before it breaks. He's now working on a differential cradle to reinforce the differential. So the ESC may still be a ways off.

SDMarine has taken it about a far as you can.

jonnyd

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 23, 2005

well isnt that just sharty

See, my car is a company car...and since i just got it like 2 months ago...I cant really sell it or get another one anytime soon. I guess i'm just gonna have to battle out the slowness of the 3.2 for a couple years. But, atleast there is one good thing bout it....its an eye catcher

~ I wanted to get the borla exhaust but the borla isnt covered under warranty... but corsa and B&B are. I'm prob gonna go with B&B.

Also, I have noticed that my car sounds like a POS. There seems to be all kinds of problems under my hood. Here is a lil list of problems I have noticed...

- Bad Starts
- Rattle on shutdown
- Grinding feel in shifting
- After shift and release of clutch, as the gas is pressed and clutch is fully released there is a grinding noise.
- when I rev the engine, sounds like a bunch of looseness under the hood.

Now, this is what I was planning to do. Do you think it will be the same if I ask them to pull out another 2003 3.2l car, and start, shutdown, drive n compare both??? What if they dont have one in stick?? Would an automatic make any difference while comparing to a stick?

I have been there already for some things, and it hasnt been fixed. Honestly, my car sounds like I have a piece of junk under my hood. Sooooooooooooo what I didn't expect. Any suggestions?

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RobertCTS

· #10 · Nov 23, 2005

jonnyd said:
well isnt that just sharty See, my car is a company car...and since i just got it like 2 months ago...I cant really sell it or get another one anytime soon. I guess i'm just gonna have to battle out the slowness of the 3.2 for a couple years. But, atleast there is one good thing bout it....its an eye catcher ~ I wanted to get the borla exhaust but the borla isnt covered under warranty... but corsa and B&B are. I'm prob gonna go with B&B.

Also, I have noticed that my car sounds like a POS. There seems to be all kinds of problems under my hood. Here is a lil list of problems I have noticed...

- Bad Starts
- Rattle on shutdown
- Grinding feel in shifting
- After shift and release of clutch, as the gas is pressed and clutch is fully released there is a grinding noise.
- when I rev the engine, sounds like a bunch of looseness under the hood.

Now, this is what I was planning to do. Do you think it will be the same if I ask them to pull out another 2003 3.2l car, and start, shutdown, drive n compare both??? What if they dont have one in stick?? Would an automatic make any difference while comparing to a stick?

I have been there already for some things, and it hasnt been fixed. Honestly, my car sounds like I have a piece of junk under my hood. Sooooooooooooo what I didn't expect. Any suggestions?

I bet in it's previous life it was a taxi!:lildevil:

jonnyd

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 23, 2005

RobertCTS said:
I bet in it's previous life it was a taxi!:lildevil:

Hahahhaha it was a pinto damnit!!!!! I swear...i think they put like a engine from 1912 in there or something. I paid 20 grand flat for my car and it had 32,000 miles on it. Maybe thats why the deal was too good to be true :/

B Hoth

· #12 · Nov 23, 2005

If you have some of the factory warranty left, try taking it to a Cadillac dealer, list the issues and have them check it out. At least it's a place to start.

wait4me6920

· #13 · Nov 23, 2005

The engine is noisy - and the noises aren't particularly refined, but the 3.2 seems to be a very dependable if not aesthetically pleasing little rattler. Once up to speed, in my experience, it's very quiet & reasonably efficient.

I'd worry more about the differential - it's the real Achilles heel in any version of the CTS. The rear-ends are poorly engineered and subject to failure under normal driving conditions. Some folks have been lucky, but there are those of us who have had the differential replaced more than once (with the same unimproved unit - there is no alternative).:crying:

jonnyd

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 23, 2005

wait4me6920 said:
The engine is noisy - and the noises aren't particularly refined, but the 3.2 seems to be a very dependable if not aesthetically pleasing little rattler. Once up to speed, in my experience, it's very quiet & reasonably efficient.

I'd worry more about the differential - it's the real Achilles heel in any version of the CTS. The rear-ends are poorly engineered and subject to failure under normal driving conditions. Some folks have been lucky, but there are those of us who have had the differential replaced more than once (with the same unimproved unit - there is no alternative).:crying:

but the noises arent a good rattling....its a BAD rattling... How could I determine if it is a rear differential problem?? Like this is stuff i have never heard on another car before....makes me wonder :suspect:

wait4me6920

· #15 · Nov 23, 2005

jonnyd said:
but the noises arent a good rattling....its a BAD rattling... How could I determine if it is a rear differential problem?? Like this is stuff i have never heard on another car before....makes me wonder :suspect:

If you're concerned about the engine noise, I'd have a good service dept. check it out. That said, the 3.2 under acceleration sounds like shaking a tin can filled with pebbles. If it goes away at constant speed, you're probably okay...

The differential problem makes itself known with a ghostly moan coming from the rear of the car. With mine it's most apparent at 35 - 50 mph at constant speed & light acceleration/deceleration. When my second one went out, it seized completely at 45 - 50 mph in traffic - not a fun day. :shocked:

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