[Nitro-C5]

I'm a new member...Hello!

Looking into purchacing a new CTS-V in a few weeks. Having owned a few Vettes I'm very familiar with the LSx engive platform...these babies REALLY respond to modifications!!

Question: I just started browsing this forum and noticed that no one is really talking about increase the performance of the motor. I know internally all the Vette Mods will work, however what is available outside the block that can be done to the motor..ie. Intake, Headers, Hi-Flow Cats, Exhaust, MAF, Supercharging etc...

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Vrocks]

Welcome to the forum,

A few people have installed cold air intakes and posted their experiences with them recently. More Performance Inc. has posted some results of their ATI supercharger kit (I'm 99% sure it was an ATI kit), Mallett Cars Ltd, offers a comprehensive solution i.e. engine, ported heads, headers, shocks, wheels and tires... and Corsa will be offering an exhaust system in a couple of weeks or so. Highflow cats and a MAF for the V are the only things I haven't heard anything about on this forum or any other place.

 

[Guest]

Since the V is a relatively new machine with low build quantities, there aren't a lot of V specific performance mods yet. Several companies are working on these right now and would expect we'll see more goodies this summer. Some of these topics have been discussed in the past few weeks; a little searching or browsing should bring you up to "speed."

 

[benjet]

To add to what others have already posted....MAF and Throttle Body are avail for the Z06/LS6 and will fit the CTS-V, but are generally considered a total waste of $. Feel free to be the Guinea Caddy, no one has yet to buy, install and report back on these.

-Ben

 

[benjet]

PLUS - AND THIS IS WORTH A SECOND POST

Any other "power adders/enhancers" would only further aggrevate the wheel hop.

Getting all that extra power to the ground will only get harder.

-Ben

 

[Cal]

I'd list new tires in that bunch, since the runflats are not what I would call 'high performance' despite what they may claim. I've seen the tread on the tires off the car. I got Michelin Pilot Sport XLs and I am happy.

I have the CAK and I will be doing throttle body and MAF sensor one the Corsa exhaust is ready. I'll let everyone know how that goes.

Head/cam can be done by any LS6 shop, basically. I don't want it due to the extra noise.

Short shift kit may have to wait for the GTO model to come out due to the different mount from a 'Vette. Mid-mounted versus rear-mounted.

Corsa exhaust ETA is 1-2 weeks as far as I know. Hopefully less. Noone other than Mallett claims to have headers done yet, but he won't sell em to you for months anyhow, if he ever decided to. You have to buy his $16k package for that.

Computer/dyno tune through my shop is $325. I think some other places are around the same. Claims to pick up ~10hp on that alone. I can't wait to see the results from the Corsa, since the exhaust system on the V is SO restrictive. That's why the airbox claims 20+ rwhp alone. I am hoping the throttle body will improve flow as well since the one on there, to quote my shop guy, is a 'cute little mini throttle body'.

If you are in the Tri-State area I can tell you where to take it for mods.

Oh, I forgot the FG2 suspension. Mine should be in this week I am thinking, I will let everyone know how that goes. If you get your shop to order from the dealer it's around $1170 before sales tax. They will try to bang you for $1365 which is the GM mark-up. If your dealer is decent they will let it go at shop price, mine did.
I personally don't sweat the wheel hop, since I don't 1/4 mi. or race like a maniac at every stop light.

 

[lasstss]

If the Z06 is anything like the LT-1, you cannot change components without a reprogram. An aftermarket MAF and /or TB will throw off the acceptable ranges in the tables of the PCM. I doubt this thing is adaptive. It will throw codes. Same for swapping to larger injectors. For the masses, a good intake, exhaust, change the stat will probably add 30 horses. Thats a lot on this car. Imagine how fast it would be if you could hard launch it. So far, we cant!....Again, the aircleaner is about the same size as my 4 cyl toyota.

 

[benjet]

Chaging the T-Stat (-20deg) in an all aluminum block increases wear exponentially (just as being over temp by 20deg for continous periods also would do the same). There are a number of studies on this.

Unless you are doing some other major (not just bolt on) mods I would stay away from the tstat.

-Ben

 

[Nitro-C5]

Thanks for all the great replys guys! I started doing alot of research late last night after putting up this post. I'm extremly familiar with the engine itself. In fact my Vette is putting out close to 500rwhp being normally aspirated (Stroker motor) and additional 200hp on the Nitrous...so I certainly am VERY excited about the potential of this car and the drivetrain.

Questions were more directed to Caddy Specific area's like the amount of room under the hood for headers, CIA, Exhaust, Shifter etc. I guess since the car is still so new that these parts will be coming shortly. IMHO I really can't get over how "soft" the shifter is (of course I have a B&M Ripper short throw) in the Vette to compare it against, but it still feels weaker then it should for a car of this power. Any future talk about anyone working on this ie. B&M or Hurst?

Does anyone know if the clutch is from the Z06 or the standard C5? The tranny is the T-56 which is from the C5 so I guess the clutch would be as well, but maybe not. With the T-56 this car would do great with 4.10's in the rear. I know that sounds like alot but 6th at a .5 ratio it is acutally perfect combination.

I just discovered through my searching as well the More Performance is doing alot of work on this car. Owner Mike Osh is a friend of mine and has built several motors for my Vette. He is a top quality guy and does great work...best of all he ALWAYS stands behind his work and if your not happy he'll always make it right.

 

[Guest]

A CTS-V has a 0.56:1 6th gear. (good FAQ material...)

Gear-Ratio-MPH/1000-Max MPH
1st-2.97:1-6.9-45
2nd-2.07:1-9.9-65
3rd-1.43:1-14.4-93
4th-1.00:1-20.5-134
5th-0.84:1-24.5-159
6th-0.56:1-30.7-163
REV-3.28:1

Same 1-6 ratios as a Z06, but different than a regular C5 and F-bodies.

Tremec T56 (M12)
Type: six speed rear-wheel-drive, manual overdrive transmission
Maximum engine torque: 400 lb-ft (542 Nm)
Maximum validated gross vehicle weight: 4000 lb (1680 kg)
Case material: aluminum
Center distance: 85mm
Fluid type: DEXRON III
Transmission weight: wet: 54.9 kg (121 lb)
Fluid capacity (approximate) dry: 3.8L (4.0 qt)

*Combination of double-cone and triple-cone synchronizers on all forward gears.
*Needle bearings on all forward gearsets
*5th and 6th gear synchros located on countershaft (allowing selection of 5 & 6 without affecting 1 - 4) contributing to easier shifting.

 

[Cal]

With the size of the car and just for general purposes I wouldn't touch their (More Performance) ATI kit with no intercooler, however.

My shop is going to experiment with the f-body kit for the Procharger, since it may mount on the lower side of the engine. As far as shifters go, as I mentioned we may have to wait for the GTO kit since the 'Vette shifters won't work with this car. I think due to production #s we have a much better chance of a Hurst GTO kit than a V kit. Hurst said they have nothing in production for the V at this time. Mallett has one, but again he won't sell just the kit unless you drop the big dollars, and he said it MIGHT be out in July by itself. I wouldn't hold my breath.

I haven't contaced Kooks or LG about headers, but someone may want to out of curiosity.

I think getting around 470 at the crank without any engine work is realistic. Anything beyond that will require a head/cam or blower. I will be doing a lot of testing myself, so I'll keep everyone up-to-date with dyno slips, etc.

Call me stupid or a purist, but I will never put a new motor in this car. Kind of defies the point, as far as I am concerned. Work with whatcha got. The 2006s with the LS7 aren't too far away anyhow.

 

[Guest]

So...does the V shifter bolt directly into the T-56 like a F-body or is it linkage actuated like a GTO and C5?

 

[Cal]

I was told the GTO and V have direct-bolt and no linkage. Mallett said something about reticulating parts that make it a bitch to integrate. If the GTO has linkage I guess we are screwed in that respect too.

Mallett isn't very free with his info but if one of you wanted to call him and find out he might be nice if you pretend to be interested in getting a 2nd mortgage for one of his packages.

 

[Guest]

When my V gets here in a month, I'll be in guinea pig and tear my shifter apart and figure out what the guts look like. Hopefully it is just like a f-bod!

Here's the GTO shifter linkage... http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154225

 

[Cal]

Awesome. I don't like the shift either. I want a short throw kit badly. I don't drag, I just like the crisp throws of a Hurst. But then again I don't want to have a shop do something custom, because it won't be tested and/or warrantied. Tough call, I will wait it out till someone comes up with something decent.

 

[Uber-V]

Good call. The right stuff will be coming. I know guys who are working on springs, shocks, suspension, superchargers and more. Be patient....it'll be worth the wait.