Cadillac CTS-V - **New Design CS Mounts and LS7 Clutch install**

What's up guys, I want share a few pics of my Creative Steel Mounts and My New LS7 clutch that I installed over the weekend. These mounts are the latest and greatest.Before I get into the pics I would like to Thank MAX at Creative Steel for making an Awsome product and for having Excellent Customer service.

It's been 6 months since I became the owner of my CTS-V. For the first couple months I was very surprised of the power and handling of this car. But for the past few months I have lost interest in driving it... got so embarrasing every time I had family and friends riding in my car.Can't belive how badly it mimicked my Chevy Duramax when I shut the car down..... and for the vibrations I swore I was on a roller coaster ride.Well anyways I have been searchin and that's when I found out about Max at Creative steel.gave them a cal and they set me up with their All New design Motor Mounts and the Soft tranny mount.At this time it was a good time to swap out the the clutch for a LS7 clutch.I know,I know I should have went with a aftermarket clutch but this is my daily driver and No intentions to track it or add over 450 rwhp.

Now for the results.... All I can Say is WOW! what a Night and Day difference.All Vibrations,clunks and Tractor shut downs are long Gone.ALL I can say is that I'm very pleased.Even the wifey loves to drive the car Now.

Now for the pics....I will like to apologize for not having a step by step write up.But you will get the Idea and hopefully my pics will hellp you guys someday.

My Work Station

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0259.jpg

The V in the air

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0263-1.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0264-1.jpg

Good Old WD-40 for the hangers and bolts of the exhaust system

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0266.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0270.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0276.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0274.jpg

Remove the 3 grey bolts off the driveline that attaches to the tranny

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0287.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0281-1.jpg

Remove the allen bolts off the driveline that attaches to the rearend

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0286.jpg

Remove the 2 blots that support the driveline

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0278-1.jpg

This how it looks when you remove the driveline from the tranny and rearend

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0291.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0289.jpg

Exhaust and driveline out the way

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0293-1.jpg

Remove Tranny Mount and Bracket make sure you have the tranny supported with a tranny jack or a simple car jack

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0287.jpg

Seperate the tranny from the bellhousing

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0294.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0308-1.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0300.jpg

Now it's time to grab a buddy and yank out the tranny

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0355.jpg

Old HEAVY CTS-V Clutch

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0309.jpg

New LS7 Clutch Kit

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0310.jpg

LS7 Clutch Installed

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0348-1.jpg

Old Cracked Motor Mounts

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0330.jpg

Old Motor Mount Vs New Design Creative Steel Motor Mount

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0331.jpg

Stock Tranny Vs CS Tranny Mount

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0332.jpg

New LS7 Slave Cylinder and Remote Clutch bleeder installed you will need to shave some material off to properly fit the LS7 slave and the Clutch bleeder

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0351-1.jpg

There is one bolt that is a pita to get too you will need lots of extension to get to it.This bolt sits on top of the base of the motor mount plate. Not a bad job but it can get fustrating. Here's a pic of the bolt.

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_0372.jpg

Well sorry guys but I have No more pics due to my damn camera took the $hit when my little brother dropped it

Which flywheel is that ? oem or the 18lb ram ?

Which flywheel is that ? oem or the 18lb ram ?

Stock LS7 flywheel

Looks like a lot of fun.

Final review???

Awesome DIY... Neat setup in the garage as well. How do you work under the car when it's that low? Just use a rolling seat?

Awesome DIY... Neat setup in the garage as well. How do you work under the car when it's that low? Just use a rolling seat?

Yes I use a roller seat, here's a pic of my Vette lifted at it's highest point. Thanks for the comments

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_1770.jpg

Awesome... I think I found my next "investment" lol

ilike how they made it look like a stocker for warranty purposes... my car deff feels 100x better with the clutch/mount combo..lovin it with about 3k on em

can you post or pm me info on the lift?

thanks
that is excatly what i want

Are the CS mounts Poly? And how much $$?

Are the CS mounts Poly? And how much $$?

Yes they are poly and I believe they were around $300 for the mounts and heat shields

What clutch bleeder did you select?

How do you like the flywheel and clutch?
I want to replace mine.

What clutch bleeder did you select?


I used a bleeder kit from this company
http://www.eastcoastperformance.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5


How do you like the flywheel and clutch?
I want to replace mine.

I really like the way this clutch feels, great for daily street use.

How much did it cost?

can you post or pm me info on the lift?

thanks
that is excatly what i want


quick google search got me this: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200386167_200386167?&cm_ven=PPC&cm_cat=Google%20-%20K70&cm_pla=generic&cm_ite=max%20jack

This is what i need to do to my V. I would imagine the motor rev's a little easier with that new clutch in there.

Yes I use a roller seat, here's a pic of my Vette lifted at it's highest point. Thanks for the comments

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n461/cencalc6/DSC_1770.jpg

I know this corvette! :D

BTW do you notice much vibration in the car with the new mounts?

I wonder what the chances of a group purchase on these would be?...

:D Love this Thread.

I'd be your best friend if I lived closer. Righteous garage.

:D Love this Thread.

Thanks,I might update this thread or start another one with More upgrades on the car and useful pics

I'd be your best friend if I lived closer. Righteous garage.

lol! Thanks Man

i want your garage!

i want A garage!

this is what i say

this is what i say

haha...i will say a garage is the best part of having a house.

haha...i will say a garage is the best part of having a house.

luckily my GF's father owns an auto repair shop so i have access to 5 lifts, and an unlimited amount of tools, aligment machines etc.

luckily my GF's father owns an auto repair shop so i have access to 5 lifts, and an unlimited amount of tools, aligment machines etc.

and now i hate you :chug:

It's not going to happen for a while since I'll have to save some money up first, but I'm researching the LS7 clutch swap for future reference. Since this is the first thread that popped up in my search, can I suggest that the OP maybe post up a parts list (approximate prices would be great too!) for this swap? Then anyone who's searching around like I am, can have most of the info they need all in one stop.
I'm curious how much money I'd have tied up, in parts alone, if I wanted to do this. I've read that the weight saved from the stock V clutch assembly results in ~30 rwhp gains, which is a pretty good HP return in itself! Add to that the better drive-ability and I think this mod should be pretty high on anyone's to-do list!

Cheers!!

How about shifting improvements from doing the mounts? I think mine might be causing lousy shifting because if I blip the throttle and torque the engine over between shifts, the shifter seems to slide right in.

wow 30 rwhp thats a pretty good gain. Thats on my to do list for 2011

What’s the distance between the pillars for your lift? How easy are they to remove? I thinking about getting a lift like this, but it looks like I won’t be able to get the truck in the garage with the pillar in the middle of the garage.

I just did my mounts and LS7 clutch too. (for what I paid for the clutch install I could have purchased one pillar) I love the new flywheel and clutch. The car feels so much more responsive now. Next time I have the car dynoed, I post the difference.

Read your thread after googling info about clutch replacement. I have same problems--car is embarrassing to drive. It whines, diesels, clunks etc. Were the motor mounts easy to install? I had new ones put in (solid ones from Luke at Lindsey caddy) and they have solved none of my problems. I am sure I need a new clutch and probably bearings in trans. I want to so it all at once--or maybe I should just sell the crappy car.

The motor mounts weren’t too bad to install. I had to remove the cats and the starter. I did it in my garage. I think I’m going to spring for the lifts early next year.
The clunk chases the weakest link. Every time I replaced a component, it eventually came back. First thing I added was the spectors works bushings, then I replaced : diff bushing, motor mounts, clutch and drive shaft coupler. Next up will probably be the DS carrier bushing.

Good thread here. I've got the same project comin up pretty soon. I believe the parts for the ls7 clutch swap will run right around $700+

This looks like a pretty decent price. http://www.ebay.com/itm/250870388433?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Could you update the photos as a few are missing?

Where did you get the clutch setup? Dealer?

Thanks, great write-up!

How does it drive? Is the clutch any more progressive than a worn stock CTS-V clutch? My wife has given up driving my car because the clutch is too abrupt. I hardly notice, but I do think it's getting harder to drive smoothly.

Very good post I to have the same vibrations once in a while and embarrassing tractor clunk when shutting off aswell as chatter sound when idle untill pushing the clutch in.

So about $1k for mounts and clutch set up? Damn I got to save up.

So ls7 clutch and ls7 fly is all you can use stock wise not ls2? And thought with ls7 slave no shaving was needed or shims either?

And what about the balance? I've read about some oddities in the way these things are balanced? Do you have any vibrations, and did you just install it as recieved?

Up top on this

And what about the balance? I've read about some oddities in the way these things are balanced? Do you have any vibrations, and did you just install it as recieved?

If anything I'd have the balance checked before install. The factory balance may or may not be perfect. Better to do it while it's out.

Sorry guys for the late response,I totalled the car last year.Very important thing I did that I forgot to mention is that I ended up changing out my Diff fluid with AMSIOL gear oil 75w-90. That helped alot with the whinning.I strongly suggest you guys switching out the Heavy A$$ Flywheel that comes in the CTS-V......Stock LS7 Single Clutch or any Single Aftermarket Clutch will work as long as you go with a lighter flywheel.NO Shimming required when using a LS2/LS3/LS7 Slave cylinder....You can use the stock slave but you need to shim it....Another thing that was annoying was the stock CTS-V shifter. Get rid of that!!!

I was looking for this post. Great work.

Sick garage setup!! Love the look of the mounts as well!