Cadillac CTS-V - Head, Cam, Headers, Flywheel & Clutch Install Thread

I just completed a CAM, Head, Flywheel & Clutch Install and fired it up last night, wanted to share some pics and video clip.

The Details:

2004 LS6 CTS-V


PRC 2.5 Heads & Torquer V3 Cam from Texas Speed
Ported LS6 Throttle Body & Intake Manifold
Melling high flow oil pump
IWIS timing chain
ls7 lifters & lifter trays
Comp Cam trunion upgrade for rockers
160 degree thermostat
36# FAST Injectors
ls7 clutch & RAM 18lb Aluminum flywheel with ARP Bolts, LS7 Slave & pilot bearing
New gaskets for everything possible and ARP bolts for heads, cam, camplate, etc
New oem harmonic balancer
New NGK iridum plugs
MSD wires
Pacesetter long tube headers (with cat delete)
All linkage & cup upgrades on the shifter & trans assembly
Revshift motor & trans mounts


Here are pics of the Install:

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8016/76681000.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/76681000.jpg/)
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/2587/img0257oz.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/513/img0257oz.jpg/)
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/1079/24353474.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/534/24353474.jpg/)
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/467/41427004.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/441/41427004.jpg/)
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9783/72382184.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/220/72382184.jpg/)
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/364/20783924.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/19/20783924.jpg/)
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/7104/84613893.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/831/84613893.jpg/)
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/4894/40954144.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/256/40954144.jpg/)
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3913/51049349.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/37/51049349.jpg/)
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/8486/93276711.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/93276711.jpg/)
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/11/33975737.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/688/33975737.jpg/)
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/9158/19702552.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/19702552.jpg/)
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3693/21697984.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/21697984.jpg/)
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8356/80842077.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/208/80842077.jpg/)
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/1709/27061528.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/826/27061528.jpg/)
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/9397/97275827.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/824/97275827.jpg/)
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/4124/36269869.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/853/36269869.jpg/)
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/8889/83559367.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/83559367.jpg/)
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/1310/20168721.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/801/20168721.jpg/)
http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/2573/77635981.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/804/77635981.jpg/)
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9272/12421519.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/38/12421519.jpg/)
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/4278/72535171.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/17/72535171.jpg/)

Here is the youtube video to the first fire up, crappy video but you can get an idea of the new sound she puts out!

http://youtu.be/LzU_uu7sQQQ

Nicely done. The subject of the cam install is near and dear to me right now, since I've got my TRuTorq L3 cam sitting here, awaiting a weekend where I can install it and then take the car to the tuners.

Did you drop into reduced power mode, or do you already have a tune in there that will accommodate that cam well enough to drive to your tuning shop?

When I first fired it up it died immediately and would not stay running. So I drilled a hole in the throttle body to get more airflow at idle and that fixed the problem, no reduced power mode! Which is a really good sign since the tuner I'm going to is about 100 miles away.

Everything is running great with no codes other than for the missing O2 sensors, good oil pressure and temperature. The only thing that is strange to me is the fan is kicking on right away, I think this is related to the new thermostat and my guess is it can be fixed by the tuner.

You'll love it man, I feel like I just bought the car again, whole different attachment to it now that i've got to know her from the inside, haha.

Damn brotha that's the way to do it... All at once no fuckin around

Where can I get the shifter cup?? Mines shot

Where can I get the shifter cup?? Mines shot

For the Bronze Cup:

http://www.thegearbox.org/catalog/item/3838217/6239116.htm

OEM:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shifter-Cup-Bushing-GTO-CTS-V-G8-GXP-Viper-Commodore-Monaro-Magnum-T56-TR-6060-/270984146137?hash=item3f17e9ecd9&item=270984146137&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr#ht_690wt_1163

Nice! All at once. Best way to do it!

Off topic but what drop springs are u running? Looks low...

Drilling a hole in the TB was a bad idea imo. Bandaided your problem right now but will liekly cause idle issues once its tuned.

I was thinking the same thing but LS6 TB's are cheap. It can be replaced at the time of tuning

Drilling a hole in the TB was a bad idea imo. Bandaided your problem right now but will liekly cause idle issues once its tuned.

Done it in the past, never had an issue, it's even part of the LS1 how-to-guide. Higher lift cam requires more air flow at idle, the hole is tiny enough that it should be easily compensated for when tuning. Worst case throttle body blade cost $20, way less expensive then a 100 miles tow..

Nice! All at once. Best way to do it!

Off topic but what drop springs are u running? Looks low...

Yeah too low, scraping all the time! haha It's actually just H&R springs with Mighty Mouse spacers, I had a lot of rubbing issues until I rolled the fenders. Nice thing is the car corners like a dream!

Damn, looks lower than H&R's! What size tires u running? Any other pics? I have a set of H&R's and MM spacers both new in box but I've been on the fence about selling them for the GC kit to get the car even lower. May need to reconsider after seeing your pics... Lol

Damn, looks lower than H&R's! What size tires u running? Any other pics? I have a set of H&R's and MM spacers both new in box but I've been on the fence about selling them for the GC kit to get the car even lower. May need to reconsider after seeing your pics... Lol

I'll have to look at my tires again, I know they are standard size nothing special. Not sure why my car sits so low, or why I've had so many issues with clearance at the front!

Here are a few pictures:

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/7943/img0053lj.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/405/img0053lj.jpg/)
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/927/img0076li.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/img0076li.jpg/)
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7228/img0068lo.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/img0068lo.jpg/)
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/2621/dsc02688b.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/52/dsc02688b.jpg/)
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/2502/dsc02680iq.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/846/dsc02680iq.jpg/)
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/6244/img0067at.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/193/img0067at.jpg/)
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7692/img0041qe.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/266/img0041qe.jpg/)

Looks great IMO! I'm running a 255/40 up front and 275/40 in the rear. Stock overall diameter in the rear and one size wider and one size shorter in the front. Combo looks nice on the car but I may go back to a 245/45 after the spring install if there is more fender gap there than I like.

Niiiice. Exactly the way to do it. Let us know what it puts down.

Thoroughly impressed with your list of mods there sir. It won't be the same car at all.

Curious as to what you used to clean out your cylinders. Mined have a good bit of carbon on the piston heads.

So i can send you my car to do mine now right?...lol. Good job and that shyt sounds awesome!

Looks good. I've got pretty much the same setup but stock heads. Getting bored. Looking forward to your results.

Nice job! I'll have to come by for a test drive! Back in town this week.

Awesome, thanks for sharing.

Drilling a hole in the TB was a bad idea imo. Bandaided your problem right now but will liekly cause idle issues once its tuned.

i had to do the same to mine.. even the tuner was having trouble getting the idle table to where it wouldnt hunt for the idle.. we drilled the hole and all problems went away.. went back to stock idle tables and the car idles like a dream. no hunting and smooth as can be.. with the zr1 cam it made it even better with no idle tuning what so ever

Nice man! Sounds good, thanks for all the detailed pics.

Thanks for the compliments fellas! Been a fun project, I'll pass on my dyno numbers as soon as I have them!


Thoroughly impressed with your list of mods there sir. It won't be the same car at all.

Curious as to what you used to clean out your cylinders. Mined have a good bit of carbon on the piston heads.

I used B-12 Chemtool fuel system cleaner worked like a charm