CTS-V as a daily. What to look for?
#1
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: cibolo-wishin i was back in htown
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CTS-V as a daily. What to look for?
Im considering getting a 04-07 cts-v as a daily driver. It will have to have under 100k miles but besides that what should i look for? What are the common problems?
thanks
thanks
#2
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
Look for mods, the more mods the less likely it will be a flawless daily driver. Also look at the stream of drivers. younger obviously means more burnouts and issues.
My advice, look for a 2009-13 V and start from there. Parts are becoming an issue, and you will be getting a newer machine that make more efficient power and mileage...
My advice, look for a 2009-13 V and start from there. Parts are becoming an issue, and you will be getting a newer machine that make more efficient power and mileage...
#3
TECH Addict
iTrader: (2)
Find a stock car (or one with some of these mods) and plan on doing the following to make it a comfortable, quite, vibration free yet aggressive daily driver.
LS7 clutch kit. The stock dual mass sucks.
Visit the following link to Creative Steel and get their soft motor mounts, their soft cradle bushings and their new shifter with noise isolator. All the stock stuff is too soft and all the harder polys are too stiff for DD duty...its a Cadillac.
https://creative-steel.com/product-c...-v-year-04-07/
Fill the stock transmission mount with window weld (still mounted in the car with the weight of the transmission still on it) as in my opinion the CS mount is too tall and mine separated.
Send the driveshaft out for a soft poly insert because the stock one is almost certainly shot and the aftermarket options are less than ideal for DD duty....
https://ls1tech.com/forums/cadillac-...t-bearing.html
I've tried other combinations but in my mind, the above will be the way to go for a refined daily driver. Drive the car and if you want a faster car, go find it and leave this one alone.
Learn to live with the driveline clunk unless you are willing to spend 4k on an 8.8 swap. Shy away from clutch dump burnouts and no lift shifting unless you like working on the car or spending money on repairs.
Mine has 223k on it, 60K of it in the last year. The link below is to the maintenance I've done to the car. Happy with it thus far.
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...ul-thread.html
There will be a lot of disagreement here but I drive a lot and don't want a noisy *** car. Good Luck!
LS7 clutch kit. The stock dual mass sucks.
Visit the following link to Creative Steel and get their soft motor mounts, their soft cradle bushings and their new shifter with noise isolator. All the stock stuff is too soft and all the harder polys are too stiff for DD duty...its a Cadillac.
https://creative-steel.com/product-c...-v-year-04-07/
Fill the stock transmission mount with window weld (still mounted in the car with the weight of the transmission still on it) as in my opinion the CS mount is too tall and mine separated.
Send the driveshaft out for a soft poly insert because the stock one is almost certainly shot and the aftermarket options are less than ideal for DD duty....
https://ls1tech.com/forums/cadillac-...t-bearing.html
I've tried other combinations but in my mind, the above will be the way to go for a refined daily driver. Drive the car and if you want a faster car, go find it and leave this one alone.
Learn to live with the driveline clunk unless you are willing to spend 4k on an 8.8 swap. Shy away from clutch dump burnouts and no lift shifting unless you like working on the car or spending money on repairs.
Mine has 223k on it, 60K of it in the last year. The link below is to the maintenance I've done to the car. Happy with it thus far.
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...ul-thread.html
There will be a lot of disagreement here but I drive a lot and don't want a noisy *** car. Good Luck!
Last edited by ls1247; 02-15-2015 at 07:14 AM.
#4
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
Find a stock car (or one with some of these mods) and plan on doing the following to make it a comfortable, quite, vibration free yet aggressive daily driver.
LS7 clutch kit. The stock dual mass sucks.
Visit the following link to Creative Steel and get their soft motor mounts, their soft cradle bushings and their new shifter with noise isolator. All the stock stuff is too soft and all the harder polys are too stiff for DD duty...its a Cadillac.
https://creative-steel.com/product-c...-v-year-04-07/
Fill the stock transmission mount with window weld (still mounted in the car with the weight of the transmission still on it) as in my opinion the CS mount is too tall and mine separated.
Send the driveshaft out for a soft poly insert because the stock one is almost certainly shot and the aftermarket options are less than ideal for DD duty....
https://ls1tech.com/forums/cadillac-...t-bearing.html
I've tried other combinations but in my mind, the above will be the way to go for a refined daily driver. Drive the car and if you want a faster car, go find it and leave this one alone.
Learn to live with the driveline clunk unless you are willing to spend 4k on an 8.8 swap. Shy away from clutch dump burnouts and no lift shifting unless you like working on the car or spending money on repairs.
Mine has 223k on it, 60K of it in the last year. The link below is to the maintenance I've done to the car. Happy with it thus far.
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...ul-thread.html
There will be a lot of disagreement here but I drive a lot and don't want a noisy *** car. Good Luck!
LS7 clutch kit. The stock dual mass sucks.
Visit the following link to Creative Steel and get their soft motor mounts, their soft cradle bushings and their new shifter with noise isolator. All the stock stuff is too soft and all the harder polys are too stiff for DD duty...its a Cadillac.
https://creative-steel.com/product-c...-v-year-04-07/
Fill the stock transmission mount with window weld (still mounted in the car with the weight of the transmission still on it) as in my opinion the CS mount is too tall and mine separated.
Send the driveshaft out for a soft poly insert because the stock one is almost certainly shot and the aftermarket options are less than ideal for DD duty....
https://ls1tech.com/forums/cadillac-...t-bearing.html
I've tried other combinations but in my mind, the above will be the way to go for a refined daily driver. Drive the car and if you want a faster car, go find it and leave this one alone.
Learn to live with the driveline clunk unless you are willing to spend 4k on an 8.8 swap. Shy away from clutch dump burnouts and no lift shifting unless you like working on the car or spending money on repairs.
Mine has 223k on it, 60K of it in the last year. The link below is to the maintenance I've done to the car. Happy with it thus far.
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...ul-thread.html
There will be a lot of disagreement here but I drive a lot and don't want a noisy *** car. Good Luck!
Also, change all your fluids when you get it. Brakes, clutch, trans, rear diff, engine oil, coolant.
#5
TECH Fanatic
I went with 95a (hard) urethane motor mounts, rear subframe, differential, sway bar bushings, and a CS trans mount (not 95a urethane, they use a softer compound I believe).
Also have:
12lbs Katech Flywheel
LS9 clutch
Philistine master cylinder
Hurst short throw
Stainless works header back exhaust
And the car is getting the stock LS6 yanked on Monday. Its been sold. Has 100,200 miles, doesn't smoke, uses very little oil, doesn't leak, runs strong.
I'm putting a 403 (6.6L) stroker in it. Still gonna daily drive it and take it to the track. As long as the Mods are done right, no worries. It will be fine. But if someone cuts corners and does a half assed job, it doesn't matter how good the parts are, its gonna run and drive like ****.
As far as what to look for, try and get one where at least the rear subframe bushings and motor mounts have been done. That helps like 90% of wheel hop and motor shake. My stock motor mounts were so bad, my headers would hit my steering shaft on the drivers side... So yea, new ones. Motor mounts are the #1 issue, #2 is wheel hop, rear subframe bushings help a lot. The stock shifter does the job, but only barely. You want to put in shifter bushings at the very least, add a short throw as well. Other than that, its an LS block with a manual trans, it ain't gonna break a whole lot.
Also have:
12lbs Katech Flywheel
LS9 clutch
Philistine master cylinder
Hurst short throw
Stainless works header back exhaust
And the car is getting the stock LS6 yanked on Monday. Its been sold. Has 100,200 miles, doesn't smoke, uses very little oil, doesn't leak, runs strong.
I'm putting a 403 (6.6L) stroker in it. Still gonna daily drive it and take it to the track. As long as the Mods are done right, no worries. It will be fine. But if someone cuts corners and does a half assed job, it doesn't matter how good the parts are, its gonna run and drive like ****.
As far as what to look for, try and get one where at least the rear subframe bushings and motor mounts have been done. That helps like 90% of wheel hop and motor shake. My stock motor mounts were so bad, my headers would hit my steering shaft on the drivers side... So yea, new ones. Motor mounts are the #1 issue, #2 is wheel hop, rear subframe bushings help a lot. The stock shifter does the job, but only barely. You want to put in shifter bushings at the very least, add a short throw as well. Other than that, its an LS block with a manual trans, it ain't gonna break a whole lot.
#6
TECH Fanatic
1) Differential may whine a bit, just make sure it isn't too loud.
2) When shutting off motor, a shuddering sound may indicate bad motor mounts.
3) NAV buttons will probably be chipped. Can replace them for not too much money.
The rest is pretty much normal stuff you'd look for in any stick-shift car like rear tire wear, slipping clutch, general condition of body and interior, odd noises during test drive, smoothness of synchros, maintenance records (if any), perceived honesty of owner, etc.
Good luck!
2) When shutting off motor, a shuddering sound may indicate bad motor mounts.
3) NAV buttons will probably be chipped. Can replace them for not too much money.
The rest is pretty much normal stuff you'd look for in any stick-shift car like rear tire wear, slipping clutch, general condition of body and interior, odd noises during test drive, smoothness of synchros, maintenance records (if any), perceived honesty of owner, etc.
Good luck!
Trending Topics
#10
#12
TECH Fanatic
I think he means they make more efficient power... As in, its easier to modify them. And mileage being, lower total miles.
#13
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (5)
I certainly agree they make more efficient power. Just their blower alone is more efficient than options for V1. For me my LS2 with headers have plenty of power. I improved the handling with some sway bars. I like twisty roads and want it to be as responsive as possible. Very happy overall and it's good as my DD.
#14
TECH Fanatic
Yea the V1 is far more fun IMHO. I'm getting ready to take my motor out tomorrow. I wouldn't have the money to modify a V2. To me, half the enjoyment is wrenching on my own cars.
#15
TECH Fanatic
I saw it get to 3 deg today for a high temp, and that was only for less than an hour this afternoon. Must be nice to work on your car at this time of year.
What you have in store? (It's probably posted somewhere; I just don't recall what.)
EDIT: Oh ... found it: https://ls1tech.com/forums/cadillac-...ker-again.html
What you have in store? (It's probably posted somewhere; I just don't recall what.)
EDIT: Oh ... found it: https://ls1tech.com/forums/cadillac-...ker-again.html
Last edited by rand49er; 02-15-2015 at 04:51 PM. Reason: add line
#17
TECH Fanatic
I saw it get to 3 deg today for a high temp, and that was only for less than an hour this afternoon. Must be nice to work on your car at this time of year.
What you have in store? (It's probably posted somewhere; I just don't recall what.)
EDIT: Oh ... found it: https://ls1tech.com/forums/cadillac-...ker-again.html
What you have in store? (It's probably posted somewhere; I just don't recall what.)
EDIT: Oh ... found it: https://ls1tech.com/forums/cadillac-...ker-again.html
#18
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: cibolo-wishin i was back in htown
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks guys great stuff. i agree with the comment of a v1 for around 15k and i see most v2's for around 30k so v1 is my only option right now. i have a c5 now and plan upgrading that soon also. what kinda mpg do you get? do the v1s exterior just come in black silver red and just one type of blue?
#20
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
thanks guys great stuff. i agree with the comment of a v1 for around 15k and i see most v2's for around 30k so v1 is my only option right now. i have a c5 now and plan upgrading that soon also. what kinda mpg do you get? do the v1s exterior just come in black silver red and just one type of blue?