6 First Mods for the CTS-V2 (2009-2015)

1. Cold Air Intake

One of the easiest bolt on modifications on any car is a cold air intake, and the 2nd generation CTS-V is no exception, and cold air intakes also  provide appreciable power increases when they are paired with other modifications and tuning. A cold air intake increases air flow to the engine by being less restrictive than the stock intake plumbing, along with providing cooler air which make for a power producing combo. Make sure that your cold air intake of choice is sealed from the hot air radiating off the radiator as this will actually decrease performance over the stock intake. There are tons of great options from lots of aftermarket companies so pick whichever one fits your budget and cosmetic preferences. 

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2. Free Flowing Exhaust

After adding more intake air, the next best mod is a free flowing full exhaust system. The stock exhaust is designed to meet both emissions and noise control standards, which leads to a compromise in performance. IF you can live with a little more noise, a better flowing exhaust will free up some power and add a nice rumble. Before modifying your exhaust system, check your state emissions standards to confirm if what you want to buy is legal to use. Going too far with exhaust mods can cause emissions issues though. California restricts the use of long tube headers because it changes the location of the catalytic converters, but some states are little to no regulations, allowing you to modify your exhaust system as you desire. If possible, a set of long tube headers and an unrestricted exhaust on a stock car can add 40 rear wheel horsepower, and it will make your Cadillac sound like a beast.  

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3. Camaro ZL1 Supercharger Lid

The 2nd generation Cadillac CTS-V is equipped with the GM LSA engine, very similar to the one in the Camaro ZL1. Among the first modifications owners looking for more power often do is swap on the Camaro ZL1 supercharger lid. The ZL1 lid creates a larger air box and more efficient flow when compared to the stock CTS-V lid. The lid is easy to install and can be purchased for as low as $300 in the used market, though it does need to be milled slightly in order to clear the stock hood. Dyno tests show about a 15-20 peak rear wheel horsepower increase along with a noticeable increase throughout the rev range, thanks to the larger quantity of available intake air.

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4. Supercharger Pulleys

This awesome, roots blower equipped, supercharged 6.2 liter V8 engine propels the CTS-V2 with 556 horsepower, along with gobs of low end torque. The next best bang for the buck modification are different sized pulleys. The supercharger pulley and lower pulley can both be swapped to spin the supercharger faster, increase boost, and substantially increase horsepower. It is best to research what setup is needed for your power goals and if any other supporting modifications are need like fuel injectors with increased flow.  From the factory, the LSA is tuned conservatively, which is great because you can turn up the boost safely for more power, within reason.

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5. Camshaft Upgrade

A camshaft is what controls the timing of your intake and exhaust valve events in your engine, including how long (duration) your intake and exhaust valves are open, and how far they open (lift). When choosing a cam, it is easy to believe that bigger is better, but this is not exactly true. There is a sweet spot in the choice of cam profile which is a compromise for your type of driving and other modifications. For example, a stock CTS-V will not take well to extremely large cam meant for drag racing, as it will make the car sluggish around town, with much less low end power, and your engine can not take advantage of the extra duration the cam offers. Also, since the CTS-V is supercharged, the lobe separation angle (time between exhaust close and intake open) must be kept wide to reduce leakage of boost. Swapping a cam is not something a normal weekend mechanic is going to want to try at home, since you need to pull the motor to do it properly.

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6. Professional Tuning

Along with all of the modifications mentioned previously, professional tuning is required to your car's computer to modify all of your engine parameters and make the most of your modifications. There are readily available computer maps for the popular modification, but when you get really exotic you will need a skilled professional to make a custom tune. Dyno tunes are not cheap, however, they are required to make the most from more serious mods like increased boost, headers, and camshaft upgrades etc. You can risk engine damage if you drive the car with serious modifications without a tune. Plan your upgrades properly, and get your car tuned properly once you have settled on all the mods you have to do, as most times you will have to pay to have it done again after any major change.

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For help with all of your mods, or just typical maintenance and repair, check out the how to section of LS1Tech.com