"painless" LS2 mods?

[deevergote]

Ok, so I'm finally getting my CTS-V. It's an 06 with the 6.0L LS2 in it.
Now, the beast already has 400hp, so I really don't NEED any more than that. I want the car to retain as much refinement and luxury as possible, especially since it's already pretty damn raw feeling for a Cadillac!

So, I'm curious to see if there are any engine mods I could do to increase power without making the car extra noisy, extra rough, even worse on gas, or sacrificing reliability (it does have nearly 100,000 miles on it...)

I figure I could look into a high-flow drop-in air filter, preferably a good dry flow one, rather than an oiled K&N style.

I might be able to get a "chip" from a reputable company. With a modern stock performance engine, apparently those reflash thingamajiggers actually do offer an increase in power... but I'd have to do some real research on it. (research done... I found nothing of the sort that I would ever let anywhere near my car!)

I'm not sure if any ignition upgrades will help, as I know they don't do much on our cars. An LSx may be a TOTALLY different animal, though!


I'm quite sure I don't want to do an exhaust or intake (the stock intake is supposedly about as good as you can get anyway, I've read.) Headers, MAYBE... but probably not. Cam, maybe... if it's not too crazy to install, and doesn't have too many drawbacks (it'd be a mild cam, if anything.)

Magnuson supercharger would be fantastic, but $6500 for the kit, and then whatever it takes to install it... yeah... not happening anytime soon!


I'm new to V8s. I've never owned one in my life, so this is new territory for me. Anyone who has any LSx experience, please chime in! I don't really expect any major gains, but anything that's relatively cheap and easy, that can offer a gain with little sacrifice, would be cool.

[Ralphie]

If I were you, I would leave that puppy bone stock.

You haven't even gotten the damn thing yet and your already planning lol.

Us Tuners are really bad lol.

[Jarrett]

I would not hesitate at all to do headers. I'm not sure if OBX makes headers for these yet but their offerings for F-bodies have gotten much better over the years and are on par with some of the really good ones now. Also, a spare set of 243 heads can be had cheaply and would be easy enough to have worked over lightly for easy gains. If not then Patriot Performance has very cheap prices for ported heads with no cores.

And since you have an LS2 then you have the option of going to L76/LS3 heads and intake. Those would be best served with a cam upgrade but they flow gobs of air.

Check out LS1tech.com. It's like Honda-Tech in that there's good information but you have to weed through the idiots first.

[toycar]

Maf relocation, vararam intake, long tube headers, better clutch and some n2o and you could easily pull 11's and keep dd reliability. My buddy has a stalled 6.0 gto, cuts low 11's all day long with exact mods I listed. 150 dry shot, stalled auto though.

Relocating the Maf gives better readings/response.

Intake is a 1-3 hour install. Long tubes with an x pipe or h pipe would take an afternoon to install. You'd have to get exhaust done though to make it worth while. Just have a quite exhaust built instead of a "race" one. Who cares its quite, that's what your going for right? You don't need loud to achieve flow.


What's your end all goal?

New gears in the rear would better use the power you are already making too, though that's not exactly "painless"

[Straight Success]

I should slap you (not literally). Don't even think about mods for at least... a long while. Enjoy the stock 400. How much more can you enjoy in Jersey... the tri-state area... the East coast... America?

I still want a ride too.

[SOHC-FTW]

Stick with the basic's a Intake and full exhaust (Keep it quite'ish) maybe you can find a good hand held programer if not i'm sure someone does reflashes.

But i wouldn't do anything just yet.

[Ralphie]

bwahahaha @ n20 and dd reliability.

I don't know about now, but his plans were for a nice weekend car.

Which is why I wouldn't touch a fucking thing on a car this expensive.

There reliability isn't that great to begin with and modding it only increases the chances of problems.

And n20?

Really that's a little much.

[SOHC-FTW]

Nitrous is pretty safe aslong as you have it tuned, don't run a huge pill (Over 40% of what the engine makes to the crank), use colder plugs, and the user isn't a complete moron.

But yes nitrous is a bit much and we don't wanna see a thread where deev couldn't keep it inbetween the ditches any time soon.

The LS engine's are quite reliable when it comes to taking a beating it's not uncommon to see 500whp+ from a LSx that's done properly.

[MikeW]

How much more can you enjoy in Jersey... the tri-state area... the East coast... America?

You haven't been to Arizona, have you?

Mike, I agree; leave it be for at least 90 days. Get a feel for it, see how it rides, drives, handles, and how it does on gas, etc. I've not owned one but I've driven plenty to know that they're pretty righteous right outta the box.

Have some fun with it for a few months and then see how you feel. PLUS, you can spend that time looking up different parts and setups so that, if you do mod it, you do it right.

[deevergote]

It's now parked kissing my CB7's rear bumper... and honestly... yeah. I don't need more than 400! It WILL be staying stock for a long time. I got on it pretty good on the way home, and I still don't think I came close to its full potential.
High flow air filter when it comes time to change the filter. I think that will be it for now!

I am noticing what seems like clutch chatter, that appeared after I got it home. Took my mom to the grocery store in it, opened it up to hear her say a few words that would make a sailor blush, and from that point on it makes a "ka-thunk" sound if I'm not really careful with the clutch going into lower gears. Perhaps it's just my own unfamiliarity with the car, and me noticing things as I get familiar... or perhaps it's a 100,000 mile clutch finally letting go. Either way... it will happen eventually, I'm sure!

[Straight Success]

Pics or self ban!

[deevergote]

Tomorrow, after a nice wash.

[Straight Success]

Respect!

[deevergote]

There's a teaser in my CB7's MR thread, though...

[SOHC-FTW]

/Burnout:Bouncy: Seen it in your MRT looks good and upgrading (If it isn't already) the filter is always a good idea maintenance wise and ya even a gain a few ponies. I've always like a stock box and aftermarket reuseable drop in intake setup over all else especially for a DD.