Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Good article about pushrod engines...

Originally posted by acrdklr:

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while stock cars no longer mechanically resemble production cars nascar was started on the basis of prodution cars modded to be raced, hence the nascar rule that a stock car must physically resemble a production car from a given manufacturer.

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Originally posted by JaTo:

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so I may wait until the '05s come out, but GOD is that car calling my name louder and louder every day and it's getting hard not to start licking door-handles and marking my territory at the local Caddy dealers...

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ROTFLMAO!!! I am breathing a sigh of relief too, in learning that I am not the only one that does this!

Originally posted by JaTo:

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There ain't NOTHING "regular" about the powerplant and tranny in the CTS-V...

I will freely admit that the plain-jane CTS makes me queasy and close to hurling as the looks are extraordinarily questionable on it, but GM dressed the CTS-V up nicely and it shows that.

I really find it not much different than what Ford did for the Contour as compared with the Contour SVT in terms of "dressing up" for that fact. I never looked at the Contour as a mode of transportation; that is until the SVT came out. I just never found the non-SVT Contours that "inspiring" of a view. IMHO, of course.

Then comes the aftermarket discussion...

I've talked to one of the reps at Lingenfelter and from the discussions I've had, their current S/C application for the LS6 is close to a bolt-on as it is (only a few packaging issues to take care of).

Headers, a better exhaust, S/C kit (intercooled) and a beefed-up clutch for, say something around $9-12K and you are looking at a luxury sports sedan putting something in the neighborhood of 550-600 HP down (depending on the extras)...

All backed up by a 3-year warranty from the aftermarket provider, I might add and it's STILL cheaper than any other comparable 4-door sedan on the market.

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Before dooing any of that, I would first and foremost upgrade the shifter and axles both are lacking extremly in this vehicle. But has great potential. Check out Malletcars.com they are expensive, but they will have a complete upgrade packge coming out, including 427 upgrades,shifter,shocks and springs, sway bars, wheel packages, wheel flares and fascias, and bolt in roll cages, brake upgrades, plus lots of other stuff. Truely great potential. With minor mods will be only a few clicks off a corvette

Originally posted by JaTo:

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There are STRONG indications my next sedan is going to be housing a pushrod V8...

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Originally posted by JaTo:

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I haven't forgotten about Mallet. They've also got a good reputation, though I haven't seen any mention of SC'd LS6 packages from them at all. They are more about head/cam and N/A packages , IIRC.

I'm watching and listening about a couple of other aftermarket installers that are dropping SC's on the CTS-V, but the nice thing about Mallet and Lingenfelter is that 2-3 year warranties on their parts and the work they do is a standard. Not so with most other places...

I've got it on good authority that the T56 and the stock shafts on the CTS-V can handle a 150-200HP bump over the 400HP that the LS6 puts down just fine, though a few chasis/suspension upgrades (to prevent frame twist) may be in order for those that really get nuts and start putting some serious boost on the LS6.

I guarantee you I won't be pushing for anything past a good tune, blower and pipes on that thing on the performance side. Too much money (past 700HP and you are looking at bottom-end work on the LS6 to stay safe, which is a good $5-7K) and I can kill myself just as easy with 550-600HP on tap as anything above it. Hell, 400HP will be MORE than enough to handle on 245-series tires combined with my rather limited driving skills...

Now if you are talking about shifter feel, I can understand that somewhat. The T56 is a bit "vague" during shifts and is a little on the clunky side, if the one in the CTS-V throws like the one in the C5.

I'm not looking for a drag-car; just an all-around comfy 4-door cruise missle that can tear up a corner every now and then and send most other vehicles at stoplights running home with their tails between their legs.

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Well I should clarify, its not the strength of the axles, its the stress from wheel hop. Some uograded bushings can help that, but not eliminate totaly. As far as the shifter. Very sloppy,nothing like a c5. C5 trans is mounted in the rear of tha car, cts is in the normal position,meaning linkages are way different. Its the linkage that needs upgrade,re:use solid bushings instead of rubber. I am not speaking from rumor, all is factual data. Good luck