We all love a well-executed challenge that breaks the norm. When it comes to the CTS-V, the norm has absolutely been superchargers. Heck, even GM followed suit and choose the blower route with the 2nd generation of the car.
When Mike Nice of Connecticut decided add boost, he chose to escape the norm and build a custom turbocharger system for his 2006 CTS-V. This is his build.
In order to accomplish his mission, Mike sought the help of Ed Gomez of Mongillo motors. To put it mildly, the engineers at GM used a shoe horn to fit the LS-6/2 into the CTS chassis, so packaging a turbo under hood could be the subject of the next Mission Impossible movie. So this V decided to go the rear mount route, with it’s own twist.
The CTS-V comes from the factory with run flat tires, because the donut spares will not clear the monster brakes. So the spare tire well on most CTS-V’s is a big waste of space, or maybe some added trunk space, but Mike choose to retake that space with the help of a plasma cutter, so he could package the 67mm turbo.
For the winter, Mike is running the system at a modest 5psi of boost peaking at 4000 rpm’s and then tapering off to 2.6 psi. The result was 421 hp @ 5500 and a stout 469lb-ft of torque. “Once the warmer weather arrives in the spring, we will adjust the boost curve to about 7-8 psi and not have it drop off at higher rpms. This should net us 500+ rwhp and rwtq.” according to Mike.
In lieu of an intercooler, Mike has opted for a healthy twin nozzle shot of methanol, to reduce temp and increase knock resistance. A solution which should certainly work at current lower boost levels, but can be upgrade if he ever chooses to upgrade to a forged lower end and more stout drivetrain components.
Mike went on to say, “Should the need to increase HP & TQ beyond 650, the system is designed to easily bolt on a larger turbo such as a 76 mm ball-bearing unit that can make*close to 1000 hp.”
Some people don’t care for rear mount turbo’s, because they say they don’t spool up quick enough. According to Mike, he is building boost at 2,500 rpm’s in first gear, which he attributes to the choice of turbo, and insulating wrap which maximizes exhaust gas temps entering the turbo. And with the popularity of STS Turbo Kits, we believe a rear-mounted turbo kit can be a very effective combination.
For the ‘SHOW’ and ‘GO’ guys, there is a small draw back to some typical rear mount system, you can’t see them! The coolest touch on this car, which really make’s it stand out as a custom, is the fact you can easily see all the turbo goodies from the trunk. Mike does have plans, to play that area up for shows with some LED’s and some form of a heat sensitive cover.
You can check out even more photos of the car and build at LS1Tech.
I saw a huge thread about this car on the ls1 tech forums but it is gone now. Have you seen the bolt on twin turbo kit that STS is offering? Why did you decide to go non-intercooled with this build? Got any pictures of the ground clearance? Why does the boost drop off up top?
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