Saying the name “Cadillac” these days can mean a lot of different things to different people. To some, largely the older generation, the brand signified the pinnacle of American excellence. For others, the years of watching the brand release milquetoast transportation appliances for the retired has tainted the once legendary marque. Enthusiasts, however, know the brand for one very important thing: consistently engineering and selling the best performing sedans that America has to offer.
Powered by Hennessey…or is it?
Owner Mike Pamparo was looking for a project that could double as a family car, and knew that the CTS-V would be a perfect fit. The last year of the second generation run, the 2014 CTS-V came equipped with a supercharged LSA that made 640 hp and 630 lb⋅ft of torque in factory guise. Interestingly, Mike found a Hennessy-tuned HPE650 model that happened to fall in his budget.
“Starting with a Hennessey V was just dumb luck,” he remembered. “I was looking for a certified pre-owned CTS-V and this one was in the same price range and low mileage. The only thing left that is Hennessey besides all the badging are the brakes and wheels they installed. All the other bolt-ons have been changed or upgraded.”
Supercharged LSA Power
Mike and Atlanta-based shop Yai Racing tore into the motor to extract even more power. Starting with a port upgrade to the LSA supercharger from Kong Performance, they also upgraded the system with a Griptec Upper pulley, Dedicated Motorsports Solutions lower pulley, and ATI Balancer.
Not wanting to stop there, the engine was further fortified with Frankenstein Engine Dynamics Ported LSA heads, Brian Tooley Racing Stage 3 PDS cam, Brian Tooley Racing .660 valve spring kit, ARP head studs, and Lingenfelter 100mm idler pulley. The engine receives fuel from dual Deatschwerks fuel pumps fed into Fuel Injector Development injectors. A custom New Era Performance 4.5″ cold air intake provides cool air to the LSA, and a Vadder Performance Destroyer dual core heat exchanger and intercooler expansion tank and Black Market Racing heat exchanger ice box work together to keep the supercharger operating in optimum temperatures.
A surprise to no one, the CTS-V creates some unbelievable noises at both idle and under acceleration, aided by a custom X Pipe and Stainless Works mufflers. The car’s final tune was done by Yai Racing, netting a conservative 850hp and 800 lb⋅ft to the rear wheels.
To adequately get that power to the ground, Yai Racing built the 6L90e six speed automatic, utilizing a Circle Racing torque converter. The torque converter was designed for use in 800+hp applications, featuring a CNC machined steel stator for maximum adjustability.
Nitto NT555 G2 + NT555RII Tire Combo
With a mind for street and track use, Mike turned to Nitto Tire for their suggested combo of the 255/35/20 Nitto NT555 G2 ultra high performance summer tire on the front wheels, and 285/30/20 Nitto NT555 RII D.O.T.-compliant competition drag radials for the rear. Nitto developed both of these tires together to work in tandem, providing a streetable solution for modern muscle cars that allows for maximum performance at the track.
Mike contends, “I think the combo is great; solid balance of performance and function. I love the fact that these tires allow me to be competitive in drag and drive events with little or no fuss. I show up, air down, run down the strip, air back up then drive to the next track.”
His favorite modification to the CTS-V, however, has been installing the KW Suspensions coilovers. “The right stance makes all the difference in the world. It may not be the greatest for drag racing but it does ok,” he admited.
Drag and Drive
With this setup, Mike is consistently running 10s in the ¼ mile, most recently a 10.27 @ 142mph. Mike suggested a common reaction from those that see the car in person is that it performs as well as it does and can keep up with those with a more track-focused wheel and tire combination.
Mike’s favorite memory with the car was attending Sick Week drag-and-drive event with his son in the car last February. Drivers set an average time at each drag strip across the week to determine their place, and must drive their cars between each track along a predetermined route. Having a vehicle that can “do it all” is not only a testament to the Cadillac’s incredible engineering, but proof that a quality-focused build can truly transform a car without the need for compromise.
Keyword: 850HP Family Hauler: Supercharged Hennessy Cadillac CTS-V