A very popular aftermarket tuning option for the Supercharged V8 LSA engine in current Cadillac V-Series models is to replace the crank case or supercharger snout pulleys, or both, causing the supercharger to spin a bit faster and increase pressure. This results in a gain of roughly up to 89 rwhp (rear wheel horse power, 111 hp at the crank). More results here.
The cost of the pulley is often under $700, and the change requires a tune, or calibration of the powertrain control module (PCM). Wait4Me Performance for example has a popular aftermarket tune (calibration) that matches this approach, as well as a kit for the mod.
However, if the Cadillac Dealer determines that a V-Series car has been modified, they may choose to decline warranty repairs on the powertrain, which can take a lot of the fun out of this as a modification.
What if Cadillac offered this as a Dealer Installed mod? Here is my plan:
a) Determine cost of the parts — Sells retail for $650 so likely far under $400/kit at 50 kits
b) Develop a calibration to match, or license an existing calibration — worst case $400/kit at 50 kits although likely much less — or Engineering nonrecurring to develop in house of TBD (used $400/kit)
c) Test the calibration and pulley with a car and determine expected impact to warranty. Estimated 20 hrs of engineering x $200 /hr = $4000 nonrecurring cost. Amortize over 50 kits = $80/kit
d) Add anticipated additional warranty cost (Guessing it is under $300/car) to the kit cost.
e) Add Cadillac profit of $500 to the kit cost; add Dealer profit of $1000 to kit cost at Dealer.
f) Cost to Dealer: $1,680. Dealer sells for $2,680 plus install charge of 2 hours at $200 for $2,880. V-Series could be in and out of the Dealer for under $3K installed, full powertrain warranty intact. I believe that the Dealers can sell a ton of 100hp upgrades at $3K installed.
g) Simple alternate: Allow Dealer installation of approved aftermarket kits (example Wait4Me performance kit) for $300 warranty reserve + Cadillac profit $100 plus Dealer install time $200 + plus Dealer Profit of $100 = $700 installed with existing warranty intact, in addition to the cost of the aftermarket kit.
Result:
Reserve taken for any warranty impact.
Cadillac profits
Dealers profit
Cadillac builds up more data to consider this as a factory option on special models
Herds of 650 hp+ V-Series Cadillacs roaming the land under warranty and tearing up magazine test comparisons