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