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Exhausting Cadillac STS-V options – Corsa

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After reading and re-reading everyone’s experience and advice on exhaust options, and resulting sound files,  I decided to go with the Corsa 14157 axle-back system for my 2008 Cadillac STS-V.

Just ordered the part today, so not installed yet on the V.

I had a Corsa cat-back system for my 2005 Cadillac CTS and enjoyed the system & sound, and I think it makes a nice match for the STS-V.

Corsa stock photo of exhaust on a 05-07 STS

I was sorely tempted to follow my plan as stated, to replace the individual components with the Magnaflow exhaust & cross-flow muffler for the resonator, but the cost with shop support for dyno, adjustments, and testing as a project was similar to getting the Corsa axle-back system.  I will still need to establish a clean before/after test regimen for the exhaust install.

Corsa offers this flow-bench testing to show that the 14157 system out-performs the factory exhaust.

The Corsa 14157 is not advertised to fit the 08 Cadillac STS-V, but rather the 05-07 STS.  There were changes made by Cadillac in 08 for exhaust hanger location, so the system will need some adjustments at the muffler shop during installation.

Re-Establishing the Cadillac STS-V air box heat barrier

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I like the Spectre intake for the Cadillac STS-V.  However, when we put the intake on we discarded the factory engine covers along the front and side. The Spectre intake includes a barrier to direct air away from the intake filter, but it is not closed at the top.

Cadillac STS-V Spectre Intake filter and air dam

I was considering building an insulated cover or box, but it is desirable to me to re-use the factory trim pieces.  Also, there are some functional air blocks built into the trim that I want to recover use of — example the foam air dam below the center front piece, and at the rear of the driver side piece.

Foam on the under side of front middle trim acts to keep air in the radiator flow

The factory piece that would fit over the driver side won’t fit with the Spectre intake in place, so I trimmed the side piece, and the front center piece, to allow them to fit with the Spectre Intake.  I need to get some rubber gasket material to close the gaps, and smooth the edges, but now all the pieces fit.

Trim pieces trimmed and in place

Even though the V was hot I did a test and data run:

Max calculated power for the test run 415 hp in 2nd gear at 6346 RPM for comparative purposes; max torque 377 lb ft at 3324 RPM.

 

Unfortunately I only have a heat-soaked mid-day comparison run for today.  I attended Church this morning, then worked on trimming pieces, then did a test run.

Baseline from August 2011

MPH (Temps in Deg Fahrenheit)
Deltas Item 0 30 45 60 Deltas
Ambient 90 90 90 90 0
23 IAT1 113 117 113 106 -7
5 IAT2 118 120 127 135 17
2 MAT 120 121 136 169 49
Trimmed Trim Mar 2012
75F
Deltas MPH (Temps in Deg Fahrenheit)
Item 0 30 45 60 Deltas
Ambient 75 75 75 75 0
16 IAT1 91 93 93 91 0
33 IAT2 124 122 129 136 12
-2 MAT 122 121 134 163 41

There is a lot to read and try to analyze here, but let’s piece it together.

First, today is cooler than back in August, 75F instead of 90F.  However, my STS-V is heat-soaked today and wasn’t back in August.

IAT1 is 16F above Ambient now and was 23F back in August.   That is what the trim is supposed to help with, so good.  In August the 0-60 run itself cooled the IAT1, while it did not today.

IAT2 was only 2F above IAT1 in August (morning run, not heat soaked); today it was 33F above (heat-soaked).  In August the IAT2 gained 17F during the 0-60 run; today 12F.

MAT in August gained 49F on the run; today 41F.

I am cautiously considering replacement of the trim beneficial — did result in lower delta temps.   I would like to have a non-heat-soaked current run to compare for apples to apples however.  There are still some gaps in the trim fit that will benefit from some gasket material along the edges.

 

Cadillac features Customer Service excellence

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J.D. Power and Associates analyzes customer opinions of more than 800 brands

DETROIT – Cadillac was recognized today as a 2012 Customer Service Champion at the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Roundtable in Orlando, Fla. The luxury automaker was one of only 50 companies out of 800 studied to earn the distinction.

To qualify for inclusion, a company must excel within its own industry and stand out among leading brands in 20 major industries evaluated by J.D. Power.

2011 Cadillac Escalade Platinum.

The 2012 Champions were identified based on customer feedback, opinions, and perceptions gathered primarily from J.D. Power’s syndicated research in 2011. The group of 50 represents the highest-performing U.S. companies that deliver service excellence – both within their specific industries and across all industries measured.

“We’re in the midst of a mission to enhance every interaction a consumer has with Cadillac,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of Cadillac Sales and Service. “We are strongly committed to customer satisfaction, and appreciate this external confirmation of our efforts.”

Cadillac has instituted wide-ranging changes to enhance the luxury customer experience, conducting comprehensive customer experience training for dealership personnel and developing an improved suite of owner benefits called Cadillac Shield.

The Cadillac Escalade received highest honors in the Large Premium Crossover/SUV category of the J.D. Power 2011 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS), which measures the number of problems consumers experience during the first 90 days of ownership.

In February, Cadillac was named the most-desired automotive brand in the United States by men, according to results of a market research test by the global strategic neuro-insight firm Buyology Inc and uSamp, which measured personal and emotional connections to 220 well-known brands across 10 industries.