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1st Mods to CTS!


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Hi all!  Well I finally completed my first major modifications to my ‘09 CTS. Upgraded to 20“ x 8.5 wheels and I went with Nitto 555 G2 tires.  Size on the tires are 255/35/20... Found a great deal on these rims (used on craigslist) and despite them being fairly scuffed,  you really can’t tell unless you get close. 😉

 I also cleaned up the brake calipers all around and painted with G2 epoxy paint, finishing it off with Cadillac script decals.  Can’t believe how dramatically different it looks! 😍

 I also decided to go with red anodized tuner-style lugs to accent with the red further. Very happy with the results and I’ve gotten many positive comments already on the clean look! 

 I haven’t been able to drive yet much yet, as I recently had rotator cuff surgery. It’s driving me crazy seeing it sit in the garage!  Once I get myself back in the driver seat I will have to do some more testing and tuning and get back to you on my feel for the new ride! 👍🏻

 

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'09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi.
'15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi
'70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration!

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1FB06599-8C2C-4ADA-8235-E8AAB74756C4.jpeg

53F86DBC-9135-41CA-BC10-564D9E97CC33.jpeg

'09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi.
'15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi
'70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration!

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Looks great good job.  I like the calipers. Very curious how the wet handling is, what was the stock wheel diameter?

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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17 minutes ago, BodybyFisher said:

Looks great good job.  I like the calipers. Very curious how the wet handling is, what was the stock wheel diameter?

Thanks Mike!

 From what I have seen so far I think I’m going to be very happy with the wet handling. I tromped on it one time at a stoplight when it turned green and it just launched with all-wheel-drive! Very little tire spin! 👌🏻

 

Stock room size was 17 inch. Here’s a Calculator that I use to compare tire sizes both dia and width. 

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'09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi.
'15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi
'70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration!

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41 minutes ago, Bruce Nunnally said:

Nice job; looks good.

Thanks Bruce, I’m really happy with the improvements! Would’ve liked to have gone with 285 width tire, but couldn’t justify another $60 per tire! 🥴 There appears to be plenty of wheel well space and it would’ve given me a little more rim lip protection.  

 A couple of tips on the caliper painting part of the project... These aluminum calipers polish up nicely, so I used a disc sander and then hand sanded with 220 grit paper to get a nice smooth finish. Also helps to have a vice-grip clamped to the caliper to use as a handle while painting! 👌🏻

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D5EB8962-9848-4F99-8149-3152AA77B214.jpeg

'09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi.
'15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi
'70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration!

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Thanks for posting a tips & 'before'.  The caliper is a very nice touch, and one that Cadillac should have done to begin with.

Bruce

2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing

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Very nice where did you buy the Cadillac script?, they are stick on decals?

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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46 minutes ago, BodybyFisher said:

Very nice where did you buy the Cadillac script?, they are stick on decals?

Yes, they are heat resistant vinyl decals. I found them on EBay, just did a search for Cadillac Brake Caliper Decal and these came up.

Seems like good quality product, seller was in France. It came with 12 decals total, 3 different sizes. You could choose color options also. 👌🏻

'09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi.
'15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi
'70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration!

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I completed the wheels project today with the Cadillac center caps and they look great! For less than $2 ea. I couldn’t go wrong! The Versante caps were crazed and didn’t look like they fit the look. 

Very happy with these results and the traction of these tires. Took it for a rain-run today and was pleased there wasn’t any hint of loss of traction with these tires! 👍🏻

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573357D5-0135-436E-93C9-A97F8E1AD6A3.jpeg

'09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi.
'15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi
'70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration!

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  • 5 weeks later...

Thanks guys! I swear I get compliments and thumbs-up almost every day! 👍🏻

'09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi.
'15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi
'70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration!

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Very impressive. 

Honestly not overdone. Some people just go too far but that is very nice.

Excellent pics as well

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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On 6/29/2019 at 11:03 AM, rockfangd said:

Very impressive. 

Honestly not overdone. Some people just go too far but that is very nice.

Excellent pics as well

Thanks Rockfangd, I appreciate that! 😉

'09 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 direct injection, 128 K mi.
'15 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, 5.3i V8, 125 K mi
'70 Firebird Formula 400, Bored+.04, RAIII heads, M21 4spd., in-process restoration!

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