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Best Upgrades 5BW

USMC1911

Active Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2025
Messages
43
Location
Oregon
V-Series Cadillac(s)?
2025 CT5 Blackwing
What are the best/favorite upgrades or "must have" thing/things you have done on your car? What was the best upgrade for money spent? For me my 2025 is pretty much stock with the exception of PPF. Might fab my own exhaust in a few weeks as all the options are prohibitively expensive for something I enjoy doing and I hate the round tips that are offered in anything currently available.
 
There's not a huge aftermarket for these cars but thankfully (IMO) these are nearly perfect from factory. I'm considering mods to allow a little more supercharger noise into the cabin (maybe a lid). May entertain an exhause once I see what AWE has in store for us. Other than that just budget for more gas and tires!
 
By no means must haves but here is what I have done so far:

Installed 2 10inch Kicker L7T subs, Rockford Power Mono Amp, some sound deadening as well
Rear deck lid trunk fabric cover to match the rest of the trunk
Kooks headers and green cats
Kong ported SC
Spark plug and wire upgrade
Cadillac rubber floor mats
Tinted windows
Dress up covers for the shock towers in engine compartment with "cool" BW sticker
Ceramic coating with light paint correction

Debating intake, larger TB, flex fuel and the tune to go with it at some point in future.
 
By no means must haves but here is what I have done so far:

Installed 2 10inch Kicker L7T subs, Rockford Power Mono Amp, some sound deadening as well
Rear deck lid trunk fabric cover to match the rest of the trunk
Kooks headers and green cats
Kong ported SC
Spark plug and wire upgrade
Cadillac rubber floor mats
Tinted windows
Dress up covers for the shock towers in engine compartment with "cool" BW sticker
Ceramic coating with light paint correction

Debating intake, larger TB, flex fuel and the tune to go with it at some point in future.

Any tuning with the motor upgrades? Did you dyno it and if so do you care to share the numbers?
 
I specifically was trying to avoid tuning at this time. So no we did not tune. Been running several months now with factory tune and it appears to be compensating without any issue. Yes we dyno'd before and after. Local shop has a Mustang Dyno. Stock was 596 rwhp and after current mods 645 rwhp

My shop says from what he observed the car would probably still compensate quite well to the smaller intake that JLT makes and larger TB on factory tune.
 
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At 596 I assume its a 6 speed car? Is that a Kong "xport"? Where the motor modifications all installed at the same time?
 
Yes mine is a manual. Kong Xport with zpe hub pulley was done. Kooks,plugs,Kong where all done at once.

I was rather confidant from videos of mods done at other shops these would play nice with factory tune. Im happy to say they do.

Might try pulley size change with belt at some point as well.
 
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As of now still stock size. I wanted to run with what I had for bit. Maybe this fall/winter I discussed with my shop about trying some more options.
 
I think once you start messing with pulleys, you’ll need to start tuning. The wideband O2 sensor can easily adjust fueling to compensate for the increased airflow into and out of the engine. However, once you begin increasing cylinder pressure, it’s a whole new ball game. I’d be a little nervous relying solely on the knock sensors to adjust timing.
 
My shop and I agree with you @hawk02. Next would be intake and tb which we believe stock tune will be good with. Down the road from there would be things like pulley change, flex fuel, etc and the requisite tuning. Im hoping the tuning for Global B cost will be somewhat more "reasonable" at that time as well.
 
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Exhaust sound.

The V8 and its incredible sound is way I bought the car. You *gotta* open it up where you can really hear it.
 
I have only done cosmetic mods. Don't really plan on doing anything performance wise. I do like my sequential signal/brake lights that I installed last year.
 
corsa seems to be the way to go for this motor. every clip i hear its heavenly. When people talk about the LID do they just modify the intake right ontop of the air filter? or do they just swap out the filter housing? I dont own one but want to in the next year or so.
 
corsa seems to be the way to go for this motor. every clip i hear its heavenly. When people talk about the LID do they just modify the intake right ontop of the air filter? or do they just swap out the filter housing? I dont own one but want to in the next year or so.
He is referring to the supercharger lid.
 
He is referring to the supercharger lid.
Excuse Me Wow GIF by Mashable
 
  • upper trunk liner
  • Soler BT Throttle Controller
  • V1 Gen2 hardwired
  • stickers over the warning labels on the visors
  • blacked out side markers
Oh, & a kydex holster
 
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Mods so far:
  • Stinger laser jammer. Professional install
  • Smoke/amber side markers
  • Uniden R7 hardwired to fuse block. Will upgrade to R8w soon
  • Monochrome front and rear emblems to match the Shadow paint (looks incredible)
  • McGard black lug nuts
 

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