Houston ... We have a problem

[Gooch1971]

Video posted on YouTube and discussed on AutoBlog.



AutoBlog States: With this one, we're going to let the video speak for itself. In brief, the owner of a CTS-V decides to add a Garrett turbo and apparently makes several other changes underhood at the same time. Then he invites his Gallardo-owning buddy over to film the first startup of the car, which wears the vanity plate, VETEATR. CATEATR might be more appropriate. Just watch and you'll understand. Note that there's some profanity near the end, so if you're at work, don your headsets or keep the volume low. The running commentary once the Caddy gets started is simply classic. http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/03/video-you-might-have-trouble-with-the-state-inspection/2#comments

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How many parts were destroyed and how much money did this guy just waste?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

He just gutted the cats for free.

[notfarnow]

he sure kept his cool, I would have lost it. Nothing more stressful and somewhat spooky than starting an engine after surgery... I always hesitate before turning the key.

Those CTS-Vs are sweet though. Wonder what they'll go for once they're a few years old.

[M.D. Holloway]

He was way to collected for that to be a first time failure. That wasn't the first time he started it up - that was staged.

[RickM]

An ex-coworker has a CTS V and it is one torquey MFer. He spent quite a bit installing Billy Boat (B&B) suspension and shifter components and within a week removed it all and sold it on Ebay....the ride and handling was godawfull.

It's a formidable sleeper in it's own right with no need for half assed upgrades.

[David]

Copied from one of the Autoblog posters:

The best quote from that vid was:

"I don't think you should be breathing that stuff in."
"I know, that's why I got a beer."

[Porsche-O-Phile]

So what was all that stuff - if it was just cat. converter innards, no big deal (they're downstream of the turbo).

If, OTOH it's turbo pieces, that's a very expensive failure. But I'm pretty sure it was just cat chunks.

Not all that bad, really. Probably freed up a lot of flow/backpressure.

[legion]

Do we know the cause of the failure?

Presuming it was the cats, did they produce too much backpressure for the turbos and they just got spit out?

I don't understand the pulsing from the exhaust though. I can't imagine what was causing that.

[tcar]

Too rich? ...raw gas into the cats?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by tcar

Too rich? ...raw gas into the cats?

That's my guess, too much fuel getting into the cats and exploding and blowing them apart.

[Tim Walsh]

a friend of mine sent me this link yesterday. I think all that's on the car during the vid is the catback and engine management. Sounds to me like he was running rich.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yea, kind of looks like it too with all the smokiness. . .