Man bought a mechanically totaled Cadillac CTS and turned it into a 500bhp twin turbo sleeper
- A YouTuber has boosted the power of a Cadillac CTS-V Sport
- The CTS-V was sold at a wholesale auction with mechanical problems
- After his work, Samcrac extracted over 500HP from the Cadillac
Published on Mar 17, 2025 at 7:34 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Mar 18, 2025 at 1:28 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
An American YouTuber recently bought a mechanically totaled Cadillac CTS-V Sport, and turned it into a wild 500hp turbocharged sleeper.
YouTuber Samcrac has made a name for himself by buying wrecked cars and reviving them.
This CTS-V is no exception, and the seemingly boring-looking sedan is, of course, transformed by his work.
What started as a car sold ‘as-is’ and with known defects has become a real sleeper, with enough power to rival a muscle car or even a Chevrolet Corvette.
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The YouTuber had to diagnose the Cadillac’s problems
While the car was in externally great condition, there were a number of problems that Sam had to diagnose.
The YouTuber bought it at a wholesale auction, with the biggest issue being it had a failed timing system.
According to Sam, this is a common problem in GM cars with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, as we have here.
Thankfully, there are plenty of parts available online that fix the timing system.
The part was sourced for just under $90, a massive savings on the crazy prices dealers quote for repairs.
Sam also used a 3D printer to create components for the car, which really helped him in repairing the Cadillac.
As he worked on the car, the YouTuber found a few more issues.
These included oil leaks and a dirty valve cover, plus further timing system problems, including a failed guide and tensioner.
Sam extracted huge power out of the Cadillac CTS-V Sport
While it might look quite plain, the CTS-V Sport hides 420HP in its twin-turbocharged V6 engine.
But Sam wanted to get even more out of it, hence the tuning he did to the sedan.
He installed twin-turbo exhaust downpipes plus the exhaust system, which instantly helped boost the power to 500HP.
The CTS-V Sport uses Chevy Corvette suspension, but this had become worn so he replaced the front ball joints and control arms which would also help with the car’s handling.
To extract even more power, Sam sent the car to HP Tuners who tuned the engine.
Thanks to them, the Cadillac produced 550hp, which is 130HP up from what it had as standard.
All of this was done on quite a small budget, and it means this mechanically-defective Cadillac is now back on the road.
And more powerful than ever!
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
