Tim Buchanan’s No-Holds-Barred Twin-Turbo CTS-V

image21The common idiom “Everything is bigger in Texas” can apply to a lot of things: steaks, barns, horses and so on. But while comically oversized proportions are all well and good, there’s one thing we’re particularly interested in that Texas has a habit of plus-sizing – horsepower numbers.

Take Tim Buchanan from Cypress, Texas, for example. Back in March of 2013, he purchased a second-generation Cadillac CTS-V that served as his daily driver. However, don’t confuse the title ‘daily driver’ with ‘stock’ – when he bought it, Tim’s CTS-V was running a full compound boost setup, using the LSA’s factory ported blower and a pair of Garret GT30R turbos.13062008_1279450318751815_1551997344499609632_n

Once in his hands, Tim relinquished the blower and introduced both an LS3 intake in its stead and an air-to-air intercooling system. Not long after, the inevitable dilemma of needing more power sank in, and the road to ridiculousness began.image25

Every time the car got close to where I wanted it, I found something I could improve. I guess this is how people addicted to drugs feel – cars and going fast are my drugs.”

Unlike others who catch the horsepower-bug and are content with two- to three-hundred pony increases, Tim is settling for nothing less than 2,000 horsepower and the title of fastest half-mile CTS-V. The quest began after he installed the LS3 intake, when he tweaked the car’s twin-turbo kit to accept a pair of Precision 6266 snails.

On this setup, making 1,200 at the tires, Tim paid a visit to TX2K. His first pull, however, resulted in the car’s original 6L90E giving out; it was at this point, though, that Tim knew the only direction to go was up. He knew he still wanted far more power, so he began preparing the Cadillac for a sturdier 4L80E to effectively transmit it.

Tim refers to his CTS-V as an “engineering project” rather than a simple build – and rightfully so. The “NSANE TTV” (as it’s so named) is far more than a collection of bolt-ons and off-the-shelf horsepower; a great deal of custom fabrication (done by Tim’s friend Danny Leibham) and unique build solutions are what’s gotten Tim and his machine so far.

Tim explains that the NSANE TTV has been an ongoing undertaking; for him, the end goal of 2,000 horsepower and a world-beating title has long been in sight, but his path to that achievement has been constantly evolving.

Tim states, “This has taken me more than three years now. Every time the car got close to where I wanted it, I found something I could improve on the car. I guess this is how people addicted to drugs feel – cars and going fast are my drugs.”10955335_1158841574146024_6418200812351826975_nAdmittedly, we can’t blame Tim one bit for being addicted to his CTS-V. Between the front fenders lies a 427-cubic-inch Dart LSNext block fitted with custom Ross Pistons Carlyle Racing slugs, connected to a Callies Performance Ultra Billet crankshaft via Callies Ultra rods.

A low-lash solid-roller camshaft transfers lift through the Crower shaft-mount rocker arms, and half-inch head studs hold the Frankenstein AllPro cylinder heads in place.

Cramming air down the engine’s throat is the aforementioned pair of Precision 6766 compressors – neatly tucked to either side of the transmission bell housing and set to churn out well over the 18 pounds of boost it produced in the past. An air-to-water intercooler keeps the charge nice and brisk.

Tim’s motto for the finished product is “if you need more power, just turn up the boost”.

Tim also has a shot of nitrous on tap for when a twin-turbo, 427-inch LSNext just doesn’t feel like quite enough.

Backing up the monstrous LS is an RPM Stage 6 4L80E gearbox with an FLT 3,600 RPM stall converter, and a one-piece driveshaft from the Driveshaft Shop. The CTS-V also utilizes a custom 15”x10” rear drag-wheel setup, which was accomplished by Cantu Racing. Tim explains that Cantu Racing has been his extra set of eyes throughout the build and has helped provide a ton of critical guidance.

A ProEFI computer and wiring harness transfer data, but Tim tells us that some tweaking may be in order soon – he hopes some skillful tuning by JMS Racing (who handles all of his tuning and wiring) will remedy issues keeping traction.1005939_811165225580329_1665435895_n

Tim is also looking forward to a custom intake-design by I Won Performance that’s coming in the near future, and will crown the massive mill.

Mark Carlyle of Carlyle Racing is the mastermind behind the power plant. Building a mill that can withstand 2,000 horsepower is no easy task, but Tim explains, “Mark has built an epic setup that will take me to the winning circle time and time again. He’s taken the time and put in the effort, so the first win goes out to him.”

But despite the array of go-fast parts (which came direct from the Carlyle Racing team) and the murderous power output, Tim still intends to employ the NSANE TTV as his part-time daily driver as soon as everything the car is buttoned up and fine-tuned.

He tells us that this was a part of his goal – he wanted an extremely high-powered street car that’s built to handle some serious numbers without having to sacrifice anything. Tim’s motto for the finished product is “if you need more power, just turn up the boost”.

While there’s still a few hurdles Tim needs to overcome to get his Cadillac up where he wants it, it won’t be long before he’s able to revisit TX2K and start laying down some blistering half-mile times. In the three years he’s been patiently crafting it, he’s transformed the NSANE TTV into a serious weapon – we’re eager to see what kind of records he’ll be breaking in the near future.image27

About the author

Joshua Phillips

Josh has always been captivated by cars, from legendary classics and late-model American muscle to European supercars.
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