The second-generation Cadillac CTS-V transcends its luxury sedan origins in this masterfully executed drag build. Starting with the factory LSA powerplant, owner Felicia Smith and her husband transformed their 2009 CTS-V into a 1,200-wheel-horsepower drag strip dominator while retaining all its creature comforts.
Thanks to the fully built 427 Dart engine, custom camshaft, and race-ready suspension, this 4 door sedan is tearing up competitors at the strip. Read on to find out more about it!
Drag Racing Roots
Drag racing is one of the oldest forms of motorsports activities. Mechanics, engineers, and drivers alike were testing the capabilities of their automobiles and motorcycles side by side on a straight line, which originated one of the very first forms of road racing.
Drag racing as a discipline took shape in the 1940s and 1950s with the involvement of WWII veterans who used decommissioned aircraft bases with landing strips that became perfect spots for such activities.
While cars and technologies have drastically changed since the last century, the concept of this simple form of racing remained pretty much untouched – two cars side by side decide which one of them is faster on a straight line.
“Modern drag racing went so much further and evolved into a technologically advanced discipline with a widely derived system of vehicle classes and tracks”
Modern drag racing has evolved into a technologically advanced discipline with a widely derived system of vehicle classes and tracks that allows amateur drivers and professional teams of all sorts to compete with equal rivals and set records in their own category.
CTS-V Drag Build
Felicia Cherisse Smith is a great drag racing fan from Oklahoma City and the owner of this clean-looking 2009 Cadillac CTS-V, which she works on and maintains together with her loving husband Aaron Smith, who also happens to be a crew chief and master mechanic.
“Don’t get fooled by the stock-looking exterior of this CTS-V, as it’s hiding some mind-blowing upgrades under the hood and gives out about 1200whp at the DYNO”
Don’t get fooled by the stock-looking exterior of this CTS-V, as it’s hiding some mind-blowing upgrades under the hood and produces about 1,200 whp at the dyno, which totally explains the car’s nickname “4Door Rocket.”
Interview with the owner
Read on to find out more about this remarkable vehicle and the background of the build in the interview section below.
How did you get into the muscle car scene?
– I have always enjoyed cars. I actually started with imports but fell in love with the deep-cammed sound a V8 produces. There is no other sound in the world like it.
Why did you choose a Cadillac CTS-V?
– I sat in a CTSV in 2013 and fell in love with it. I wanted fast but luxurious.
What inspired you to choose this modification style?
– LSAs are very easy to modify and not extremely expensive.
What challenges did you face while putting it together?
– Oh man, what challenges did we not face? My husband and I built and still currently maintain the car in our garage. Working on the floor is hard. In the beginning, it was a nightmare because the car was my daily so any modifications we did had to be done within that weekend so I could go back to work the following Monday. I think I switched the wheels and tires from stock to drag pack and vice versa at least 5 times a week.
What do you love about your car?
– I love that it is a fast race car, a fun street car, a comfortable ride, and so much more.
Is it your daily or a weekend ride?
– It is now a weekend toy.
Do you take it to local car shows or a race track?
– Both, more track than anything.
Specs – 2009 Cadillac CTS-V
Performance
- 427 Dart from Thompson Motorsports
- Custom cam from Cammotioncams
- F310 Series heads from @thefrankensteined
- ZL1 lid with reinforced brick from @dedicated.motorsports
- Johnson lifters from @ct_performance
- Stock 1.9 LSA blower ported by Rick Crawford
- 2.38 upper / 10.0 lower
- @radiumengineering fuel rails and regulator
- @circlespeedspecialties converter
- Stock 6L90 with upgraded clutches and billet intermediate shaft done in the garage with Circle D trans parts
- @nitrousexpress kit maximizer 5
- 1-piece driveshaft by @dinamicdrivelines
- Stock axles
- Stock rearend
Fuel System
- Trunk tank and heat exchanger for cooling
- @dsxtuning E85 flex fuel kit
- @fuelinjectionconnection 1700s injectors
- @deatschwerks DW300 fuel pumps and AEM Electronics 400 aux pump
- Alky meth kit
Suspension
- Stock rear suspension
- Front coilovers by @a.hobbs
- Trailing arms from @t_r_z_motorsports
Wheels & Brakes
- 17375DR2 Hoosier tires
- 15″ Forgestar F14 rims
- Baer brakes from @t_r_z_motorsports
Other
- Datadriven Performance air intake paired with Greenfilter
- MM Solutions catch can with dual hoses thanks to @rhpracing
- All tuned through HP tuners by @rickcrawford_rcrvmax
- All factory components retained (power steering, heated seats, AC)
- Weight: 4,400 lbs with driver
Conclusion
While maintaining a stock appearance, this CTS-V embodies the ultimate sleeper philosophy, unleashing 1,200 wheel horsepower while preserving its premium sedan soul – a true Jekyll and Hyde creation that effortlessly transitions from comfortable daily cruiser to drag strip destroyer, setting a remarkable example of modern muscle engineering at its finest.
| Parts Category | Difficulty Rating* |
|---|---|
| Suspension Mods: | 10/10 |
| Performance Mods: | 10/10 |
* Based on our build difficulty evaluation system ⓘ
Performance leads the charge in this sleeper build, hitting a perfect 10/10 with its formidable 427 Dart powerplant and meticulously chosen forced induction setup. The suspension setup follows suit with another 10/10, proving this isn’t just an amator build with its professional-grade coilover system and track-ready geometry.
Watch the progress and find out more about this Cadillac CTS-V project by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @4drrckt!
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