The unloved Catera seems to have head gasket issues with the underpowered 3.0 V6. But the RWD chassis should have potential and the seats in a Catera Sport are especially nice. Could this chassis accept an LSx/4L60 transplant, probably with megasquirt? Seems like it could be a hoot, though exhaust routing might take some fab work. Anyone have ideas or experience?
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/778988-ls1-into-cadillac-catera-56k-death.html
Saturn LS was a different platform and drive configuration.
In reply to VanillaSky: I should have checked - thanks! Post feexed.
Will check the board link after work - filters. Appreciate it.
From what I remember, both the Monaro and the Catara share the same Opal DNA. Look at GTO info.
wouldnt that be a modern day CTS-V?
DukeOfUndersteer wrote: wouldnt that be a modern day CTS-V?
Yes. GM was actually working on a Catera-V or whatever they would have called it.
Some of the parts in the post I linked above are actually GM Prototype parts.
(the weight is not too bad, 3770 compared to 3850 for the V, this will likely increase though when I'm done)
Yikes! That's really heavy! The catera is not a big car, I'm amazed that it weighs so much.
Whoa.. someone has been reading my mind again.
While trying to come up with an idea a couple days ago for a first Challenge car for next year (probably the year after that in reality) I thought about this idea, since Cateras with motor issues can be had for a song around here. It would definitely be a challenge to get it under the 2011 budget but would be easier than trying to make a nice street car with the swap.
$500 Catera
$500 5.3L LS Vortec
$1000 in stuff you would never have thought about till your doing the swap
And Millions of hours to get it working = a midpack Challenge car.. Hmm. Sounds perfect to me! 
And GTO stock suspension bits can be had for stupid cheap. All the 04 guys get 05-06 bigger front brakes. . . You should see the Catera front brakes. . . talk about itty bitty. 04 GTO brakes are a HUGE improvement on the Catera.
Damn, I hate reading threads like this....
(a quick check shows craigslist has a Catera within 2 hours of my house)
oh, the world is a funny place, we have like 6 catera motors at works, i mentioned them being an ople omega rebadged as cadillac, then went on to fantasize and bench race with the guy i work with, few days later we get one in for the motor running rough and misfiring... , i mention it to my teacher (automotive school) and he tells me he has one for sale for $800 because it runs rough and needs a fuel pump.... 6.0 truck motor would be sweet in one of these....funny thing is i've been stalking box caprices to play with for a while and this seems to be along the same lines ...definetely doable
In reply to stealthfighter1:
I've been thinking a V8 Catera would be a doable Challenge car and a very fun stealth machine for DD on the cheap. I like the way you think - box Chevy is on my bucket list, want to put 94-96 Impala SS suspension under it.
Strike Zero: thanks for the brake tip.
I feel like we've discussed this here before
Awww crap.... now you've got me looking. The missus would love a RWD Caddy.
belteshazzar wrote: I feel like we've discussed this here before
Newbs: always ruining it for the rest of...oh, wait... 
Waiiiit, how similar are the GTO (04-06) and the earlier catera? I know one of the issues with the car was that it was an interference engine with a timing belt, and owners didn't know much about preventative maintenance.
In reply to Nitroracer:
They are all built on the same platform (Omega, Commodore, Monaro, GTO, Middle East Caprice and Lumina)
Holden supposedly took the chassis and widen the engine bay, added rack and pinion and a V8. There were a few V8 Omegas built in Europe as a prototype, but according to sources, cooling was one of the main issues with car. The steering box posed a problem as well. The exhaust manifolds had to have some funky bends and flat spots in it to work. There are even some factory V8 omega pieces floating around out there (read expensive).
I took some quick measurements at the pull a part place and it appears that the GTO front subframe will fit under a Catera. Mounting points are still up in the air as I never had a chance to find out if it was feasible.
The Rear suspension is pretty much dead on if I remember correctly.
Lingenfelter did one a few years ago that was ridiculously expensive; custom headers and a built up LS1 + T56.
When my GTO was totaled, I thought about buying it back from the ins co and finding a blown-up Catera.
All these years I thought cateras were FWD, you learn something new every day!
Of course the GTO subframe will fit, the GTO is the Aussie Monaro and the Catera is the same chassis as the Aussie Commodore/Monaro, should be straight forward.
My Bitter SC (for sale) shares an extremely similar chassis with the Catera (was the previous Senator A chassis) and is a heck of a lot sexier. ;-)
Actually before I bought it, I was going to do an LS1 Catera conversion then convert the grille and trim to Opel... but the Catera has problems other than a weak engine... I decided it wasn't worth the headache.
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