Scotty

I am sure this has been asked in the past, but here I go....Why SCOTTY mike? Big Jay I just saw this post Jay, four months later. I chose Scotty for a few reasons 1) he was the engineer from the Enterprise, and 2) I had owned a 91 Seville that was tight. When I bought my Deville, I felt like I was in a space ship, ala, the enterprise! Look at the plate on my car below...

Good luck let us know how it works out...

I just ordered my license plate frame! Can't wait to get it..... Should I change my plate number to SCOTTY?

Adallak, I have a timing light, if you want I can send it to you, Mike

Julio, if I am reading this right you looked at a bunch of Eldos and they were leaking, how did you determine that so quickly? When you bought this one you knew it was leaking? You kind of gave me an idea, I could buy an ETC or STS the needs the head gasket done cheaply and do the head job, hmmm

Terrific job you did also! I was under my 96 the other day and thought about you, I saw a 6 to 8 inch brace and remembered that when you got done with that job you posted a picture asking what it was and where it went! I could see why you didn't remember where it went it was located in an odd location.

I understand that the REAR valve cover is hard to get off. I am thinking that I need to change the seals/gaskets on my valve covers, so I am curious how hard you find getting them off. Thanks

Very NICE cutaway! Love it

If you get a chance take some photos, Mike

This is not a random post. Its great. I am very interested in how hard it is to take your valve covers off...you might want to purchase new valve cover gaskets and or seals for when you reinstall them. Isn't there a chain tensioner in there? Good Luck, Mike

If you read my post within this thread from 2/25/2005, I have explained what time-serting is, Mike

Not all those members go on here still! I think most of the regulars have voted! There should be more than that though! common people LOL! Allow me to add to this: 2114 members, 1181 members who have posted at least once to this forum, 100 members who have voted in this poll. Hmm only 8.46% of our members have posted, not a good showing, maybe we have to review the TOS and clean house! Uhhhhh, Maybe there are posting members who don't own Northstars? How many Northstar owner's do we have that responded is a better question, In addition, how many non-Northstar owner's voted.. ..hmmm I see hanging chads, oh boy...time for an audit Ill bet we only have 200 regular members. And don't forget to deduct one YES vote since James Smith voted twice!

Jason while you or I could do that job, its not really a DIY job lets face it, with my mechanical experience I would be hard pressed to do this job myself and I am always in AWE of those who do! But I agree with you, he should have it repaired, Mike While I have heard that the time-sert job can be done with the engine in place, its easier with the carriage out, I would be thrilled to simply drop the carriage...

The engine block of make of aluminum. Anytime the heads are removed it is necessary to drill out the head bolt threads and insert a time-sert. See a time-sert here >> http://www.timesert.com/ Using a time-sert is the correct way to re-install the head bolts. It is also necessary to use NEW head bolts as they are coated and from what I understand are designed to stretch, old bolts have been stretched already and can not be used again. Note also that there is a specific method to tightening the head bolts, its not as easy as it was years ago when you simply followed a pattern and gradually tighten down. When the heads are removed, some material is removed from the threads weakening them. The weakened threads can lead to the head bolt pulling out the weakened threads, causing the head gasket to leak. Anytime the heads are removed time-serts must be used don't let anyone tell you any different. Dexcool is good for 5 years or 100K miles, the green is good for 2 years (not sure how many miles maybe 24,000 miles), after that it loses it ability to prevent corrosion and the headgaskets can corrode and allow fluids and combustion gases to inter-mix... The coolant can also damage the head bolt threads weakening them.. So change your coolant religiously

Did you vote, don't forget to cast your vote!! Mike

Yes! I am having fun as 22% was being presented as GOSPEL for the failure rate on the NORTHSTAR. I am out there with my pompoms making sure we get a GOOD sample so that we can have an idea of exactly what the failure rate actually is.... Given that this site is a site that owner's come to that are typically having problems I suspect that our failure rate will be higher than the actual... There are however many variables... Cool I like LAKERS colors!

10.53%, about 1 out of 10, I still think we can do better. Keep Voting! Here an interesting tid bit, since we were at 22.5%, we have gotten 51 NO-TIMESERT and 1 YES TIMESERT..... I think we will end up at 5%, basically saying that 5 out of 100 need it. Those are pretty good odds given the performance we experience. I smile everytime I drive it!

10.75% folks, THANKS for VOTING, If you have not VOTED PLEASE VOTE! Mike

We are below 11% folks, keep up the VOTING, THANKS! Mike

Oh Yea, down to 11.11% HA I love it!

OH Yea....we are below 11.4% Keep up the VOTING!! Mike

OH Yea....we are below 11.5% Keep up the VOTING!! Mike

Think about doing it yourself, when you are ready we can help you out, it certainly makes the job cheaper.. Mike

I myself am a little MORE fanatical and while I know every two years is OK, I said every YEAR!

If you don't maintain it properly it will be hard to avoid.. Change the green coolant annually, use the cooling supplement, and change the thermostat and cap every two years to help maintain proper pressure and temperatures.