BodybyFisher Posted April 17, 2016 Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 barczy01 repairs Northstars - he's in Indianapolis, IN. He is a member on this site. He's probably closer to you than Chicago.Ugh! That is the member I was speaking of, I thought he was in Texas.... haha.. thanks kevin. Sorry Retread, not Texas, Indianapolis, but I dont think you should chance driving it so far. Shipping it as inexpensively as possible is an option if you can get a good mechanic to R&R it for you. You will need to find a mechanic that would be able to store your car and engine carriage while the engine is shipped to and fro to be repaired. Maybe barczy01 has some ideas Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted April 17, 2016 Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 We have a member here that repairs NSs that is located in Texas, is Texas too far for you to go?I'd love to go to TX. My son lives in Waco, and my wife and I have friends in FTWorth. Just drove down there for a wedding last year. However, the guy in Chicago has a really good reputation repairing N* engines and specializes in them. He will put in either Norm serts or studs, whichever I choose and has done over 500 so far. Who is this TX fellow and what are his credentials? I spoke to Norm last month at length and multiple times. Norms insert is longer and girthier than the timesert and he uses rolled external threads. While I think the timesert is a terrific solution I think Norms insert is also a terrific product. I don't see the benefit to the studs however and need to do more research. I do know that chrfab.com produces northstar engines with 1000 HP and they use timeserts but they are not studded. Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Thanks for all your input, guys. I have made the decision to tow my car to Chicago where I am convinced it will be repaired correctly. It so happens that I own a tow dolly. I have only used it once since buying it new 5 years ago. Glad to be able to put it to good use. I did the calculation on gas cost to and from Chicago and with fuel prices down as they are, should be able to stay under $200 round trip. A cheap hotel room for the night brings it up to $250. Meals are a wash... I have to eat whether I go or stay. Altogether dragging it to Chicago will still be less than estimates from "luxury car" repair shops here in KC, and the guy (Joe Blau) is well known on the Cadillac Owner's forum, so I trust he will do the best job I can ask for. I'll fly up there to pick it up and drive it back after he is through with repairs. This has been a good experience. You guys have really helped me and I thank you. Like I say, I may be old but I am still bold. Back in the day when I did this sort of repair in my own garage, I was familiar with "Heli-coil", but I got out of touch with gearhead technology and never heard about "Timeserts" until now. Had to get a quick update. Learned some things about an aluminum engine, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 I hope everything works out for the best. Keep us posted on the repair/travel, etc. Check out my thread from 10 years ago when I tackled the same repair on a '97 STS that I bought from North Carolina. What kind of tow dolly do you have? All the ones I looked at when I bought my '97 STS were not wide enough for a Deville. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Glad to hear you made a decision and we were able to help out. Keep us up to date with your progress, Mike Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 I hope everything works out for the best. Keep us posted on the repair/travel, etc. Check out my thread from 10 years ago when I tackled the same repair on a '97 STS that I bought from North Carolina. What kind of tow dolly do you have? All the ones I looked at when I bought my '97 STS were not wide enough for a Deville. My tow dolly is the Acme EZtow. It is supposed to be the widest available, but I haven't tried to load the Caddy yet. Plan to do this as soon as my wife comes back from her water aerobics class today. Rain should be over by then, too. I like the Acme because it has disc brakes/surge system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfangd Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 All of my cars are too big for the tow dollies. I say why cant they make them bigger instead of me buying smaller cars. When I flat bedded my Seville home it just fit on the trailer. It was technically too long. Glad to hear you are having it fixed. I wish you the very best of luck GM FAN FOREVER Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barczy01 Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 Retread good luck on the repair and I'm sure you will be fine. I have plenty of head gasket jobs going on here and I have had 2 people this year already stay in hotels and it's stressful at times but it all works out. Whats Joe's warranty on the repair? here at B & B Automotive it's 18 months/ unlimited miles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread Posted April 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2016 Retread good luck on the repair and I'm sure you will be fine. I have plenty of head gasket jobs going on here and I have had 2 people this year already stay in hotels and it's stressful at times but it all works out. Whats Joe's warranty on the repair? here at B & B Automotive it's 18 months/ unlimited miles? According to Joe's web site, his warranty is 12 mos/unlimited miles. Stayed in a Motel 6 in Rolling Meadows, about 10 minutes from his shop. Surprisingly neat and clean place... and under $50!!! The real problem was tolls in and out of Chicago. Had to pay $8 each toll along I88 in the 'burbs, and $4 beyond Iowa in Illinois. I think there were about 8 tollbooths. The good part: roads pretty good except in a few spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread Posted April 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 I hope everything works out for the best. Keep us posted on the repair/travel, etc. Flew to ORD yesterday, picked up the Caddy and drove it home. Runs like new, got 29mpg at 70mph. My cost to tow it to Chicago was $173 in gas for the truck (there and back) plus $45.60 in tolls... (only gets about 10mpg.) Driving the Caddy home the following week after repair was $42.25!! (and only $10.20 in tolls.) In addition to the headgasket repair and lower case half sealed, Joe had the font motor mount replaced, 2 out of the 3 O2 sensors and catalytic converter replaced, new fuel pump&sender, couple of sensors replaced, as well as flush and fill anti-freeze, replaced R-134, oil and filter changed, All for less than $3000.... about 1/2 the cost if done in the KC area. It was certainly worth it to drag it to Chicago to get it fixed correctly and at a low price. While at his shop, Joe gave me a tour of his facility, pointing out what they do with another Caddy under repair. First time I saw a N* naked. He had 4 cars on lifts and a couple dozen outside in the yard. I'm guessing, but I think he does about 3 a week, maybe more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Very happy you got it fixed and that you are happy with the repair. Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airmike Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 I agree, it is great when you get the story of success and report to the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCadTech Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 I just love a happy ending THERE IS ALWAYS ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE JOB RIGHT - THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE JOB AGAIN !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barczy01 Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 I am busy and I am sure people that have been doing these jobs for over 6 plus years on their own have a good reputation doing these jobs. I myself have done thousands of these jobs guess since I started working on these cars in 1992. I use timeserts and or Norms with great success. Maybe Joe should increase his warranty to 18 months / unlimited miles if he does such a great job and has all this business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread Posted April 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 I am busy and I am sure people that have been doing these jobs for over 6 plus years on their own have a good reputation doing these jobs. I myself have done thousands of these jobs guess since I started working on these cars in 1992. I use timeserts and or Norms with great success. Maybe Joe should increase his warranty to 18 months / unlimited miles if he does such a great job and has all this business. The warranty is not really worth it. If I have a problem, am I going to drive it 545 miles to check it out? I am glad to know you compete in this market, assuming your cost is similar. I saw a Caddy for bids with engine issues on eBay, and considered having it shipped to your shop for repair, since you are by far closer than Chicago to this car in New Jersey. Because the engine issue may be more severe than just head gasket, I think I will hold off on this pursuit for the time being, but will remember you if I choose to do something like this at some future date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barczy01 Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Appreciate. Usually when people sell a car on ebay, the actual car is 2 times worse than the description. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfangd Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 lol right you are. GM FAN FOREVER Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread Posted August 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 Update: 4 months later and my Caddy is still running like a new car! Just noticed that oil consumption is minimal, too (unexpected benefit). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 52 minutes ago, Retread said: Update: 4 months later and my Caddy is still running like a new car! Just noticed that oil consumption is minimal, too (unexpected benefit). Glad to hear it Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCadTech Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 YaY THERE IS ALWAYS ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE JOB RIGHT - THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE JOB AGAIN !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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