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Head Gasket Repair


steveo412

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ok i can get new ones them seals run 40 for 4,,i did notice that a couple oil pan bolts were stripped and the gasket wasnt holding a seal,should i make new treads or just try new bolts?

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If you have stripped threads in aluminum, get Timeserts for them.

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-- Click Here for CaddyInfo page on "How To" Read Your OBD Codes
-- Click Here for my personal page to download my OBD code list as an Excel file, plus other Cadillac data
-- See my CaddyInfo car blogs: 2011 CTS-V, 1997 ETC
Yes, I was Jims_97_ETC before I changed cars.

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If you have stripped threads in aluminum, get Timeserts for them.

Jim, while that is true for main bearings and the head bolts, the pan bolts are only torqued to a low value, my memory tells me < 15 ft lbs. I think it might be possible to drill and tap those bolt holes to the next size. Not sure if timeserts are available for those holes, and shockingly the manual shows heli-coil fixes for most bolt holes

What do you think?

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

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ok i can get new ones them seals run 40 for 4,,i did notice that a couple oil pan bolts were stripped and the gasket wasnt holding a seal,should i make new treads or just try new bolts?

Steve,

Repair the thread holes - I would think heilicoils would work fine for that since the oil pan bolt holes are only torqued to 89 in-lbs or so.

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

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You can't go wrong with the manual. What does the FSM say about oil pan bolt holes?

Another opinion -- from the experienced guys who also own Cadillacs, BodybyFisher, Ranger, Mac etc., what would you do if this was your car?

CTS-V_LateralGs_6-2018_tiny.jpg
-- Click Here for CaddyInfo page on "How To" Read Your OBD Codes
-- Click Here for my personal page to download my OBD code list as an Excel file, plus other Cadillac data
-- See my CaddyInfo car blogs: 2011 CTS-V, 1997 ETC
Yes, I was Jims_97_ETC before I changed cars.

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I would drill it out to the next metric or SAE size and tap it, but that is conceptual, Id have to see the situation to see if the holes in the pan could accept the next size

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

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The best bet is to use a threaded insert - Heilicoil or whatever in order to keep the same fastener/head size. When you re-assemble the engine and use the GM sealant, you really have to work fast before the sealant skins over. Changing sockets in the middle of a torque sequence will slow things down.

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

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Here is the Timesert page on the Cadillac of repairs:

CTS-V_LateralGs_6-2018_tiny.jpg
-- Click Here for CaddyInfo page on "How To" Read Your OBD Codes
-- Click Here for my personal page to download my OBD code list as an Excel file, plus other Cadillac data
-- See my CaddyInfo car blogs: 2011 CTS-V, 1997 ETC
Yes, I was Jims_97_ETC before I changed cars.

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well not good,,there is a crack in the block,its alittle hair line crack,and the heads look bad,my buddy said there junk[warped],i guess its from over heating to many times,i dunno,,im gonna just take the wheels and tvs out and some other stuff and junk it,mike i will be sending your kit back after christmas,,i did find a 1995 seville that has a burnt wiring harness,the guy just paid 2100 for the timesert a year ago,it burned the coilpack and the plastic on the firewall,,,could i use my wiring harness on the seville?he said there the same,but wanted to ask u guys first,he wants 1000$,,there isnt a sratch on it,,the inside is perfect,,thanks everyone for the help,,steve

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Take a photo of the crack if you would.

I am sorry to hear this

Your wiring harness should fit a 95, which wiring harness however?

We were always told not to worry about the heads being warped as they don't, how did you determine they were warped?

Before you buy this guys car, check the coolant for by products!!!!!!

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

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Please post a photo of the location of the crack in the block. Warped heads are almost unheard of on these engines. What was the total out of flat measurement?

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

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I don't really know if a Northstar head can take a warp that is significant for auto mechanical purposes, i.e. that can't be ignored when reassembling the engine. The block would have to force or mirror that warp, and that's not possible with the steel sleeves and their mounting in the massive bottom end of the Northstar, which I strongly suspect is a steel spider that provides the structure of the main bearing and case half anchors and sleeve anchors. In any case I don't believe that a Northstar could run in a condition that allowed that kind of flex in the block, or any condition that might approach such a condition, and in any case the PCM would simply shut down as a fire prevention measure long before any such condition was approached.

If you are talking about what looks like a hairline crack in the exterior water jacket, that is likely caused by something hitting the block while it is outside the car, not something that happened while the engine was in use. Also, that type of crack is repairable.

CTS-V_LateralGs_6-2018_tiny.jpg
-- Click Here for CaddyInfo page on "How To" Read Your OBD Codes
-- Click Here for my personal page to download my OBD code list as an Excel file, plus other Cadillac data
-- See my CaddyInfo car blogs: 2011 CTS-V, 1997 ETC
Yes, I was Jims_97_ETC before I changed cars.

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Take a photo of the crack if you would.

I am sorry to hear this

Your wiring harness should fit a 95, which wiring harness however?

We were always told not to worry about the heads being warped as they don't, how did you determine they were warped?

Before you buy this guys car, check the coolant for by products!!!!!!

I mis-stated this, I said were told not to worry about the heads being warped,

Its that they don't warp, I recall the guru saying that

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

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yes i took the heads down the street to a machine shop and thay said the heads look fine,so that was good,the block itself dosent look good,i will send pics soon,,i will keep the heads and sell them if i can,,i bought the the seville,i also got a invoice for the timesert he had done a year ago,2100$,i presser tested the rad and it came clean so i gave him the 1000$ and he had the car towed to my house for me,the intake plasic is melted and the coil packs also,and part of the firewall plastic is melted,i followed the wires and found that the battery starter junction box was maybe the cause,i also seen wires touching the exhaust manifold,,the melting stoped at the firewall,it did not reach the pmc,i took my coil pack and all my injectors and wiring,computer out of the eldo,i will keep the eldo for parts till i get the seville runing,mike u got your self a 20 pack of inserts buddy,,the seville is in much better shape,the inside is super clean and not a mark on the outside,,the eldo seats where riped up and the back panels where coming off,and the outside body needed work,it sucks to do all that work but i feel better about this seville cause the timeserts are allready done,

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Steve, I am glad you will be settled with a good caddy, and I have to credit you bigtime for digging in and getting your hands dirty with a very complex job! Good for you

Thanks for the inserts, I appreciate them greatly... take your time sending the timesert kit back, I am in no need of it right now, its just going to sit in my garage.

Good luck with the new caddy we are looking forward to helping you going forward, Mike

PS, now that you have seen how helpful caddyinfo can be, consider joining when you have some extra cash as a supporting member to help support this great resource, I think its about $25 per year... There are benefits to joining also, no ads, bigger photos, the key to the executive men's room among other perks, biggrin.gif

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

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Steve, I am glad you will be settled with a good caddy, and I have to credit you bigtime for digging in and getting your hands dirty with a very complex job! Good for you

Thanks for the inserts, I appreciate them greatly... take your time sending the timesert kit back, I am in no need of it right now, its just going to sit in my garage.

Good luck with the new caddy we are looking forward to helping you going forward, Mike

PS, now that you have seen how helpful caddyinfo can be, consider joining when you have some extra cash as a supporting member to help support this great resource, I think its about $25 per year... There are benefits to joining also, no ads, bigger photos, the key to the executive men's room among other perks, :D

It certainly is nice not to have to look at ads. As for the executive men's room...I can't comment since I am of the female side of the human species. :D I'm up for renewal in January, and will definitely be doing so. I love this community!!

Steve, I'm sorry you had such bad luck with that Eldo. You put a lot into...but at least you will now have a (hopefully) dependable and trouble free car! I know I won't part with my Eldo for anything less than the engine blowing to pieces *knock on wood*...I haven't had great luck with cars in the past. This one has outlived any of its predecessors.

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Carla, you didnt get a key to the executive women's room?, Bruce?, please give her a key!

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

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yes thanks to all of u,,yup i did alot of work to the eldo,i couldnt of done it without help from u guys,,yup its hard to let go of a car u put so much work into,but on the other hand i will have a good runing caddy that allreay has the timesert done,i tryed to become a member but i didnt have a paypal account,i singed up a couple of weeks ago,so i will put up the 25$ very soon,thanks all!!

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Carla, you didnt get a key to the executive women's room?, Bruce?, please give her a key!

I said I couldn't comment on the MEN's room.:P

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