BodybyFisher Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Look into NorthstarPerformance.com www.timesert.com Look into Norms Studs And see this site http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f53/1997-caddy-northstar-compression-67031/ 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...
donljacobs Posted September 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 I put a hundred miles on it today, highway and other, no overheating! But now rough idle issue, smooths out when you go? I will put codes see what they say. Last time was EGR, cleaned it and good til now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 The rough idle is what I was getting when my head gasket went bad, I believe its due to coolant that leaking into the cylinder, from inspecting the spark plugs of the affected cylinders. If you see a flashing check engine light its due to a misfire and you will probably see P030x codes if the misfire is bad enough Head gasket sealants usually don't work for the Northstar, so unfortunately, don't get your hopes up 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...
mike5514 Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 I have seen videos on the web of car owners using blue devil some seem to work some dont. The Northstar surge tank does not appear to be a good place to add the sealer like say a radiator cap on the radiator. How did you add the blue devil? I have never been a big fan of leak additives but I have used radiator ones with some success. I do however have a somewhat open mind and it would be great if you kept us informed of the life/performance of the blue devil fix. What is your life expectations for it. It would be well worth it if it lasted a year still good if only 6 months. Your wheels would be rolling while you are making up your mind going forward. Like most of us I really like my cadillac, I feel someday it will be a sought after collectors item. As a daily driver it will cost, body/interior/mechanical but maybe no more than payments. HG repair cost are coming down mechanics are becoming more familiar with the northstar. There is a outfit in KY that will send a guy to the house for 2100.00 plus a mileage charge. I assume he does the repair with the engine in the car dont know anything else about him.Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 That sounds a lot like Mike Lawson. He works on his own and does do it in the car. He used to post on CF, but I haven't seen him in some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike5514 Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 I went on their site they have a interesting video of the repair. He is at www.cadillacspecialties.com It seems like they take less than 5 min. to prepare each hole roughly 1hr 40min. getting it ready to install the heads. He charges .60 per round trip mile to come to your home from zip 40299. I would think that this would be in the ball park for keeping your cadillac for a few more years. I hate to see cadillacs in the junk yards especially the pristine ones.Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 I hope he was using thread cutting oil on the tap... Getting the heads off with the block in the car has got to be a PITA - especially dealing with the water pump crossover... Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike5514 Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 The kit they use comes with a can of oil you may not need it just chasing aluminum threads but it looks like they go pretty deep into virgin metal. Good point! Shops are using different repair kits, I'm not sure which type is the best but maybe they are all good as long as they are not the GM inserts.Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 The kit they use comes with a can of oil you may not need it just chasing aluminum threads but it looks like they go pretty deep into virgin metal. Good point! Shops are using different repair kits, I'm not sure which type is the best but maybe they are all good as long as they are not the GM inserts.Mike You don't like timeserts?, is that what you are calling GM inserts? 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...
KHE Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 The oil that comes with the Timesert kit is for the installation tool. Thread cutting oil must be supplied by the installer. The kit in the video is a Norm's kit. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 I just read this and it sounds compelling. The insert is 1.75" long which is impressive vs. 1.18" for the timesert. What concerns me is the potential for the block to crack horizonally as we saw from the rebuilder last winter who had 5 NS's with the crack. The writer even mentions cracking in his article is minimized due to the thread pitch that results in a lower load per thread. One wonders why GM when they designed the timesert did not take the same approach in terms of length and thread pitch. AJ presented the deteriorated aluminum discussion and I spoke to the timesert people and a rebuilder about it. It would seem that Huhn Solutions has a interesting solution. http://www.huhnsolutions.com/NS300L_History.html 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...
mike5514 Posted September 23, 2011 Report Share Posted September 23, 2011 The original cadillac timeserts were replaced by gm with a new improved timesert Norms searts appear to be larger than the cadillac new improved timesert I have heard of failures with the original timeserts. Only real world testing will verify if either the new improved timeserts and norms serts are a permanent fix. What happen to the host of this thread?Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted September 23, 2011 Report Share Posted September 23, 2011 The original cadillac timeserts were replaced by gm with a new improved timesert Norms searts appear to be larger than the cadillac new improved timesert I have heard of failures with the original timeserts. Only real world testing will verify if either the new improved timeserts and norms serts are a permanent fix. What happen to the host of this thread?Mike Not sure where this information came from but there is a first generation Timesert and then a second generation Timesert for the 2000+ engines and most likely a third gen. for the 2004+ engines but the length has always been the same. There is a "Bigsert" that is used when a Heilicoil pulls out. Norms inserts are not recognized by GM but they appear to work and are longer than the Timeserts. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightflood Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 I used the Norms inserts because they are coarse thresd on the outside which I like the idea of on aluminum since it would take a larger bite. It was a very easy to use kit. I tried to tighten the headbolts before I took them out. 4or 5 on each side were completely stripped so no wonder it wouln't hold compression. This guys symptoms are on par with a head gasket I'd say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donljacobs Posted September 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 Thanks for the great input. I do appreciate the help. Today I did the Blue Devil treatment....as a temporary way to get by. I have to have the car for work. I am expecting to be on another contract in the next week or so. I am in Detroit and I found a shop that specializes in Northstar heads and rebuilds and they are advertising a sale on tapping out and putting in special bolts, gaskets for $1,100. I looked them up on the web and they have recommendations and no negative feedback. So, when I get a paycheck or two and I will get it done right. The Blue Devil seems to work, I have been around town today, but not to highway yet. I see no air bubbles in the tank but it has not been pushed. My next project on this car is to rebuild the front lower control arms. I did Arnott struts last year. So, I will look for posts on control arms and perhaps after that R&P and do magnatron. So, I will be posting in the near future. Thanks again to all, it is appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donljacobs Posted September 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 Final chapter on this saga. Shop in Detroit , Did head gaskets, 1,150......also did Rack and pinnion, 320, front engine mount 145, did oil change, FOC, new coolants, FOC, new thermostat, FOC, front end alignment FOC. So, I think those are great prices, with warantee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jim Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 Very good prices... I assume he used Timeserts ??? Glad you got it all fixed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 $1150 for HG's? WOW! Put him on your Christmas card list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donljacobs Posted September 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 Yes, he did use GM inserts and GM Gaskets. Again, he is here on the East Side of Detroit and his shop is full of Northstars and folk going after them at 100 mph! I like it when they have done something more than once! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 Sounds good, keep us up to date with your results! 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...
HEAVEN1276 Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 Yes the system is self purging. Pull the 3/8" purge line off of the top side of the surge tank and put it in the surge tank. Start the car and see if it flows coolant. If so, it is purging as it should. Anyway, no mud in oil, no white smoke, no water out exhaust none of the above is a Northstar symptom of a failed head gasket in the early stages and coolant in the oil almost never happens. no loss of coolant. That is a good sign. Oh, when going to hot it draws down fluid and sets off low coolant light. When turn off car coolant level returns to normal. THAT is strange. What level do you have the coolant at? It should be about 1/2 full. I HAVE A 2000 DTS IT OVER HEAT WEN U DRIVE IT WITH THE AC ON.... IT CAN SET AND RUN ALL DAY SETTING STILL AND WANT OVER HEAT..... WAT COULD THAT B??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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