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'99 cadillac deville, blown head gasket, engine rebuild/replace advice ?

The inlaws own a '99 deville . Engine started overheating during a trip. They needed to top off coolant every couple days (1/2 - 1 gallon). Cadillac dealer says coolant leaking into #1 cylinder and that is causing the problem (head gasket/crack/etc).

Cadillac dealer says, "put a new engine in it" (~ $6500 total). Cadillac is not interested or willing to repair the current engine, they just want to put another engine in.

I was thinking i could just do a top end recondition/rebuild and replace the head gaskets etc as a favor to save them the $6500 as they would just pay for the new parts.

**** What i think i know after some research on the web **** (and could someone please share info or confirm) ...

  1. Seems this cadillac engine style has a history of this head gasket problem?

  2. Replacing the head gasket on this car is a **Major PITA** because ; > It is a tight squeeze under the hood > it is an aluminum engine that almost always get some failed/stripped head threads on bolt torque down requiring drill and retap with heli-coil insert or similar. > it is belt driven dohc engine so a pain to get cam timing set up > lotsa bits to pull to get to the head.

  1. Almost easier or better to drop the engine and trans together to do the head rebuild ? therefore why not just put in a used rebuilt engine and save the time and labor effort.

Did i miss anything ?

Any recommendations on which path to take ?

Any recommendations for a new/used/rebuilt engine ?

Is there a compatible NON-Aluminum engine that would work in this car ?

Thanks for any helpful advice, robb

Reply to
robb
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I wouldnt expect Cadillac to help on a car this old.

Neither would I put in a "new" engine. I would check the junk yards and see what I could find in a good used engine. Then I would make the decision.

This car is not, IMO, worth a lot.

You COULD pull the old engine out and have somebody go through it and refresh it, but this would cost some money too. And you have no guarantees.

Reply to
hls

Robb, The car is worth about $2500-$3500. You didn't specify the mileage. I would pop off the head, you will see where it is leaking, clean it up, put some strong plastic steel compound in the groove, sand it smooth, put in a new head gasket and run it till it fails. Then junk it. I got several years out of one that was higher compression than the Deville. Bob Drake 2000 Seville

Reply to
Blue C5

Thanks HLS, for the advice and reply.

With a quick check around and about i can find yard, used, reconditioned or warranted rebuilt engines from a range of

950 - 2500. But I don't have the resources to do an engine swap (partially disassemble engine in the car is about it). Local shops are consistent at around 1750-2500 to swap the engine in this car.

The inlaws do not want to put that much money into anyways.

I was hoping a head gasket replace while engine was in the car to be a viable cheap alternative.

Thanks again for help, robb

Reply to
robb

[trim]

Thanks (Bob) Blue C5,

For the help. I was thinking along the same lines that you highlight.

It is the cheapest solution to try as we are only out a couple hundred dollars, some time and the car is in no worst condition after all is done ?

But considering many of the headaches that i have found posted in various forums regarding this particular cadillac engine, i am beginning to think that it is best for inlaws and myself to just to pass on this problem.

They want a travelling car and i do not think this is the one.

Thanks again for the advice and help, robb

Reply to
robb

I agree, Robb. This is too much money to gamble on a car that old. And it IS a gamble. You never know what you are going to get from a wrecking yard... And to go in an refresh this engine will cost a good deal of money.

Better to put that money into something dependable and perhaps a bit newer.

Best of luck to you

Reply to
hls

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