Auto mechanic ?? Northstar V-8

[SiberianDVM]

GF's 1998 Caddy with the 4.6L Northstar V-8 needs new head gaskets. Supposedly, this can only be done by a Caddilac/GM dealer.

Does that sound right?

And does $4500 (gag) sound right? That's more than Kelly Blue Book for the whole car.

It's kind of a shame because the rest of the car is in great shape.

[chollyred]

Probably right. One of the guys that works for me bought one for his wife. Same engine. Probably has around 150K miles. It started using lots of oil (1 qt every 3000 miles). No leak, no visible smoke. He took it to his mechanic who said those things eat head gaskets and valve seats. He recommended ditching the car.

[SiberianDVM]

Originally Posted by chollyred

Probably right. One of the guys that works for me bought one for his wife. Same engine. Probably has around 150K miles. It started using lots of oil (1 qt every 3000 miles). No leak, no visible smoke. He took it to his mechanic who said those things eat head gaskets and valve seats. He recommended ditching the car.

Gaak!

All years and models?

[Bravo]

Here's your answer....Toyota, Toyota, Toyota.

Either that or a slightly used Hyundai Sonata. Car and Driver just did their 40,000 mile review on theirs (that was in their fleet and driven by the entire editorial staff).

They said that it 40K of driving, all it needed was new tires and oil changes.

Damn things are a frigging bargain. You can get a nice used 2007 for $15,000 and it will have four years of warranty left. I have found them on AutoTrader with as few as 10,000 miles, leaving you with four years and 40,000 miles of warranty remaining.

Front and side airbags standard. Also Automatic Stability Control standard.

Hell of a bargain....

[Rockford35]

I think the trouble with the Northstar is that the engine needs to be plucked. It's impossible to work on in the car.

My brother's a mechanic for Lexus. Send me $1000, I'll fly him down with a backpack full of tools, a sleeping bag, peanut butter and a loaf of bread.

R35

[SiberianDVM]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

I think the trouble with the Northstar is that the engine needs to be plucked. It's impossible to work on in the car.

My brother's a mechanic for Lexus. Send me $1000, I'll fly him down with a backpack full of tools, a sleeping bag, peanut butter and a loaf of bread.

R35

I'll trade you instead: a 983K driver and a set of vintage Hogan blades. Easily worth a grand.

[Clugnut]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

I think the trouble with the Northstar is that the engine needs to be plucked. It's impossible to work on in the car.

My brother's a mechanic for Lexus. Send me $1000, I'll fly him down with a backpack full of tools, a sleeping bag, peanut butter and a loaf of bread.

R35

I'd consider that, Doc. I think he's right, damn transverse mounted front wheel drive bullcrap.

If you are going to toss it, I could use the ignition module and the coils for my corvette. Opti-spark ignition, another GM genius idea.

[Rockford35]

Originally Posted by Clugnut

I'd consider that, Doc. I think he's right, damn transverse mounted front wheel drive bullcrap.

If you are going to toss it, I could use the ignition module and the coils for my corvette. Opti-spark ignition, another GM genius idea.

If you're gonna pull it, at least put it back into into a Fiero or an MR2.

The Northstar V8 Toyota MR2

R35

[mont86]

Doc that sounds about right, Caddies are wallet killers!!
So are Lincolns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[twogreen]

That's a BS quote, Doc. Saying that Cadillac dealers are the only ones who can replace the head gaskets is as ridiculous as saying that Callaway vendors are the only ones who can re-shaft a bore through club head.

Engine repair is similar to assembling a swing set for your kids. The only difference is that some engines have more slot A's and tab B's than others. Working on a Northstar engine does tend to be more difficult; because the accessibility to various components is limited. Even so, that estimate is out of sight.

I recommend that you ask the dealer for a detailed estimate which breaks out parts and labor. Then, with that estimate in hand, start price shopping at independent repair shops in your area. Having owned and operating an automotive repair shop for thirteen years, I believe you will be very surprised at the variance you will find in price quotes.

[warbirdlover]

Got my college daughter a loaded 2003 Hyundai Sonata and it's a great car. I traded in my 1999 Hyundai Elantra for it. The Elantra had 110,000 miles and ran like new. They make nice stuff.

[spankdoggie]

A head gasket shouldn't be that big of a deal.

Perhaps you should sign up at this Caddy forum here, and search the forums. There are guys that are changing their head gaskets themselves, posting over there. They could probably even recommend a good shop in your area.

If you are going to replace the head gasket though, make sure you get the head redone, and valves, too... Might as well add 150/250 horses while you are at it...

I wouldn't pay 2 grand for just a head gasket; once it is apart, get it tuned up since a lot of labor is already being paid for...

Link: gasket Threads - Forum Tags by Zoints

spank

[zaphod]

twogreen and spankdoggie got this one right. Four grand should get you head gasket, valve job, and milling and a good way to a short block.

A good independent shop can do this job. Get some second opinions. I had this done to my 1998 ford Windstar at 97.000 miles ( the ford vortec engine is notorious for blowing head gaskets). $2200 for gasket valve job and head milling. No warranty. Or $3700 for same and a factory rebuilt short block and 1 year warranty. I went with the later and have put on another 120,000 miles and still going. Just did a quick short block search and estimate a good quote for a complete repower will run you about $5700 The short block is about $3700. Maybe $2000-$2500 for head job. Your choice a engine with reworked head and the old block or reworked head and a manufactured block and warranty

I would also ask the independent dealer for a diagnostics including a compression test. With that kind of BS quote who knows what other BS exists.


Go to www.carecar.org/repower for an explanation.

[Eracer]

I tell you what. With all the golf talk, chit-chit, and meaningless fun that goes on here, it's great to see guys like Spank, TwoGreen, and Zaphod come forward with some truly excellent advice for someone having an non-golf issue.

Way to go guys.

[SiberianDVM]

Thanks, guys. I thought it was BS myself, so I had googled and found some completely rebuilt engines with 3 year warranty for $3495. Now, I had to add in freight, and labor for somebody to change the engine out, and I'd still come out to the good. That's the good news.

The bad news is that this is the GFs car. Guess what? She doesn't listen well. Big surprise there. She spent 3 hours last evening surfing the net for NEW cars. Tried to explain the concept of $800 a month car payments for 5 years versus $5000 for a rebuilt motor. Duh. Fine. It's her money, I'm done.

Today is her day off, and instead of getting something resolved about this car, she is going to get her hair and nails done.

OK. There you have it. The truth about cats and dogs. I don't care how gay a guy might be, I can't imagine him leaving his car dead in a dealer lot while he got his sack and crack waxed.