<VV> No Corvair but GM tech question

[Harry Yarnell]

I am VERY familar with this problem and its solution; I've done many. Just 
finished a '98 Eldo and there's a '97 STS waiting for the time I can get to 
it.
The Northstar eats headgaskets for breakfast.
 Great engine, but this is its weakness.
$4900 is a bit high, but not out of the realm of the dealership.
$3000 is more reasonable. Most of it's labor.
Now here's the rub; when you remove the headbolts, they take the threads 
right out of the block. It's an aluminum engine.
Like the Corvair (required content), the powertrain MUST come out the 
bottom; actually the whole powertrain cradle's dropped.
Tyme-serts are used to replace the 20 headbolt holes in the block; I can do 
3 an hour, so it's a 7 hour (non-stop) job just to replace the block 
threads.
I've sent the heads to the machine shop to be freshened up and checked for 
straightness, but probably not  necessary, but prudent. They really look 
decent right off the engine.
Headset will set you back $250; the inserts are a $100.New headbolts are 
about $120. New bolts are required, as the headbolt tightening sequence is 
to tighten to 30#, then 30°, then 30°, then 30°. There's some bolt 
stretching in here.

Harry Yarnell
Perryman garage and orphanage
Perryman, MD
hyarnell1 at earthlink.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tony Underwood" <tony.underwood at cox.net>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 11:01 AM
Subject: <VV> No Corvair but GM tech question


>
> There is a lot of knowledge on this list and I'm hoping I can milk some of 
> it.
>
> My nephew has acquired a '98 Cadillac, 4.6 STS twincam engine.
>
>
>
> It needs a head gasket.   He's already been through the gauntlet of
> being told to take it to the Caddie dealership and let them replace
> the head gaskets, to the tune of 4900 bucks.
>
>
> After all, "It's a Cadillac and you should expect to pay a little
> more".     Yeah right.
>
>
> Does ANYone in here know the story on the "special tools" needed to
> do this?    Or, how about where to look for a Chilton's manual for
> the car?   Those Advance/Autozone books are no help.
>
> No good for the library either;somebody stole the Chilton's books...
>
>
>
> tony..
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