Quote:
Originally Posted by jayoldschool  Your bad manifold gasket... are you sure you don't already have broken bolts? That's usually the cause for the leak. Reach in, get a light, feel and look, and count all the bolt heads. I bet you are missing at least one. When you take out the bolts, to avoid breaking them, use an impact. You will have to go through the wheelwell, and use some extensions and wobblers. It will be a pain, but an impact will spin them out instantly without breaking. |
Just a quick update.....
Yep, it's the gasket or lack of...I tried to tighten the bolts on the leaking cylinder and they took a slight twist then I chickened out for fear of snapping them. Great advice on using the impact gun. I good snapping torque is much better than a slow twist in that situation.
I've got it running and idling pretty well. Put 6 gallons of premium fuel in it and changed the oil. Replaced all the rear brake lines and flushed the system. Repaired the leaking Quadrajet fuel inlet with an aftermarket repair kit for now. I'll send out the carb for a helicoil fix if I decide to go forward.
Looks like I'll be dropping the entire exhaust system as I have a major rear main seal leak. S.O.B.! From what I have researched you have to drop the exhaust then some steering links and finally the oil pan itself. A two piece rear main???? Now I think I know why the previous owners gave up on this old girl. Well, it's only time and a few gaskets right? Any tips or short cuts? I need all the help I can get.
The other major situation is the floor of the trunk. It's bad but not terminal. I'll post some pictures later. I don't have a welder or the skills at this time so I'll get some estimates from local shops for that. I can't find any sources for Cadillac replacement panels for the trunk. Anybody have a source or know if Cadillac shared sheet metal with any other GM product in 1971 for the trunk floor?