I am a car dealer and sell mostly Volvo, Mercedes, BMW and Saab at my location. Over the years, I've sold several Cadillacs but have not had many in the past year or two.

Recently, I bought an 88 model DeVille. It's very clean and has white leather against blue carpet and dash.

Well, I'm thinking about selling older Cadillacs again but am concerned about getting one with a bad head gasket. I have my own shop. I'm wondering if I should find a clean one with a bad head gasket, fix the head gasket, then offer for retail?

What kind of job is a head gasket(s) on these engines?

I am a car dealer and sell mostly Volvo, Mercedes, BMW and Saab at my location. Over the years, I've sold several Cadillacs but have not had many in the past year or two.

Recently, I bought an 88 model DeVille. It's very clean and has white leather against blue carpet and dash.

Well, I'm thinking about selling older Cadillacs again but am concerned about getting one with a bad head gasket. I have my own shop. I'm wondering if I should find a clean one with a bad head gasket, fix the head gasket, then offer for retail?

What kind of job is a head gasket(s) on these engines?

Too many factors go into figuring out whether or not a head gasket has a chance to blow. If you have a car that you suspect might be losing the head gasket, then make sure that is the problem. If you want to retail the cars for around $2500.00 per car ('88 4.5 liter), then make sure it is ready to give a decent life: reputation is a good thing in the car biz, right?

If you get one with a bad head gasket and you have plans to sell it, then yes, I would suggest replacing the gasket and doing the proper cooling system precedures.

As far as the actual job is concerned, I have never had a hard time doing so: they're old fashioned pushrod engines and are easy to repair. The only thing to worry about is applying the correct amount of torque when replacing the intake manifold gaskets and the heads themselves. It is also highly recommended that you don't turn the engine over with the heads off...And to do the job the best, it is widely recommended that you purchase a factory repair manual for the car: not a Haynes or anything (I once worshipped Haynes!).

Anyways, good luck :cool:

We always do quality repairs on the vehicles. I was wondering about picking up a clean model with blown head gaskets, repair the head gaskets, then resell. Not that simple but you get the idea.

I would imaging one with blown head gaskets could be bought for $500 to $700.

We always do quality repairs on the vehicles. I was wondering about picking up a clean model with blown head gaskets, repair the head gaskets, then resell. Not that simple but you get the idea.

I would imaging one with blown head gaskets could be bought for $500 to $700.

It would really depend on the year of model I guess...

For $75.00, I purchased an '86 Deville with a blown engine. The engine will cost me around $500.00 to replace and rebuild together. When she is done, I expect at least $2500.00 out of her, and meanwhile, she will have a new 4.5 liter installed in place of the 4.1 liter engine.