Why not to drive with blown gasket - Page 2

1997BlackETC · #16 (**permalink**) 12-31-06, 12:40 PM

Sometimes you can find northstars on ebay for cheap too.

dp102288 · #17 (**permalink**) 12-31-06, 01:23 PM

Someone on this board recommended an Ebay seller who was selling Northstars once in a while for so cheap I want to buy one and keep it!

But to me, if the car is worth even $3,000, I still wouldn't be sure I would want to even spend $2,000 to fix it.

Tough decision.

rfishing · #18 (**permalink**) 01-01-07, 02:07 PM

When it rains it pours...

Not to change subjects, but went to start my 2000 Jeep today and got a "coolant level low" message. Its a 4.7 V8 and sure enough bottle was empty, after driving a bit coolant in bottle looks normal still. Checking hoses, and top hose is warm bottom is cold, even the bottom of engine is cold. Took off the radiator cap on opposite side of upper hose and it is cold after 20 minutes driving. Took off cap and radiator is full. Seems coolant is not circulating through radiator, and temp was 200 for sometime. I just had the coolant changed a month ago, and serviced by dealer for a recall on the radiator electric fan replacement. Temp on this one stays constantly at 200 always even after 2 hours.

Back to the 94 Seville STS, I think we are going to sell it as is. The money for engine alone is too much, but add those expensive $2000.00 shocks, fix the sun roof, and its well over $8000.00. We decided to stay with newer more reliable transportation because we live out in the desert, and breaking down out here is never good.

Yes it was timeserted 16k miles ago. With new radiator, water pump, t-stat, overflow tank, supposedly heater core was replaced as well. I can see where they broke off the old one. This is the car I tried to use the Thermagasket in, and it did not hold up obviously.

I have someone that might be interested in the car. He insisted that I let him know if we ever want to sell. He told me about another car like this one with blown head gaskets, that they replaced the engine with a non cadillac engine.

Thanks for all the prevous support, this is a great forum with a lot of helpful people.

chazglenn3 · #19 (**permalink**) 01-01-07, 03:10 PM

DP;

That was me. The eBay engine I bought is running beautifully

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-99...QQcmdZViewItem

rfishing · #20 (**permalink**) 01-01-07, 04:24 PM

That ebay place sounds really good. Did you install engine yourself or did they do it for you?

mikeay · #21 (**permalink**) 01-02-07, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfishing

Yes it was timeserted 16k miles ago. With new radiator, water pump, t-stat, overflow tank, supposedly heater core was replaced as well. I can see where they broke off the old one. This is the car I tried to use the Thermagasket in, and it did not hold up obviously.

That a pretty quick failure rate. No warrenty on the work? That sounds like a helicoil job rather than a timesert...

chazglenn3 · #22 (**permalink**) 01-02-07, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfishing

That ebay place sounds really good. Did you install engine yourself or did they do it for you?

I had the engine installed by a local Cadillac dealer that will NEVER see me again.

Ur7x · #23 (**permalink**) 01-02-07, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfishing

That ebay place sounds really good. Did you install engine yourself or did they do it for you?

That's got to be a joke... right... You do know what eBay is.... Its on the Internets... try using "the Google" if you can't find it....

chazglenn3 · #24 (**permalink**) 01-02-07, 02:56 PM

I believe he was referring to "the place" that sells the motors on eBay.

rfishing · #25 (**permalink**) 01-02-07, 03:51 PM

I was referring to company that sold on ebay of course.

Ur7x · #26 (**permalink**) 01-02-07, 04:34 PM

Oh... sorry about that.

That makes much more sense then..

AlBundy · #27 (**permalink**) 01-02-07, 09:54 PM

rfishing, I remember your post. It was quit a post. The Thermagasket still allowed your car to drive for along time after it was installed. Hope you get a great deal on her.

rfishing · #28 (**permalink**) 01-06-07, 01:25 AM

Found an ad in the penny saver, this guy does engine swap outs, all used engines with 4 month warranty (broken english so hard to understand him). He quoted me 1400 for used engine, 700 labor. Plus I need radiator, and incidentals. After talking with him he suddenly remembered that he took the same engine out of another car to keep as a back up engine for his daughters car. This engine has 70k miles and he claims it runs, but tranny is questionable with something broken on tranny. He is willing to negotiate on the 70k engine. What would be a good price for that 70k mile engine?

1994 Cadillac Seville STS

zonie77 · #29 (**permalink**) 01-06-07, 11:56 AM

First...is there any way to verify it IS a 70K engine? Do you know him well enough to trust him? Does he have the kind of business that makes you think his guarantee is better than the Caddy dealer's guarantee?

rfishing · #30 (**permalink**) 01-06-07, 08:55 PM

Zonie77, I have no idea about this guys shop. He is not listed with BBB that I can see anyway. My wife speaks some spanish so I will have to get her to talk with him, I mean just so I am not losing something in translation. I suppose if he gives me great deal on that engine, I can at least get the car road worthy again. If he puts 4 month warranty in writing, I use credit card to pay him, that would protect me in case something odd happens.

Good question about 70k miles, how can I know for sure?

So far his 700 labor charge is lowest I have seen.