[drsyn67]

On December 15, 2007, I paid for a Head Gasket repair, bolts drilled out and Heli-bolts added and an engine reseal at my local Cadillac dealership. On December 26, 2008, the engine overheated and I was told by a different mechanic that the HG had blown again. (NOTE: The digital display never stated "Engine Overheated" - when I realized the car was getting hot I put it in Neutral and shut off the engine before the thermo hit the red). The mechanic is someone my family has trusted with other GM cars for 30 years. I had used him for oil/lube/filter due to the convenience of his location, but generally relied on the dealership. The car was serviced five times between the original repair and 2nd incident (3 times at the dealership / 2 times @ mechanic - a total of 12,000 miles were completed between the dates mentioned) The mechanic is close to my home, and so was the incident, so it was towed to him (the dealership is 25 miles from where it happened).

The mechanic identified that the HG failure was on the coolant side, and not the oil side, and thus, when running the exhaust drips water and pale exhaust from the muffler.

All this said to ask three simple questions (but supply you, the experts, with the details):

1. Will K & W Block Seal successfully "bandage" the problem, and possibly provide me with additional miles of enjoyment? I will not spend another $3500 on the car, so it is off to the graveyard if this is not an option.

2. Has ANYONE had success with the K&W product on their Caddy?

3. Where is the radiator drain seal? I've read thru hundreds of posts of other models, but haven't found one that addresses my model (not the ETC).

I enjoy the car and do not mind continued service at the dealership (my wife works near it now, so servicing it is convenient).

 

[mikelawson]

That's way too high for replacement. I could fix it the right way for almost half that with a real warranty.

Mike

 

[Ranger]

No. Repairs in a bottle will not work.

When you said "Heli-bolts" I assume you meant Timeserts and not Heli-Coils.

 

[AJxtcman]

On December 15, 2007, I paid for a Head Gasket repair, bolts drilled out and Heli-bolts added and an engine reseal at my local Cadillac dealership. On December 26, 2008, the engine overheated and I was told by a different mechanic that the HG had blown again. (NOTE: The digital display never stated "Engine Overheated" - when I realized the car was getting hot I put it in Neutral and shut off the engine before the thermo hit the red). The mechanic is someone my family has trusted with other GM cars for 30 years. I had used him for oil/lube/filter due to the convenience of his location, but generally relied on the dealership. The car was serviced five times between the original repair and 2nd incident (3 times at the dealership / 2 times @ mechanic - a total of 12,000 miles were completed between the dates mentioned) The mechanic is close to my home, and so was the incident, so it was towed to him (the dealership is 25 miles from where it happened).

The mechanic identified that the HG failure was on the coolant side, and not the oil side, and thus, when running the exhaust drips water and pale exhaust from the muffler.

All this said to ask three simple questions (but supply you, the experts, with the details):

1. Will K & W Block Seal successfully "bandage" the problem, and possibly provide me with additional miles of enjoyment? I will not spend another $3500 on the car, so it is off to the graveyard if this is not an option.

2. Has ANYONE had success with the K&W product on their Caddy?

3. Where is the radiator drain seal? I've read thru hundreds of posts of other models, but haven't found one that addresses my model (not the ETC).

I enjoy the car and do not mind continued service at the dealership (my wife works near it now, so servicing it is convenient).

Not every Tech is the same. I personally spend a lot of time inspecting the bolt holes. If they are junk you can't fix them. If the Tech just drilled them out and installed the inserts he may have missed a NON repairable block.

I just did a head gasket job on a dreaded 97. 2 of the holes needed the Big Serts after inspecting the holes for cavities after I drilled them for the regular inserts.
You also have to know what you are looking for.

Look at it this way. Was the block junk a year ago?

 

[32vmonte]

Not every Tech is the same. I personally spend a lot of time inspecting the bolt holes. If they are junk you can't fix them. If the Tech just drilled them out and installed the inserts he may have missed a NON repairable block.

I just did a head gasket job on a dreaded 97. 2 of the holes needed the Big Serts after inspecting the holes for cavities after I drilled them for the regular inserts.
You also have to know what you are looking for.

Look at it this way. Was the block junk a year ago?

Question, if the block is junk for timeserts will the studs still work?

 

[Ranger]

Nope.

 

[AJxtcman]

Question, if the block is junk for timeserts will the studs still work?

I will get back to you on this

 

[97EldoCoupe]

Yes the studs will work. The studs utilize the top and middle portion of the holes instead of the very bottom, and enlarge the hole past what timeserts would. As I've said- there is not one block yet that I could not use. I've seen some pretty rough blocks, but all of them had clean, shiny threads when I was finished with them. I'm backing those blocks with a 2 year warranty against HGs failing or studs pulling, and I would not do this if I questioned the grip of the stud.

 

[97EldoCoupe]

The studs work even after the original size timeserts, and the _orms serts (providing those inserts can be removed) but I don't know about big-serts. I will find out.

 

[AJxtcman]

Hey guys I have some new info

OK the OD of the stock bolt looks to be 11mm +-.1mm
The OD of the NORMAL TimeSert used is 12.63mm +- .1mm
The thing is you need to look at the OD of the small/inner part of the treads
This is 11.61 +- .1

OK The Maximum size of the OE threads in the block have to be just over 11mm. The Smallest ID of the threads to install the TimeSert needs to be about 11.6 to 11.65. That leave only .6mm that you can drill out and still tap. I reality you can only remove .6mm and this must clean up the bolt hole to be free of defects.

The BigSert has has an OD of 15.70 +- .2mm and the inner part of the threads is 14.8 +- .2.
Hmmmm 14.8 - 11 = 3.8mm and that may not clean up the block.

So Jake what is the OD's of your studs?

 

[97EldoCoupe]

AJ the OD of the studs is 15.87mm. The ID of the hole that I drill 13.49mm.

Seems to me that the studs may not work after a bigsert repair. AJ if you have a spare bigsert kicking around send one to me I want to do some testing on an old block.