[maciek123]

Hello
Cadillac Seville STS 1998.

Last week i saw an oil in overflow tank. Now there is very big pressure in coolant system immediately from even cold engine start so that coolant is (dont know right word) pushing out from there. Plus i can see exhaust fumes.
So...
I need head gaskets, or better full set of engine upper gaskets. Do I need to change bolts?

In other post i read:

'If you need head gaskets you MUST Timesert the block - Timeserts, Norm's Inserts or Jake's studs.'

What does it mean? Normally it was just to remove head, check it if it is OK, replace gasket and mount head again... No special procedure.
Thanks
Maciek

 

[cgas]

I've done several Northstars. The head bolts have to be new, the old ones are torque to yield and once used should not be reused. If your lucky you won't have to do insets or studs, you really can not tell until you disassemble the motor but expect the unexpected. I've have great success with the studs Jake supplies but expect long shipping times

 

[ThumperPup]

I've done several Northstars. The head bolts have to be new, the old ones are torque to yield and once used should not be reused. If your lucky you won't have to do insets or studs, you really can not tell until you disassemble the motor but expect the unexpected. I've have great success with the studs Jake supplies but expect long shipping times

If i understand this corect your saying there is a posability he wont have to do inserts or studs
if i understand what you said corectly i would
say i and many others here would disagree
never pull the heads to do a head gasket job on a Northstar without atleast time serting them
or youll be sorry

 

[RippyPartsDept]

definitely insert or stud the block!

you don't want to go back in there again, do you?

jake's suregrip stud kit is recommended for the diy'er

 

[Mark C]

Unless you want to be doing the job again you WILL drill out the head bolts holes, and retap the block to install your choice of timeserts, Norms serts or Northstar Performances Studs, any of which will run you around 500 to 600 to install by the time you purchase the sert of your choice and the tools necessary to intall them. Any other costs such as gaskets, and seals are in addition to the "serting" of your block. When the head gaskets go in a N* its usually the threads in the block that have failed and released the head bolts holding capacity which lifts the heads slightly on each compression stroke allowing the combustion gases to weep around the head gasket.

 

[maciek123]

definitely insert or stud the block!

you don't want to go back in there again, do you?

jake's suregrip stud kit is recommended for the diy'er

Guys it is not so easy. I am asking about bolts because i may expect some serious surprises while changing them. Like damaged thread or something. And the only source of parts is Rockauto with +100% shipping costs. Sir Jake suregrip stud kit I do believe is great to use but for sure impossible to get it here.

So again any chance for not to change bolts?

Thanks
Maciek

 

[maciek123]

Unless you want to be doing the job again you WILL drill out the head bolts holes, and retap the block to install your choice of timeserts, Norms serts or Northstar Performances Studs, any of which will run you around 500 to 600 to install by the time you purchase the sert of your choice and the tools necessary to intall them.

OK, I got it. Means i need to find a second engine.

Thanks
Maciek

 

[RippyPartsDept]

jake can ship to you (i think) ... email him

and it's definitely not easy (i'm not trying to say it is)

you will probably not run into any bad threads on the bolts... but like said above, they are torque to yield and are only to be used once - so you will need new bolts - but if you go with jake's studs then you don't need to get new bolts (they're replaced by the studs) and rock auto probably sells the gasket kit (felpro brand) that will have just about everything else you will need

 

[ThumperPup]

by far not a easy job but as said over again don't do this without sirting or studing the block

 

[Ranger]

OK, I got it. Means i need to find a second engine.

Thanks
Maciek

You DO NOT need a second engine. You do need to drill out the threads in the block (all 20), retap them and install the inserts or studs. A used replacement engine could suffer the same failure down the road.

 

[stoveguyy]

oil in coolant could be from a bad radiator. oil cooler section in radiator can fail and mix oil with coolant. but you have coolant out exhaust? thats usually headgaskets. and the headbolts are not torque to yield. they have thread sealer applied from factory and it is recommended you replace them when doing heads.

 

[Ranger]

and the headbolts are not torque to yield. they have thread sealer applied from factory and it is recommended you replace them when doing heads.

:yeah:

 

[maciek123]

but you have coolant out exhaust?

That is hard to find out. Now it is around -10C and it is normal to have white smoke even after long trip. Anyway I can see usage of coolant for sure more since than 1 week.

But this smoke (I feel exhaust fumes) I am talking about is coming from coolant system from overflow tank.

You do need to drill out the threads in the block (all 20), retap them and install the inserts or studs.

So I need bolts to change. But as I can see on Rockauto they have only bolts there is nothing like inserts. Does anyone know any other shop selling and shipping that?

Thanks
Maciek

 

[ThumperPup]

Im sure jake can ship you studs and then you won't need bolts

also there are testing kits you can use to test for hg's
you can eather perform a leak down test yourself perform a Block test wich i think block testers in u.s dollars here in the u.s are no more then 70 buck

or you can have a shop diagnose your problem for you

 

[Submariner409]

maciek123, From Poland you should be able to look at www.huhnsolutions.com for the NS300L inserts, www.northstarperformance.com for stud kits, and maybe Google "timesert thread insert" for sites with information on the Timesert thread repair kits.

Jake, at Northstar Performance, ships internationally - he's located in Canada, so a lot of his sales are across borders.

Any of the three thread repair options ^^^ requires engine removal from the car. Go down to Discussions; Technical Tips and to Engines; Northstar Performance and look for threads concerning engine removal for your car year and model.

 

[RippyPartsDept]

well either way (torque-to-yield or not) the head bolts are not to be re-used

rock auto will not sell the headbolts - they are dealer only item
the only way to get them is in a new headgasket kit
(there are two kits one for each cyl head and each kit has ten bolts in it with the gasket)
- this is another reason to consider doing jake's suregrip stud kit -

 

[ABTsportsline]

Any updates Maciek? I was following your thread and am curious if you were able to get everything sorted out over there in Poland. :thumbsup:

 

[RippyPartsDept]

yeah, me too...

and apparently rockauto does sell the head bolts... won't be the last time i make a mistake

 

[maciek123]

Hello everyone
Right head (back one) is dismounted and situation is as you said - 3 threads have failed and on the gasked is trace between cylinder and coolant system.
Another problem....
I bought head gasket Fel-Pro 26151PT which is for Cadillac Seville STS 1998. In Service told me that shape of gasket is ok. Anyway problem is, to mount this gasket they need to place it upside down, means up side will be place down to engine block and down side will be placed up to head. Way they checked side is they compared this metal fitting around cylinders wholes with old one ( which was Victor Reinz).

Question is if this head gasket may be mounted upside down.

Thanks
Maciek

 

[RippyPartsDept]

i think they will only fit one way... but let's get confirmation on that

i'm just a parts guy i rarely see what the techs do with the parts i get them