Cadillac: '99 cadillac deville, blown head gasket, engine rebuild/replace advice ?

I wouldnt expect Cadillac to help on a car this old.

Neither would I put in a "new" engine. I would check the junk yards
and see what I could find in a good used engine. Then I would make
the decision.

This car is not, IMO, worth a lot.

You COULD pull the old engine out and have somebody go through it
and refresh it, but this would cost some money too. And you have no
guarantees.

On Sun, 1 Aug 2010 17:44:12 -0500, "hls" <nix> wrote:
 


Unfortunately, the previous poster is correct IMO.

The car isn't worth much- ( a travesty, given what it initially
cost). Not sure what you mean by a "new" engine. I think an OEM
engine would be several times what the car is worth. Re-manufactured
might be an option, but probably very expensive as well.
You might get lucky with an engine from a wrecking yard, but you
might not-it is still a pain in the ass (major) to re-and-re an engine
in a modern car- all the wiring harnesses have to match exactly to the
connections on the chassis, dashboard, engine control module, etc.
Mid-year modifications frequently occur, you would need to match the
VIN of the vehicle to identifying marks on the replacement engine to
ensure they are from the same production series.
There isn't any compatible engine for this car that I'm aware of
(but don't take this as gospel) though I doubt there would be.

Best of luck

On Aug 1, 2:51*pm, "robb" <on.net> wrote: 

Robb, The car is worth about $2500-$3500. You didn't specify the
mileage. I would pop off the head, you will see where it is leaking,
clean it up, put some strong plastic steel compound in the groove,
sand it smooth, put in a new head gasket and run it till it fails.
Then junk it. I got several years out of one that was higher
compression than the Deville. Bob Drake 2000 Seville

"hls" <nix> wrote in message
news:com... 

Thanks HLS,
for the advice and reply.

With a quick check around and about i can find yard, used, reconditioned or
warranted rebuilt engines from a range of
950 - 2500. But I don't have the resources to do an engine swap (partially
disassemble engine in the car is about it). Local shops are consistent at
around 1750-2500 to swap the engine in this car.

The inlaws do not want to put that much money into anyways.

I was hoping a head gasket replace while engine was in the car to be a
viable cheap alternative.

Thanks again for help,
robb

<com> wrote in message
news:com... 

Thanks Jimmy,

For the helpful advice and reply.

What i meant by "new" engine was whatever cadillac meant ? The cadillac
service department told the inlaws they could put in a new engine (cost
$4500) and the total bill for the swap would be about $6500.

A local garage/mechanic, that the inlaws typically use, said $4500 dollars
to do the same thing. They will find an engine and swap it. Miost likely get
one from a junk yard.

You have pretty much convinced me that that the inlaws should just write off
this expensive problem.

Thanks again,
robb

"Blue C5" <com> wrote in message
news:googlegroups.com... 

[trim] 

Thanks (Bob) Blue C5,

For the help.
I was thinking along the same lines that you highlight.

It is the cheapest solution to try as we are only out a couple hundred
dollars, some time and the car is in no worst condition after all is done ?

But considering many of the headaches that i have found posted in various
forums regarding this particular cadillac engine, i am beginning to think
that it is best for inlaws and myself to just to pass on this problem.

They want a travelling car and i do not think this is the one.

Thanks again for the advice and help,
robb