QuestionHusband's car needs head cover gasket. Mechanic needs special tool to "hold cams". They don't have tool and say it costs $1500. They don't know where to get one. Is this necessary for repair? Accurate cost? Should we go somewhere else?
AnswerHello,
I apologize for the delay in the answer, but something is wrong with my browser not allowing me to submit my answer, which I did three times before I saved into a word doc and sent it to another computer.
You have what we call in Texas a pig and a poke. Once overheated which this engine was and is about the only reason for needing a head gasket, you are left with many financial vulnerabilities. This is an aluminum engine and when over heating develops the engine components begin to melt. The head gasket is the result and not the cause of your over heating.
You could end up sticking in all sorts of money for repair, just to waste it. Yes, I would get the car out of that garage, but I would also warn you on the options. You will not find a good junk yard engine, because it is likely they too were over heated. A GM new crate engine is $4k and change.
If I were you, I would reconsider on fixing the car. I have addressed this issue since 1982 when these aluminum engines first came out. GM should have put a bright orange tag with a warning "Do not over heat because it will cause catastrophic damage to engine." Of course they would not have been able to sell Cadillacs for the absorb dent price they did.
I have owned over 20 Cadillacs and have worked on them for 30 years. The engine’s Achilles’ heel is over heating. If you look in my archives here, you would see the problems.
Good luck.
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About our services:
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It is so very interesting that in many of these claims, towing, pushing or pulling is ruled out with no reason other than it was assumed fact that the vehicle was driven from the theft site.
