I'm in Bloomville Oh. 44818

Moral of the story seems that if you have a headgasket issue, buy a rebuilt/used engine. Cadillac dealer told me that if that issue ever comes up with a Northstar, they replace the engine. Service techs exact words were that the Northstar is a "throw away engine". Seems even when you know what you are doing, there is a chance the engine will still have an issue.

After all that's said and done with this motor and this car, Its came down to going with my gut and tightening the balancer more then the 27ft lbs and 120 deg. I now have amazing oil pressure and no over heating problems. The motor and the car runs great and preforms awesome.

So I would say I would do this build again, knowing what I know now. And knowing that the book is not always right and to trust my gut and first instinct.

Yay! Now you don't need to crush it! How much more did you tighten it?

_________________
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

I set it to 60ft lbs. and it works great.

This has nothing to do with it being a "throw away" engine. It has to do with what is cheaper for GM in terms of warranty costs. If it's something significantly involved (Studding on N*'s isn't one of those as it is a common issue and most techs at Caddy dealers can do them in their sleep...), GM just R&R's (Remove and Replaces) it instead of involving tech time and parts for something they can't guarantee. It's just cheaper to pay a tech book time to R&R something than it is to have them rebuild it... I saw this a lot with transmissions to be honest and secondarily, driveline/axles.

What they do, is then send the defective ones to rebuilders (Jasper for one), or others and have them (engines and transmissions) rebuilt to keep in their own stock for warranty replacements and sell the excess to those same rebuilders and they rebuild and resell them.

But it has little to nothing to do with the N* being a "throw away" motor... All engines fall into that category now-a-days.

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Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

On the last page I eluded to this...

my quote;

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

It's well over the 37 ft lbs and 120 deg now... Lol I do know I set it to your speck the second time after I replaced the oil pump, that's when I set it to 60. And I agree, I would not have throw the engine away for a replacement. It's a great running motor and worked as it should. The studs are the way to go.