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1

Omega General Help / Re: Catera update...

« on: 04 May 2011, 20:48:05 »

Yeah, I know the head bolts are TTY and do intend on replacing them.

And yes, if I had the heads off, the gaskets certainly would have been replaced. It's just when I had it torn down to the heads, I seriously considered pulling the heads off to do the gaskets.

2

Omega General Help / Re: Catera update...

« on: 04 May 2011, 13:05:08 »

Ahh, well in the US they went to MLS gaskets on the 3.0 in 99 (As you may know, we never had the 3.2 until the CTS), so I would assume they would work then, correct?

3

Omega General Help / Re: Catera update...

« on: 04 May 2011, 12:43:52 »

A quick question....

Would anyone recommend using the later (99+) MLS head gaskets over the older ones? I know they are more reliable, but was wondering if they would work fine.

I see the head bolts are the same throughout the years, so I would assume the later gaskets are fine to use as long as they are torqued to the 99+ specs?

4

Omega General Help / Re: Catera update...

« on: 04 May 2011, 12:35:33 »

Yeah, everything gasketwise is new. So since the the cam bolts are reuseable, it looks like I just might put new gaskets on it. But that's what peeved me off more than anything is I seriously thought about replacing the head gaskets when I had it torn apart. I should have done them.

5

Omega General Help / Catera update...

« on: 04 May 2011, 11:57:01 »

Well. I finally got the Catera running, after nearly 2 years of work and $650-675 USD.

Good news -
Runs great, no knocks, loud ticks, etc.
Good oil pressure
No overheating
No check engine light











The BAD news -

It has a blown head gasket. Yup.... that's right. A BLOWN head gasket (or a cracked head?). [smiley=embarassed.gif]
It's very obvious. It runs great, no coolant in the oil, but I have bubbling in the coolant tank and the clear smell of raw fuel. I've never been so angry in my life. I just feel like I wasted all this time and money for nothing!

I know I'm not replacing the head gaskets... I have no intentions of pulling it apart again unless it's to sell the engine if I part it out. It mainly has to do with the fact that I'd have to pull everything off that I put on it, plus I would need new cam sprocket bolts and such, which I'm not thrilled about. 

6

Omega General Help / Re: Oh dear! Oil Leak...

« on: 22 April 2011, 20:00:50 »

There is also the possibility of the oil cooler lines coming loose at the cooler if they weren't tightened down properly, or they could have chafed somewhere and made a pinhole. Remember, even the smallest oil leak can make a HUGE mess.

Just throwing out some possibilities....I could be very wrong.

7

Omega General Help / Re: Aluminium cam covers

« on: 23 April 2011, 00:27:32 »

I have aluminum covers on mine as well, but mine came off of a Saab 9-5.




There's JUST enough room to pull off the oil cap and get a funnel in there.

8

Omega General Help / Re: Need a part number... important!

« on: 22 April 2011, 14:09:48 »

Another option is for someone that has one taken off can take it to a hardware store and match it up and report back here with the size and thread pitch.

The problem here in the US is that hardware stores DO carry metric nuts and bolts, but they are "common" sizes, and this happens to be an uncommon size.

9

Omega General Help / Re: Need a part number... important!

« on: 22 April 2011, 12:08:50 »

Nope, these are the manifold to downpipe nuts. As seen in this picture, the nuts for the studs -

10

Omega General Help / Need a part number... important!

« on: 22 April 2011, 11:27:13 »

Hey guys... still haven't got my Catera on the road. I'm actually having a very hard time finding the downpipe to exhaust manifold flange nuts. Mine were gone when I got the car (They were ground off), and finding replacements are nearly impossible.

The Cadillac dealership can't get them, nor can I find them anywhere else. They are apparently hard to find as all 4 Cateras at my local junk yard are stripped of these particular nuts! I really hope someone can find either a part number for me, or have a set of 4 for me? (When did the 250 post requirement come into play for the classifieds section?..I can't post there!)

I REALLY hope someone can help me... this is literally 1 of the 3 things that are holding me back from finishing the car, the other 2 things I can order here without a problem.

Thanks!

11

Omega General Help / Re: Heated seat failure - omega facelift

« on: 06 September 2010, 21:33:00 »

Both of my front ones don't work, they both pop the fuse... I could care less mainly because I like cold leather, even in the winter when it's 15*F out....However my back ones do work.

12

Omega General Help / Re: Timing... PLEASE HELP! I'm an idiot....

« on: 04 November 2010, 20:41:08 »

Ok, I am SO stupid. Sure enough... I turned all the sprockets to their rightful positions, locked them with clothespins, and turned to the crank to 0*... and it worked! I feel so dumb now....

13

Omega General Help / Re: Timing... PLEASE HELP! I'm an idiot....

« on: 04 November 2010, 20:08:48 »

Yeah, I know how to set it to the 0* mark on the oil pump housing and set the cam sprockets to the backing plate, however like I said, my crank is set to 60* BTDC, and I can't move it or the cam sprockets independently, or it will hit the valves. What I'm trying to achieve is getting the cam sprockets back to the 60* BTDC setting.

Here's where mine is at -



And this is the pics I just took -

14

Omega General Help / Re: Timing... PLEASE HELP! I'm an idiot....

« on: 04 November 2010, 01:11:44 »

Well, the problem here is that at 60* BTDC, the cam sprockets have no marks, therefore I don't know where they were at! And it's not like I can turn the crank to TDC, because I'll end up hitting valves.

15

Omega General Help / Timing... PLEASE HELP! I'm an idiot....

« on: 03 November 2010, 20:52:53 »

Ok, so I followed the directions to put the crank to 60* BTDC....however...

My idiot arse didn't know that the cam sprockets were going to slip when I pulled the belt off! I know there is no damage because I put it to 60*, but how in the heck am I supposed to know where to reset them to? Should I just say screw and and dump the car, or is there hope?

Yes, I know I should have the timing install kit, but I can't afford the insane deposit that comes with them, nor can I afford a new one!