My first Yank!

[Six-cylinder]

I have been very lucky with yank cars as I have a very good friend who loves Yanks and has a 1964 Ford Galaxie 390 Coupe, 1989 Ford Mustang 5.0 notchback, 1971 Corvette T top. I have driven them all and the Galaxie was billeted with me for over a year with my full use. So I have never bought one.

 

For some years my wife has liked the Cadillac Eldorado Touring coupe and when a 1994 one recently turned up on Ebay with just 15,000 miles she asked me to try and buy it.  

 

Well guess what, I have won the auction, the rest of the story is to follow…….

 

It should have been cheaper because the steering wheel is on the wrong side!

 

 

[willswitchengage]

So glad you didn't freudian slip in your title the "yank"

[Cheggers]

That looks quite cool in a 90's American kind of way. Big V8 perchance??

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[HMC]

Great! Colour scheme suits it perfectly, and those front seats look true to the cliche, like armchairs!

 

What's under the bonnet?

[Skizzer]

You, sir, are an absolute hero.  Top purchase.  Top marriage, too, come to that.

 

Are you bringing it to Shitefest?

[Six-cylinder]

Under the bonnet is a 4.5 Ltr V8 about 280bhp frightening wheel drive!

[Six-cylinder]

Not sure which car to bring to shitefest Wales, I did say I would bring our Biturbo if the others were bringing there's. If not I could do? 

[Asimo]

That is excellant!

 

Sad that the Brit. big coupe market has been pretty much just the Germans for just about ever.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Does the horn play the theme from The Godfather,like Paulie Wanut's one?

[saucedoctor]

[Skizzer]

Not sure which car to bring to shitefest Wales, I did say I would bring our Biturbo if the others were bringing there's. If not I could do? 

 

There's no wrong answer to this dilemma 

[Six-cylinder]

I don't think mind has but my friends Corvette has a Duke's of Hazard horn. 

[mercrocker]

Epic buy!   Letting my Grand Prix go all those years ago has left a V8 coupe shaped sink-hole in my life that something like this would fill nicely....Best of all its a Cadillac  with proper ride height and zero Blazer DNA....

[eddyramrod]

Excellent buy sir!  Hope it lives up to the two (older) Cadillacs I've had... it should!

[wuvvum]

Nice.  Would that be a Northstar lump in that, or is it too early?

[gordonbennet]

Love it, good woman you have there too.

[Six-cylinder]

Nice.  Would that be a Northstar lump in that, or is it too early?

 

Yes a Northstar.

 

[Madman Of The People]

Congrats on the new car!

 

1994 Eldorados came in two flavours; Base and Touring.  Both had the 4.6 Northstar V8.  Base churned out 270 horsepower, Touring made 295 Hoursepower and had beefed-up suspenson so it won't corner on its door handles.

 

I don't want to dampen you enthusiasm, but I think it's only fair to warn you to be careful of the Northstar.  These engines are notorious for being a maintenance nightmare and plenty of mechanics (and used car dealers) over here in the States won't touch them with a barge pole.  One dealer told me these engines were "A ticking time bomb waiting to explode".  Find a US car specialist over there who knows these engines and don't take it anywhere else!

 

If you need anything you can't find over there, let me know.

 

 

Cheers,

Madman of the People, USA-based AutoShitter.

[Six-cylinder]

This is a very low mileage car with only 15,000 miles, it will be used just for shows and classic driving tours and is insured for just 3,000 a year so I hope it will hold together for us.

[Bren]

Congrats on the new car!

 

1994 Eldorados came in two flavours; Base and Touring.  Both had the 4.6 Northstar V8.  Base churned out 270 horsepower, Touring made 295 Hoursepower and had beefed-up suspenson so it won't corner on its door handles.

 

I don't want to dampen you enthusiasm, but I think it's only fair to warn you to be careful of the Northstar.  These engines are notorious for being a maintenance nightmare and plenty of mechanics (and used car dealers) over here in the States won't touch them with a barge pole.  One dealer told me these engines were "A ticking time bomb waiting to explode".  Find a US car specialist over there who knows these engines and don't take it anywhere else!

 

 

 

 

If you need anything you can't find over there, let me know.

 

 

Cheers,

Madman of the People, USA-based AutoShitter.

 

 

 

So it's an American k series then?

[Squire_Dawson]

Nice to see some more Yank content on Autoshite.

 

Scores all round.

[gtd2000]

Northstar AKA Deathstar

[Six-cylinder]

Congrats on the new car!

 

1994 Eldorados came in two flavours; Base and Touring.  Both had the 4.6 Northstar V8.  Base churned out 270 horsepower, Touring made 295 Hoursepower and had beefed-up suspenson so it won't corner on its door handles.

 

I don't want to dampen you enthusiasm, but I think it's only fair to warn you to be careful of the Northstar.  These engines are notorious for being a maintenance nightmare and plenty of mechanics (and used car dealers) over here in the States won't touch them with a barge pole.  One dealer told me these engines were "A ticking time bomb waiting to explode".  Find a US car specialist over there who knows these engines and don't take it anywhere else!

 

If you need anything you can't find over there, let me know.

 

 

Cheers,

Madman of the People, USA-based AutoShitter.

 

What are the specific issues with the Northstar? When I find a garage to look after it for me what should I ask them to do to minimise the risk?

[Rocket88]

Used to have one of thses in blue..........lovely thing, although always gave the impression of build quality being slightly questionable.....in fact, bloody shonky. They are a handsome looking beast though, although the dashboard is decidely low rent..........

[Asimo]

Northstar:            So it's an American k series then?

 

If it is it has probably suffered in the same way: A sophisticated, beautifully engineered engine treated to 1950s all iron / pushrod standards of abuse and maintenance. "If it worked on the A series it'll be fine on the K"..........................Not

[Madman Of The People]

So it's an American k series then?

 

 

Pretty much, only a LOT more complicated.  Like the K-series, the head gaskets are made from cheese and replacing them isn't an easy job.  A former co-worker of mine had a 1997 Seville SLS and when the head gasket let go he decided it wasn't worth fixing.

[Bren]

Northstar:            So it's an American k series then?

 

If it is it has probably suffered in the same way: A sophisticated, beautifully engineered engine treated to 1950s all iron / pushrod standards of abuse and maintenance. "If it worked on the A series it'll be fine on the K"..........................Not

What do you means antifreeze? I just use water.

 

Why the plug was pulled on the rover v8 in the states - they didn't like newfangled aluminium engines.

[hairnet]

http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=13829

[Madman Of The People]

What are the specific issues with the Northstar? When I find a garage to look after it for me what should I ask them to do to minimise the risk?

 

 

Head gaskets.  Evidently, when the head bolts corrode, it causes the heads to lift away from the block.  Others simply say the gaskets aren't strong enough.  Oil leaks are also common, particularly the rear main seal.

 

Just remember this isn't an old fashioned Yank engine that can take thousands of miles of abuse.  The Northstar was Cadillac's response to the more advanced engines from BMW, Mercedes and Lexus, so when something does go pop, you'll need more than a hammer to fix it.

 

BTW, did the previous owner provide any service records?  If the head gaskets have already been done, you're a lucky lad!

[PhilA]

What do you means antifreeze? I just use water.

 

Why the plug was pulled on the rover v8 in the states - they didn't like newfangled aluminium engines.

 

If it breaks after repeated abuse, oil like treacle, run several times dry of coolant and has weepy head gaskets because the same gasket's been put back on after one valve stuck open after a high speed blat up the interstate then ALL ALUMINUM ENGINES ARE TOSH

 

--Phil