Repair it or Crush it?

[Creekside]

Head set and a set of bolts plus some coolant and an oil change. Doesn't seem to bad for something that would probably bring $3000 or better in my area. I'm guessing less than $500 in parts plus your time. And you get to learn a new skill on something that didn't cost you anything.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

LS4 with the 4T65E….yes that super durable combo lol

better than a Northstar

 

[Paco Pena]

Take the heater out of the circuit and roll the dice on a can of Blue Devil.

Paco

 

[clinebarger]

I'm surprised we haven't heard from @clinebarger

He's probably in his shop, like, ya know, actually working rather than keyboard wrenching like I do here.....

If this thing was super clean with no body damage.....Maybe? But I imagine the Bed Plate is leaking which is whole other can of worms to get into.
Then like others have said.....Put a Torque Converter in it along with a Pump Seal.

I'd also tune the low speed fans to come on about 190° no matter what. With no A/C head pressure.....The low speed fans don't come on 'til 228°. Also tune the PWM torque converter clutch apply out which extends TCC life.

 

[clinebarger]

Can you imagine if the Deville was fitted with an LS1 from '98 on? More efficient, more maintainable, higher horsepower, and about half the manufacturing cost. No wonder GM went bankrupt.

A 5.7L LS1 mated to the 4T80E would've been cool, But you have the whole Chevrolet engine in a Cadillac debacle which old timers that bought these new didn't care for.

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

Arg, my daughter just came by with a flashing CEL on hers. Misfire on #6. Looks like I'll be doing plugs and boots and hope it's not a problem with the coil (they are built into an integrated bank of 4 for that year).

 

[redhat]

LS4 swap from a Impala SS, Monte SS

 

[nomas]

Donate it to a charity .

 

[jhs914]

Donate to someone who desperately needs a car to get to work and let them drive it, top off the coolant, and drive it till it quits. Or donate it a charity.

 

[The_Eric]

Donate it as some have suggested, but if you've got the money, fix it first and use it as a learning experience

 

[14Accent]

Junkyard hood and throw a package of GM cooling system tablets into the thing. I'd bet it'll be fine.

I've had 4 different N* cars of all generations: '94 STS, '98 STS, '03 STS, and a '97 Aurora. I had literally ZERO issues, cooling system wise, with any of them. The Aurora was the worst offender, the front end design allowed for basically no airflow through the radiator unless the car was moving.

That car suffered badly from heat soak. I'd park it after an extended drive, run into a store quick, and upon start up be presented with an almost pegged temp gauge. It always made me nervous, but nothing came of it.