95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

CWW · 11-05-2022, 07:03 PM

are these engines any good and how big of a pain would it be to put one in my 68 chevy short bed? I can pick it up the car for $150 to $300 depending on how much I need to do to it I know I will need to replace all of the gaskets and timming chains at least, mostly for my pice of mind. The car has about 120,000 on it

Thealien · 11-05-2022, 07:41 PM

The early north stars had issues with the headbolts pulling out. They have kits to repair that but I think it takes some specialized tools. The starter is under the intake valley. I believe the oil pan is two piece. They are prone to leaking in the earlier years like that.

Later on they had most of that sorted out I’m not sure I would touch a 95 in a Cadillac let alone use it for a swap engine. I am also interested to hearing other replies.

Jrainman · 11-05-2022, 07:45 PM

I remember hearing about a lot of issues with those North star engines back then, I would Just google it I am sure you will find your answer

CWW · 11-05-2022, 08:03 PM

I knew about the oil Pan leaking and figured that there was an upgraded gasket set by now to fix that problem I also know that it is an all aluminum block but I had no idea that there was a problem with the headbolts pulling out of the block or where they put the starter

**kwmech** · 11-06-2022, 01:29 PM

I know for sure that when one of these came into the shop NOBODY wanted to put their name on the work order. Even my friends at the dealer tried to avoid them. They had all kinds of problems

**HO455** · 11-06-2022, 01:54 PM

I believe this should be on the required reading list. Especially paragraph 4.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northstar_engine_series

jimijam00 · 11-06-2022, 03:16 PM

Nothing wrong with the 2005 and later engines.

**truckster** · 11-06-2022, 06:40 PM

Except for the low price, you don't gain anything with this engine. I'd keep looking.

Joyridin · 11-07-2022, 08:37 AM

All that complexity for only 300hp? I would find an LS1 engine which can be had for probably a few bucks more and you will match that. Add a cam and headers and you are probably 50hp above and parts are everywhere.

SCOTI · 11-07-2022, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joyridin

All that complexity for only 300hp? I would find an LS1 engine which can be had for probably a few bucks more and you will match that. Add a cam and headers and you are probably 50hp above and parts are everywhere.

I'll add.... w/far more support & less complexity.

jumpsoffrock · 11-07-2022, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I'll add.... w/far more support & less complexity.

Ya but the starter is inside the oilpan and I herd the carburetors are upside down on LS1's making it hard to refill the blinker fluid.

In all seriousness an engine as nutz as the northstar would be a very odd swap, going to way too much trouble. If you ever sold the truck, there wouldn't be a single person that'd be happy to find out it had a northstar in it.

MARKDTN · 11-07-2022, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joyridin

All that complexity for only 300hp? I would find an LS1 engine which can be had for probably a few bucks more and you will match that. Add a cam and headers and you are probably 50hp above and parts are everywhere.

Agree-a base 5.3 truck engine is more than 300 HP and a whole lot easier to swap in and more support, not a strange transmission bolt pattern, etc. Unless you have a real desire to do a Northstar swap, I would not do it.

hugger6933 · 11-09-2022, 10:44 PM

I agree with all above but a 2.8 -3,1 s10 or Camaro engine has the same trans pattern for what that is worth. I got one in a BUICK Lucy I junked out had it a while zero calls for it

**michael bustamante** · 11-10-2022, 01:53 PM

case half seals are prone to leaking and you have to split the engine to replace it. also had overheating issues

54blackhornet · 11-10-2022, 03:53 PM

For a legacy corporation GM has made some incredible vehicles but also some atrocious ones. The Vega and the Northstar engine are sadly linked together in one major area. The cylinder walls in each deployed significant changes in design from standard practice. Take a moment and learn what led to the demise of both, due to to far ahead thinking.

purple gas · 11-10-2022, 06:05 PM

Is this a truck you may want to drive someday?

CWW · 11-19-2022, 04:43 PM

I do plan on driving my truck it will not be my daily driver, but she will see the highway during the summer months. To be honest I forgot about the tranny bolt pattern and the amount of pain and suffering I will have with that and that is why I don’t want to use the 455 rocket Oldsmobile motor I have I will save that one for something else. I do want to keep the manual transmission in the 68. I think I’m going to rebuild the 307 that is in it now the compression is good, but it does need some gaskets a timing set and a carb. I think I will spend the money I would put in the motor swap into the body and the rest of the running gear

11-05-2022, 07:03 PM	#1
CWW Registered User Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Goodrich ND Posts: 55	95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine are these engines any good and how big of a pain would it be to put one in my 68 chevy short bed? I can pick it up the car for $150 to $300 depending on how much I need to do to it I know I will need to replace all of the gaskets and timming chains at least, mostly for my pice of mind. The car has about 120,000 on it

11-05-2022, 07:41 PM	#2
Thealien Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pine Ridge Florida Posts: 4,126	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine The early north stars had issues with the headbolts pulling out. They have kits to repair that but I think it takes some specialized tools. The starter is under the intake valley. I believe the oil pan is two piece. They are prone to leaking in the earlier years like that. Later on they had most of that sorted out I’m not sure I would touch a 95 in a Cadillac let alone use it for a swap engine. I am also interested to hearing other replies. __________________ Click on my Not really a build thread, yet NOT SO RUST FREE RUST FREE BLAZER LS ENGINE SWAP INFORMATION THREAD BOLT RESTORATIONS 4l60 to an NP205

11-05-2022, 07:45 PM	#3
Jrainman Registered User Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: North East PA Posts: 682	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine I remember hearing about a lot of issues with those North star engines back then, I would Just google it I am sure you will find your answer

11-05-2022, 08:03 PM	#4
CWW Registered User Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Goodrich ND Posts: 55	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine I knew about the oil Pan leaking and figured that there was an upgraded gasket set by now to fix that problem I also know that it is an all aluminum block but I had no idea that there was a problem with the headbolts pulling out of the block or where they put the starter

11-06-2022, 01:29 PM	#5
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,390	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine I know for sure that when one of these came into the shop NOBODY wanted to put their name on the work order. Even my friends at the dealer tried to avoid them. They had all kinds of problems

11-06-2022, 01:54 PM	#6
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 10,804	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine I believe this should be on the required reading list. Especially paragraph 4. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northstar_engine_series __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban the WMB,1991 S(stink)-10 Blazer,1969 GTO, 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird. 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

11-06-2022, 03:16 PM	#7
jimijam00 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: PNW Posts: 553	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine Nothing wrong with the 2005 and later engines.

11-06-2022, 06:40 PM	#8
truckster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 7,798	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine Except for the low price, you don't gain anything with this engine. I'd keep looking. __________________ I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson

11-07-2022, 08:37 AM	#9
Joyridin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 478	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine All that complexity for only 300hp? I would find an LS1 engine which can be had for probably a few bucks more and you will match that. Add a cam and headers and you are probably 50hp above and parts are everywhere.

11-09-2022, 10:44 PM	#13
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,257	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine I agree with all above but a 2.8 -3,1 s10 or Camaro engine has the same trans pattern for what that is worth. I got one in a BUICK Lucy I junked out had it a while zero calls for it

11-10-2022, 01:53 PM	#14
michael bustamante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 7,814	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine case half seals are prone to leaking and you have to split the engine to replace it. also had overheating issues __________________ 1967custom

11-10-2022, 03:53 PM	#15
54blackhornet Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 2,258	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine For a legacy corporation GM has made some incredible vehicles but also some atrocious ones. The Vega and the Northstar engine are sadly linked together in one major area. The cylinder walls in each deployed significant changes in design from standard practice. Take a moment and learn what led to the demise of both, due to to far ahead thinking. __________________ 71 C-20 07 Magnum RT AWD

11-10-2022, 06:05 PM	#16
purple gas Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: saskatoon, planet earth Posts: 680	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine Is this a truck you may want to drive someday? __________________ I got a bench seat baby, you don't have to sit over there.

11-19-2022, 04:43 PM	#17
CWW Registered User Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Goodrich ND Posts: 55	Re: 95 Cadillac Northstar 4.6 Engine I do plan on driving my truck it will not be my daily driver, but she will see the highway during the summer months. To be honest I forgot about the tranny bolt pattern and the amount of pain and suffering I will have with that and that is why I don’t want to use the 455 rocket Oldsmobile motor I have I will save that one for something else. I do want to keep the manual transmission in the 68. I think I’m going to rebuild the 307 that is in it now the compression is good, but it does need some gaskets a timing set and a carb. I think I will spend the money I would put in the motor swap into the body and the rest of the running gear



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