1960 CADILLAC SEVILLE

Symptoms: Excessive drivetrain clunk on acceleration/deceleration, Transmission fluid leaking from cooler lines, Vibration at idle that worsens under load, Burnt fluid smell if cooler is clogged

Fix: Original rubber mounts deteriorate after 60+ years regardless of mileage. Cooler lines rust through at fittings. Replace all mounts (2-3 hours), flush and replace cooler/lines (3-4 hours). Often done together since you're under there anyway.

Estimated cost: $600-1,200

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Heavy blue smoke on startup that persists, Knocking from crankcase at idle, worsens with RPM, Oil pressure drops below 10 psi hot at idle, Metallic debris in oil filter, Burning through a quart every 300-500 miles

Fix: These engines were undertorqued from the factory and suffer main/rod bearing wear. Piston rings also fail due to carbon buildup and worn cylinder walls. Full rebuild required: disassembly, machine work (bore/hone, crank grinding), new bearings, rings, gaskets, timing set. Expect 40-60 shop hours for a proper rebuild.

Estimated cost: $4,500-8,000

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust continuous, not just cold startup, Coolant mixing into oil (milky dipstick), Overheating with no external leaks, Rough idle and misfire on adjacent cylinders, Bubbles in radiator with cap off at idle

Fix: Original composite gaskets fail, often due to improper retorquing in earlier decades. Both heads should be removed, decked flat, and new gaskets installed with modern torque specs. 16-22 hours labor, includes new coolant, thermostat, hoses inspection.

Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800

Symptoms: Hard starting after sitting overnight, Stalling at idle when warm, Hesitation on acceleration, Engine dies randomly and won't restart for 20-30 minutes

Fix: Decades-old fuel varnish clogs inline filter, carburetor passages, and fuel pump screens. Replace inline filter ($30 part, 0.5 hours), rebuild or replace fuel pump (2-3 hours), carburetor disassembly and ultrasonic cleaning (4-6 hours), tank drop and clean if severely contaminated (adds 6-8 hours).

Estimated cost: $400-1,800

Typical onset: 100,000+ mi

Symptoms: Clunking when engaging drive or reverse, Excessive fore-aft crankshaft movement (detectable with pry bar), Clutch-like grinding noise even though it's automatic, Oil leaking from front and rear main seals simultaneously

Fix: Thrust bearing (center main) wears allowing crankshaft to walk. Requires full teardown, crank removal, bearing replacement, and checking for crank damage. Often discovered during rebuild. If caught early, 25-35 hours; if crank needs welding/grinding, add $800-1,500 machine work.

Estimated cost: $3,000-6,500