major cooling system problems-please help asap

[1999Spectre]

I am having major problems, maybe someone here can help me figure out what to fix/buy.
What I have replaced (NEW PART):
Radiator
ALL Hoses
Heater Core
Thermostat
Upper Intake Gasket
Water Pump
Entire Cooling System Flushed (pressurized)
The Two Plastic Elbows (on the left of the water pump, and the one above it)

Ok, I have a bad leak comming out of the Plastic elbow on the left side of the water pump, but im sure this is only because there is pressure built up somewhere else and that is the weakest part im assuming?? Also, my heater does not work at all, even after all this has been replaced. Could the prob be the heater valve? i know i may need to replace this regardless-where can the heater valve be found? also, are there anymore suggestions to what needs to be checked/replaced? please help me out ASAP. thanks everybody

[michael454rs@hotmail.com]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

head gasket. or heads!!!

[1999Spectre]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

that the only thing you think it could be? how hard is that to replace? thats one of the few things i havent done
EDIT: I have some oil milkshake going on, opeded up the oil cap
EDIT2: i forgot to say that my oil pressure guage acts all crazy, when i'm driving it stays at normal pressure, but when i am slowing down to a stop or sitting at idle it's at 0, but goes back up as i drive. last time i was under the car, i looked as if there was oil on alot of stuff, behind the engine and up under, no smoke at all what so ever though, could it be the lower intake gasket?

[1999Spectre]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

are there guides to replacing the head gaskets? link? yes i did do a search lol

[cubsfanman3]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

i had the same problem with my grand prix. gm 3000 series are all known to have these problems. you probably warped your heads after the first time overheating the car. pull the heads and have them resurfaced.

[1999Spectre]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

i had the same problem with my grand prix. gm 3000 series are all known to have these problems. you probably warped your heads after the first time overheating the car. pull the heads and have them resurfaced.

how can i tell?

[1997v6ixxr]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

Just finished rebuilding my entire motor for the same problem! Head gaskets in mine were perfect, good shape with good impressions and no sign of leaking! Water pump went, car over heated once and that's all she wrote for those heads! If you have "milkshake" oil, you prob got same problem. All the coolant is mixing with the oil, don't drive/run the car anymore, you'll kill the bearings if they aren't gone already. I had to find a new crank, it was beyond being turned, new rod and main bearings and heads!

[1999Spectre]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

so what if i can only change the gaskets at the moment, how hard is all that to do?(rods, main bearings, ect. ive changed the gaskets before) never done any of it before.....

[cubsfanman3]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

well you can tell by if it over heats often or what not. with my grand prix the water pump went out and the heads got to hot. didn't blow the head gasket but warped the **** out of the heads... my coolant didn't get milky either. but it was constantly leaking from pressure as u stated. i can almost guarantee you that your heads are warped. i spent about 3 months ripping that engine apart and rebuilding it. 3 times until i found it. The heads are aluminum on many of the 3000 series so anything over 250 degrees warps the **** out of them. thats y i always recommend putting a lower thermostat in. and ALWAYS watch my gauges...

[1999Spectre]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

****, how do i reserface the heads?

[cubsfanman3]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

you have to pull the heads and just bring them to a machine shop. i know a guy at a machine shop so i did them myself... but if u have them done it really shouldnt be over 200 bucks to make them brand new... the thing thats gonna suck is pulling the heads... that takes a while and much blood and sweat.

[cubsfanman3]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

did ur car ever overheat?? if so how hot and for how long???

[1999Spectre]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

yea, i shut it off before it made it to the red though

[cubsfanman3]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

yaa. unfortunately for our cars anything over 210 isn't very good. idk y gm likes to run there engines so hot. i have a 160 thermostat in now. and the car runs much much better... there is one other way u can do it but it is kinda rigging it. when i did it to of my buddies grand prix 3100 before he sold it... there is a additive u can add to your coolant that fills in all the cracks and everything to make ur cars gaskets "like new" as far as i know it worked great. but there is always the chance that it wont stay good forever. i myself would feel much more comfortable fixing it the right way... does your car run fine at times and then leak or is it a constant leak? and if u leave it running will it still overheat??"

[1999Spectre]

Re: major cooling system problems-please help asap

constant leak outa one of those plastice elbows, which is confusing me, thats the only place its leaking