Castech heads

[browningguy18]

I know, wrong forum I just need to vent a little. I have an 04 Silverado that I just found out has the cracked coolant leaking Castech heads. Bought the truck just over 3 years ago. I wish I would have known this existed when I bought the stupid thing. My mechanic told informed me how common this is in 2001-2006 vortecs but GM keeps telling me this is rare when ask them if there is a program or any type of help out there to deal with this. I can replace both heads for $3k or get a whole new warrantied engine for $7.5k. And I have had no luck with getting any assistance at from GM. I can't believe that GM won't stand behind their products when they know damn well these heads are faulty. Yes, I know the truck has 165k miles on it. I just can't fathom putting $7.5k into this truck. Any one else dealt with this before, have any suggestions?

[HnkrCrash]

I've got a 2000 Old Alero with 250K miles. Looks and runs average. I'd like to get $1,500 out of it, but it's yours for a grand cause you're a member. I'm home tonight and tomorrow after 4. Let me know when you want to pick it up.

[browningguy18]

Probably what I should do. How many more months does that buy me before hunting season? What the hell am I going to do with my truck, sell it for parts?

[Bullet21XD]

What manufacturer would warranty an engine repair on a truck with 165k miles and is 13 years old? Just curious....cuz i'm buying that one next.

[9manfan]

What manufacturer would warranty an engine repair on a truck with 165k miles and is 13 years old? .

One that wouldn't be in business very long.......

[lanyard]

I get the complaint. 200k miles should be a fair expectation without major rework, particularly on a truck.

But a decade after the issue is a challenge.

How long do you plan on keeping it?

Wth the new engine and a new transmission in the next 75,000 miles I'd think you'd be good through 2024.

[maplelakeduckslayer]

Just the way it goes these days, most manufacturers end up having well known problems down the road. Theres a reason they dropped down to a 60,000 mile powertrain warranty on most new vehicles sold. A lot of it you can thank the EPA for, making car manufacturers implement untested/unproven technology to eek every mpg possible out of vehicles and let the customer deal with whatever comes up issue wise.

If I were you, I'd put the money into the heads if you think its a solid vehicle otherwise. You will be back to even after a year if you were to have a payment on a new vehicle. That's the way I always look at it at least.

[StuStiltman]

No idea about those heads, but it seams odd both are cracked and leaking. If only 1 is cracked that should cut the bill in half, I'd assume. And unless the heads were removed and pressure tested there's no way to know for sure its not just a bad head gasket, unless it can be seen leaking out the side of the head, then that's different. So its possible you might only need 1 head, or even just a gasket.

[cstemig]

Have you looked into a used motor from a junk yard? You could probably replace the motor with a used one cheaper than doing just the heads on yours. $7.5 K is a lot of money to put into an older truck.

[Mallard_maniac]

If you're upside down on your loan your SOL. Fix it and run it... sell it when you can and start fresh. I've repaired more vehicles than I care to admit... all (ford chev and dodge) have had major issues.... I had to pay out of pocket for a new tranny at 75k on a ford, head gaskets and a rearend on a chev, tranny/torque converter on dodge.... that's not all, just a brief overview... they all suck. Toyota and nissan 1/2 tons don't seem to have the same "merican vehicle" issues....