Rebuilt '63 Still Smoking

[Joel T.]

I had posted this a while back and got some good information and advice, now I am back for more!

We rebuilt the engine on my '63 SWC over the winter. The original heads and intake manifold were used but we purchased a "restoration" block with correct casting date and a numbers matching pad (engines limited). The block magnafluxed fine.

After putting everything back together (the first time), got the car running only to see oil smoke coming out of the right hand cylinder bank. I checked with you guys and did a couple of things... first ran the engine at 2500 rpm for about 20-25 minutes thinking that the rings needed to be seated; no good. We pulled the heads thinking that we might have had an issue with the machine shop and valve seals.. they checked it all out, said the valve seals were good, but had them replaced again. While the head were at the shop we had him check all the head surfaces and angles; everything in spec.

We put the engine back together but this time when we put the intake manifold back on we used silicone as opposed to the standard front and rear seals thinking the first time around the manifold wound up sitting too high.

I have been running the engine over this weekend and am having the same problem... The car starts fine and does not smoke at idle until it gets warmed up and then a constant cloud from the right pipe. The other symptom, peraps related is that after I accelerate the idle will stay at 1200-1300,sometimes 1500 until I depress the clutch and tap the gas... then it will go back to normal, around a grand. Probably not related but again I'm not sure.

I'm not quite sure where to go from here so any additional thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Joel

[Frank C.]

Re: Rebuilt '63 Still Smoking

Joel...have you tried to narrow down which cyl or cyl's are burning the oil? By checking the plugs, that should tell what cyl's are the culprits. I"ve seen rings get broken upon installation.

[Joel T.]

Re: Rebuilt '63 Still Smoking

Frank,

I have not checked the plugs this time around, but last time (when we pulled the heads) cylinders 2,4 and 6 had wet plugs (8 was dry) which reinforced the notion that we were pulling oil in from the bottom of the intake manifold.

[John H.]

Re: Rebuilt '63 Still Smoking

Sounds like you don't have a good intake gasket seal at the bottom of the intake ports on those three cylinders, and it's sucking in oil vapors from the lifter valley.

[Joel T.]

Re: Rebuilt '63 Still Smoking

That's more or less where I come out. Any idea what I can do to get a better seal?

[Roy B.]

Re: Rebuilt '63 Still Smoking

If the engine was decked and heads decked the intake angle could be off, clean the surface of the heads and intake first , reinstall the intake with out the gasket , tighten down one side only, to see or use a feeler gage to see if the other side is raised to high.If so ! You need a thicker intake gasket?

[Jon #40768]

Re: Rebuilt '63 Still Smoking

If you take the manifold off again, look at the old gasket before you scrap it off to see if the manifold left a uniform impression on the gasket. Then, set it on the engine with the end gaskets in place, but no gaskets on the heads and check the alignment of mating surfaces of the manifold and the heads. Check to see if gaps betwenen the surfaces are consistant at the top and bottom of the heads and manifold. Then check the thickness of the gasket and compare. I found on my 427 that the upper edge of the manifold hit the lip of the heads just enough to interfere with the compression of the gasket. After I slightly ground the lip, the car stopped smoking.

Also before you pull the manifold, put in a new set of plugs and run the car until it smokes. Then, mark each plug with a felt tip pin to distingush the alignment of the plug in the engine. If the oil is on hte top of the plug, the problem is in the heads of manifold. If the oil is on hte lower side of the plug, then you know it is the rings.

Good luck
Jon

[Mike E.]

Re: Rebuilt '63 Still Smoking

A wild shot--sometimes the flange of the vapor cannister in the valley of the block (under the intake) needs to be peened over to let the manifold sit completely flat on the heads. this is more critical with aluminum intakes than cast iron, but still important. Make sure there is no interference there. (and don't ask how come I know this!)

[Philip C.]

Re: Just a thought '63 Still Smoking

Hi are you useing stock valve covers and PVC system. Id check the PCV the motor might be sucking oil in thru it, some after market cover dont have the oil baffle. Your return spring on you carb may not be adjusted enough to fully return the throttle or the throttle plate bushings in the carb are worn and letting in air causing this idle problem. Good Luck keep us posted Phil 8063

[Joel T.]

Re: Just a thought '63 Still Smoking

Thanks guys, this will probably be next Saturday's project and I will let you know how I make out....

Thanks again!

Joel

[Joel T.]

Re: Rebuilt '63 Still Smoking

I'm pretty sure that the block was decked. I bought it from Engines Limited (Randy) last year. It was a January '63 casting date, standard bore with a clean number pad. The block obviously had been used before; i.e. rust in the water jacket, etc..

Since the number pad was clean, I can only assume that the block was decked. We checked all the block angles out and they are fine which tells me I probably need the thicker intake manifold gaskets.

I think stock gaskets are .060" Does anybody know where I can get thicker ones??