Okay guys,I have a 1986 Camaro Z28. She came from the factory with a 87+ 305ci 4bbl. So here's the problem, my engine temp is constanly between 190 & 220 even though I have a 160 thermostat. Oil was shooting out of the drivers side PCV valve and burning on the headers so I took the PCV valve off and put one of those breather things on it, now the oil just shoots out easier. What's the problem!? Could it be the piston rings? Maybe the valve seals? All help appreciated, thanks!

Sounds like bad rings, does it leak out the rear main seal too?

Nope! Just where the PCV thing is suppose to be. I heard somewhere about the PCV should be on the drivers side and I can have a breather thing on the passenger side, something about how the flow of things are? Any truth to this?

The temp is fine.

You definitely have a pressure problem in your crankcase; probably a bad intake gasket at the center, bad rings, or REALLY BAD valve guide seals.

I'd suggest swapping the intake gaskets.

On a carbed motor, you can run one of those stupid breathers without causing driveability problems on the street. Cars with MAF fuel injection such as 85-89 TPI will have problems with that though. So if you just like having oil spewing out of there all the time and your motor and engine compartment covered in a fine mist of it and your car always smelling like oil the way old cars used to, you can run one; I sure won't.

Couldnt tell you for sure but I dont think it would make a difference what side its on. Does the engine seem weak or does it put out blue smoke after deceleration then acceleration? Have you done a compression check?

I've noticed over the past few months it's gradually been losing power. The car doesn't smoke at all, the oil is just coming out the PCV hole and running down onto the header. Haven't done a compression check yet, maybe I'll do that this weekend.

Here's a list of mods on the car, if it'll help:

Edelbrock Performer intake
Carter Competition AFB carburetor
Hooker shorty headers
Flowmaster Cat-Back
A/C & Smog removed

I guess I'll probably have to just deal with the oil leak / smoke
coming out of the hood until I get my truck back on the road.

How old is your cat converter, if its clogged it could cause massive backpressure possibly causing blowby into the crankcase. That could be why its losing power but not smoking.

There's no cat. We don't have emissions here in Indiana. :lala:
A friend of mine toldme he has a 4-bolt main 350 he'll give me for
a 6 pack so I think I'm gonna get that from him.

When I get my truck going again (need clutch assembly & exhaust fix) I am just gonna put the Camaro in the garage and do a major over-haul.

Thanks for all your help! I'll be posting more as I'm trying to decide what I want on this 350 (408stroker? ).

I just noticed you had an 86 GT, my buddy just got one of those and Im getting an 85 at the end of this month, I cant wait and Ill probably be in contact with you for help on that

Had? lol I still have it! I love that car.

Yea my friends is pretty cool, thats why I want the 85, the only thing I dont like is that his doesnt handle very well, I hope its just his. It is pretty fast tho.

Fox Mustangs aren't really known to handle well. One of the advantages an f-bod has over a Mustang. If you want to handle, a set of subframes will help dramatically and maybe a 1 - 2" drop. Just remember, in 1985 Mustang was NOT EFI. It was either Cross-Fire Injection or carbureted. 86 was the first year for EFI.

Anyway, if you ever wanna BS around and talk cars my AIM name is eighty6pony5o.

Yea I wanted the carb rather than EFI, I have the tuned port to play with. I want simplicity for now. Besides it 210 hp and 86 was 200 Ill im you later to bs, Im at work right now and they dont let us have aim.