I just bought a 88 bird and when I start it up it gives me a puff of grey/white smoke that smells of fuel/oil mix. also when I let it sit at idle for a lil bit and then hit the gas I also get the puff. I was told it was the piston seals, but I'm leanin towards the idea that it's not. Could someone possibly help me decide what this is caused from so I can buy the parts soon and stop this trail I leave behind

Thanks

 

It's valve guide seals.

do a search, or even just read today's posts, there's a million threads on this board talking about that. It's something every single one of these cars does, used to do, or will do in the future.

 

thanks, I just wanted to make sure what it was before I bought the parts and changed something that wasn't wrong, in december I plan on rebuilding the engine anyways, just wanted to see if I couldn't correct this problem now. How much of a pain is it to change the seals, so I know if I should do it now or wait until december.

 

Depends on your pain threshold...

You remove the valve springs (valve covers, rockers, & retainers have to come off first); support the valve in one of several ways; and slip them on. If you know what all those parts are and how to work on them and have all the right tools, it's a piece of cake; otherwise, who can tell you how much pain you personally will get to enjoy by doing them?

People do them in their driveway all the time. If it were mine, i would do it tonight; it really bothers me.

 

thanks, my pain threshold for mechanics is really high, I'll probably buy the parts next week and get it done, I love workin on cars. Thanks for the info