I had this camaro for about 3500-4000 miles and when i bought it, carfax said it had under 15,000 on the engine.

I am noticing Blowby more than normal after my head/cam/intake swap. i don't have a PCV in there anymore...can that be the problem? or can it also be the #1 exhaust rocker arm coming gradually loose the day I got it back from the shop (started backfiring thru the intake about 45 mins after I drove it away).

The shop is taking care of it.

They said they needed to grind down the concavity of the rocker studs as to make then flat so they don't come loose.

But, I know blowby means "beaten engine". Can anyone tell me what I should do? I don't want to replace the piston rings after this Head/cam/intake swap.

Vac pump or crankcase evac job? I am looking for the cheapest here...I won't be doing the work either unless it can take a weekend.

Thanks!
--Dan

 

blowby is usually caused by two things. valve steam seals are worn in the head causing oil to seep into the cylinders upon sitting a while then starting or if really bad leaking continuously. the other being piston rings. if the rings are really worn, like mine were on my old 350, it will allow accessive oil into the cylinder. sometimes really worn rings also result in piston slap to. most likely it is your valve steam seal with that mileage.

 

just had new heads put in
has to be the piston rings...ran HOT last summer.
--Dan

P.S. Could it be the loose rocker? the valve wasn't opening, and that's when the smoking was the worst.

 

blow by is caused by one thing and one thing only, compression leaking past the rings/pistons into the crank case. leaking valves and worn valve seals won't cause bolw by. leak it down or run a compression test and post your results. what exactily is your problem? it's foolish to have no breather or pvc.

 

You definitly need to run a breather anc PCV, it helps reduce crankcase pressure and ring seal. I would put them on and will help the problem.

 

I got a breather in there now with an oil cap on the other va;lve cover. i have ANOTHER breather in the trunk, also i have a pcv valve in there that looks like a breather.

My buddy told me to get a special breather for it...with the open element.


My friend at the shop told me that pcv valves cause bad performance in built engines.

Here are my options:

A. (1 valve cover) with a breather, (other VC) with pvc.
B. Two breathers
C. pcv, oil cap

Tell me what I should do.

--Dan

 

I've never heard of that, i could just be me though. But i will tell you i doesn't make much sense.

Go with option A), and see how it works and runs!

A. (1 valve cover) with a breather, (other VC) with pvc.

 

Dan,

I just looked at your sig, it says your running 58* total timing. Holy **** that can't be right, maybe 38*?

 

yup i was wrong just reread what i wrote and i am a dumbass. but yeah piston rings is the correct answer. school is getting the better of me. i cant think anymore. lol

 

I AM running 12 degrees initial and 58 (fifty eight) degrees total. I was there when the shop checked with the timing light. He said you would be lucky to get 39 on a stock motor. He said the MSD box and distributor allows for that.

--Dan

I will try the breather and PCV. I was told to get the open element breahters...will that make a big difference?

 

What? No, i seriously dobut you are running 58* advance, the engine would not run.

 

He was there with me. I'll tell him to make a post here. I didn't think it was possible either. But the shop owner checked the timing with the light, then had a big smile and showed the other mechanics...they all said "HOLY CRAP." The car runs fine, but it doesn't seem to wind up as good. i was trying to bounce it off the 6000 rev limiter, but it wouldn't go that high. I hope it isn't the cam...or maybe it was that #1 exhaust lifter coming gradually loose...so loose that you can notice faint smoke in the cabin. Then the bastard started backfiring that valve thru the intake.

I hope this smoking (blowby) problem can be fixed without me having to take the heads off...damn i just had them put on.

Can't a vac pump cause better manifold vac and thuis a better piston ring seal?
-_Dan

 

no flames intended but dude 58* seems pretty impossible to me too .... it wouldnt run it would just sputter..... i think it is probly somewhere around 38 as well.

 

actually at 58* it would probly just detonate itself untill your bottom end was nothing..... i mean i was detonating a little with my old 355.... i had the box , dist , and coil from MSD. and i was at 38* total

 

I would find a new shop, because obviously they don't know what they are doing. How did they measure the total timing? Regular timing light and timing tape, or did they use and adjustable advance timing light?

 

he might be including full vac advance as well but that still does seem a little excessive. 45-55 degrees can be read on the timing light with vac still hooked up at part throttle.