Our 2000 mile carbed small block started shooting smoke out of the valve cover breather at the track on wednesday. When we poped the hood there was a lot of oil that had obviously come out also, but only smoke while at idle and not under load. The Pcv seemed to be operating correctly. We also checked for a broken/loose rocker arm, and nothing. The smoke seems to be more of a burnt oil smoke than an exhaust smoke, but its tuff to tell because there really isn't all that much coming out. The idle is slightly rougher, but again it's hard to tell because it had quite a lope to begin with. This engine was profesionaly built, unfourtunatly about 7 hrs from our house, and has worked great up to this point. There is a good chance we were reving it a little too high (7000 ) thanks to our engine builder braging it up a little to much. Bottom end's good to 9000, valves will float a 7300 he said. I didn't buy it then and I don't buy it now, but unfourtunatly my dad did.

Anyone have any ideas as to what is broken here? Is this thing toast??



General Specs:
Dart Little M block, 427ci
AFR Heads
Hydraulic Roller
Carbed with a Mighty Demon, no choke
MSD ignition all the way through

(This list is just off the top of my head, I can find out more if it makes a diff.)

Please Help! :hail:

 

A little smoke out of the oil breather and PCV valve area is normal. Its more or less oil "vapor". I'd say re-check your PCV system and maybe buy a new PCV valve (they are $2.99 at autozone). Do the easy stuff first, then check for a bent pushrod or something similar.

 

You might need more breathing. One breather and one pcv valve for 7000 RPM isn't enough. What you have can't handle the crankcase pressure at that level. Try some valve covers with two baffled breather's on each cover.

 

Well, we couldn't find anything out with out getting in real deep so we took the 7 hr drive and made a warranty claim. It turns out that the ring lands on # 1 had collapsed, supposidly due to detonation. The builder claims nothing else was damaged and that a new piston and ring set was all that is needed. A leakdown test after he is done will prove him right or wrong.

Thanks for the help!

 

I know this kinda off topic but why did you have to drive 7 hours to find an engine builder? No good shops in your area?

 

If your running a manual, you'd better get a rev limiter!