I just bought my 1984 Camaro Z28 and after about 5-10 minutes of running (it runs nice and smooth, good idle, very strong) but it will smoke a little after running. It has a 305 carb motor, and this is the first carbeurated car I've owned. Is this normal, or is there something I should check? Thanks.

 

What color would you say the smoke is? From the exhaust pipes? If it has a blueish tint to it, it is oil burning off somewhere and it could be oil getting up through worn piston rings and burning off in the combustion chamber. If the smoke is white, it is coolant burning off. If its burning from inside the combustion chamber, you could have a bad head gasket, or cracked water passage in one of the heads. If the smoke is coming from the engine compartment and NOT the exhaust pipes, then it is a fluid leaking and dripping onto a header, or on the block, etc. Sometimes if your valve cover gasket is shot, or not on properly, oil can seep by and burn off on the headers.

 

Yep, I think it has a little oil leak from the valve cover area. The smoke is gray I would say and yes its from the engine, not the exhaust. I'm guessing this is a common problem and should be an easy fix right?

 

I don't know how common it might be, but leaking valve covers aren't exactly rare.

 

when the engine is cold, wipe the motor down if there is any oil then after she gets warmed up, run her down the road or something.. find the oil leak.. i just recently had an oil leak from my rear manifold seal area.. getting it sealed as we speak..

 

basically the same thing mine is doing, but i know im losing oil, and i know im losing coolant so i guess its a little of both?

 

I'd like to get some chrome valve covers to dress up my engine, could I just replace both of mine and fix the leak?

 

The typical parts store dress-up chrome valve covers tend to leak more than stock covers do.

 

This is true. They will seal but don't use the crappy cork gaskets they usually come with. Go to a parts store and get the good 1/8" thick rubber gaskets they sell. They seal quite nicely. And if the valve cover is stamped steel and thin, dont over tighten, you will just warp it and cause another leak