Well it wasnt a good night. Heres the issue. I just completed a cam swap. Its a 350 ho crate engine, and I put a XE274 with RPM Air Gap intake, modified vortec heads with Pro Magnum 1.5 Rockers. I had a little trouble getting it started (timing issue), but did get it running. After about 15-20 seconds I noticed smoke so I shut it down. I got to looking around to see what the hell the problem was and I look in the radiator and it looked real white and foamy.
Long story short is oil is in the water? I looked on the dipstick and the oil is clean as a whistle. Its been about 30-40mins and the water in the radiator has a few little white spots in it but its not near as foamy and doesnt look like a milkshake or anything its pretty clean. I used Fel-pro 1255 intakes gaskets and GM 10105117 head gaskets if that has any bearing on this or will help out with some input. Also hedman LT's with Percys round port dead softs. I was outside monitoring the engine for trouble signs and the smoke seemed to start at #2 where the header bolts up and kind of started smoking down the line to #8 and then on the opposite side did the same thing, it all happened very quick cause like I said it was only running for about 20secs max. Just a few questions. Any idea what this could possibly be?? And is I know break in is critical so Im worried about having to abort it, what am I looking at here?

This could be a crazy idea but I just went and looked at the headers and it looked as if the finish or paint or whatever was on them has come off. These were brand new out of the box. Could it be possible that it was just that burning off. Might be a stretch but I have no idea on this.

 

When starting a new engine there will be some smoke. As the engine warms up it burns off oil in and on the metal. some times it is just oil from our hands. The water in the radiator sounds normal to me also. The foam comes from impurity's in the water and in the water jackets. crank it up and watch the oil pressure and temp. Once the thermostat opens the water level will go down and will have to be topped off. Don't forget if you have a flat tappet cam it will have to broke in.

 

and it is very common for painted headers to smoke on startup... and running high temp coating headers during breakin voids the warranty

 

I can definitely tell the paint was being burned off of the headers now, but it just seemed really excessive. I mean alot of smoke was coming off them. Is there anything that can be done to prevent this or do I just have to let them eat? I did handle them with greasy hands alot, but it was alot more than I would have expected. I kind of think this is rediculous that the finish or paint or whatever it is on these headers is going to burn off like that, but I can definitley tell where it has burned off the flange and the tubes.

Also about the break in do you think anything negative has resulted from stopping the break in procedure? About 20mins at about 2K is correct is it not, and then change the oil? Do I need to do anything or take any precautions when I attempt to start the break in again?

 

The paint on the headers is called "shipping paint". Meaning it is intended to protect the headers until you put them on. It will start burning off as soon as you start the engine.

Get started on the cam break-in procedure again. Finish the time recommended, change the oil.

 

The smoke is totally normal, it filled my garage, a couple times. and even for the first couple of drives with my headers, the car was smoking pretty bad, and it stinks to. But it should eventually quit burning off. You can probably prevent it, by sand blasting the headers before you install them.

 

Don`t worry about it. The first time I installed headers I had the same concerns and it turned out just fine. I`ve had headers where all the paint came off the first time I started the engine. Also, any oily residue that you get on the headers when you install them will smoke and burn off. All the new engines I have installed smoked some the first few minutes they run. Tighten your headers after every heat up-cool down cycle the first few times you take it out for a drive.

 

Well thats quite a relief. I just about had a heart attack when this happened. I didnt have time to start the break in today, but Im going to do it in the morning. Thanks for the replies everyone.