When I start my 91 Z-28 fully stock, lots of smoke out of the rear pipes, with the smell of gas; the Z-28 is parked on an incline parking space; otherwise, it runs super.

 

I have a 88 trans am with a 350 mine does the same thing once in a while, someone told me once that the rings on the pistons are starting to wear and oil leaks down in, and when you start it, all that oil burns out which is causing the smoke.

Just make sure you check your oil every now and again, youll notice its a little low.

 

Compression check could be used to check rings. Check your oil also to see if it's washing gas past the rings into the oil.

 

May be valve seals for the startup puff. Gas smell - only on the incline? Mine does that too - slight leak from where the filler neck meets the tank.

 

Most likley valve guide seals for the smokey start up.

 

I'm not sure what that person was thinking. Oil doesn't leak down through the pistons. The pan w/oil is below the pistons. Oil burning at start up, is oil leaking down into the combustion chamber through the valve guides. New seals will solve this.

 

Is it very difficult to replace the valve seals, or is it best that a mechanic do it as i dont have that much experience( except water pump, hoses belts radiators fluids cepyt diff)

 

it is perfectly normal to have that smoke at start up. Let me guess is it a little bit blue?
THat is just your valve seals.

 

It would be a good first crack-into-the-engine project. There's plenty of resources on the net, and if you're careful, it should be fine.

If you can stand to have your car out of commission for a weekend or two, the ~$10-100 you'll spend on new seals and gaskets is well under what they'll charge you at most shops; $200-500 low end.

Here's a vid. It's a Silverado 325cid. From the heads up, it's basically the same as your run of the mill sbc 305/350.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob_4-F-m1FI

There are other ways to prevent the valves dropping if you dont have air like they do in this shop.

Good luck.

 

Mine started smoking all the time when I took my cat converter off and it ended up being the valve seals, the converter was burning it off. I replaced them and all is good. I done it myself for about $25. Pull the plugs and to see if there's any oil on them. If they have a tan or grey color and clean its your seals. If you can change your plugs you can change your seals. the hardest part is getting the hose in the spark plug hole to get some air in to hold your valves up especially the passenger side. make sure you get your piston all the way to the top just incase. It's going to take a full day to do it but its really not that bad. But be ready for some bloody knuckles.

 

Your hired!

 

[QUOTE=89Camaro89MI;5010900]It would be a good first crack-into-the-Here's a vid. It's a Silverado 325cid. From the heads up, it's basically the same as your run of the mill sbc 305/350.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob_4-F-m1FI

can i get seals like on that 5.3 to put on my 305?they look like they would work much better.