86FyrBrd

iTrader: (1)

I bought this car a month ago. It let out a pretty good puff on start up. When running it at idle it didn't visibly smoke but had a slight odor. An odd smell, can't really describe it but it didn't smell like fuel, coolant, or anything. It smelled like exhaust...just stronger. When rev'd up it smoked continuously. Not heavy where it was a smoke bomb. You could see through the cloud but it def. smoked. Blue...oil.

I know the initial puff was valve seals and the continuous could be many things but probably valve seals too. Vacuum pulling oil through.

So I bought valve seals and I have my valve covers off (a job in itself) and plugs out. Tonight I picked up a cheap leak down/cylinder pressure test kit so I can pressurize the cylinder to change the valve seals.

On cylinder 1 I have the rockers off so both valves are closed and I pressurized through the spark plug hole. I continuously hear air flowing. Like when your filling a tire you can hear it in the tire. I don't hear it external of the engine.

How much air should a stone cold engine hold in a cylinder?

Should I not hear that air movement?

Is that telling me my rings are bad?

What PSI should I have in the cylinder to hold the valve up enough that I can get the valve locks to release from between the spring and valve?

Any insight or information would def. help me even if I didn't ask the question. Please help me out.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

You will hear air moving around esp on a cold motor. Its normal. Carry on.
Now if its coming out of the T-body= bad intake valve/seat.
coming out of the tail pipe=exhaust valve/seat.
coming out of dip stick or valve cover area= bad rings

86FyrBrd

iTrader: (1)

Well that makes me feel MUCH better.

Is there a recommended procedure to get the valve locks to release from the spring? I'm afraid to tap it to hard and have it crack the valve open a little bit, loose the pressure, and drop the valve in the cylinder.

I have done these before, just never on the car.

eseibel67

Yes, you will hear air rushing.

To remove the locks, tap the valve stem a little before you start compressing, but not too hard. A little twist might also help to loosen them, and be sure to remove them with a magnet so you won't lose them.

I've done valve seals several times with compressed air, but I'm always nervous about losing a valve due to a power shortage or a blown air line. I now use the rope method, it makes the whole procedure much more serene.

micktroup2

use a large socket, put it on the valve spring and tap it a few times until you hear it change pitch- that means you have freed up the retainer and locks. Then proceed as normal. I just did the seals on mine- or helped my mechanic- couldn't be easier.

86FyrBrd

iTrader: (1)

Done! Used the rope method. I didn't feel like suffering the consequences of dropping a valve. I bought the vert for the nice weather and if I had to pull the engine apart it would have cost more money and time than I have for this season.

My heart skipped a beat a few times when pulling the rope back out and it gets snagged up a little bit but all went well.

There was one seal I skipped. Passenger rear most valve. (Cyl. 8 Exhaust) With the firewall sticking out there and so much stuff I just couldn't get my spring compressor on there.

Seals are done, plugs are back in. Tomorrow is putting all the stuff back together I had to move to get the valve covers off.

IROCU2

86 FyrBrd
Please tell us if this helped your smoke issue.

86FyrBrd

iTrader: (1)

I will... Should be tomorrow afternoon I have it running again.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

You maaay want to finish the rear most valves, they are the ones that are covered in oil the worst.

86FyrBrd

iTrader: (1)

All back together and running. No more start up puff and I think the smoke when running is gone too. If its not gone, its def. A LOT less. Its cold enough here right now that the white exhaust when you start it up isnt really going away and if its smoking when I rev it up its light enough its tough to decipher between that and the regular exhaust.

eseibel67

He missed one, so there's a 93.75% probability that it's fixed!