I was just thinking about something. If a car is blowing blue smoke, it's obviously oil. Now how common is ring wear causing this? I mean when someone see's a car smoking, a lot of people say it's the rings. Could this just be that the valve seals, guides are worn? I just really want to know what causes the smoke most of the time. If someone is selling a smoking 350 and it's the valvetrain, hey you've got a deal. One thing i'm worried about is getting a motor that doesn't smoke and bringing it to the track numerous times and having it start to smoke. Can this be prevented? Will changing the oil every month slow this down? I just want to know because i've said that i was going to get a 350 but then the money wasn't coming, so I was going to build-up my 305. After finding out how much it would cost to build a good 305, i'm back in the "get a 350" boat. In 3 weeks i'm going to get some money back from school in which i'm going to allocate $500 to an 85 355. If this engine was rebuilt, i mean it shouldnt smoke. I figure that the engine held up for awhile so a rebuild shouldnt have been needed until the 90's. I would hate to have a nice running motor and then have it start smoking after the repeated bracket races at the 1/8 track.....

sorry to ramble. I just want to do this thing right. I've asked about MANY subjects just to make sure i don't screw things up here. I don't have money for repairs.

Rob

 

If it's upon startup only, it's the valve seals.

 

i was kinda thinking about .... for example in my 305. when i'm on the gas i just leave a cloud of smoke...

 

Usually when you get on it, it's bad piston rings. Chevy's stock o-ring valve seals are terrible and that's why you see the blue smoke upon start up. But in your case, it's more than likely the rings.

 

now for some reason .. if i pick up a motor and it smokes... can i just slap some new rings in it?? to kill the smoke?

 

Yeah but it's a little more work than to just 'slap' some new oil rings on the pistons.

 

i just dont want to have to get an engine and end up putting $700 bucks into it..

 

I am in kinda the same boat . It is really rebuild time this fall/winter. When I step on the gas I get the blue which is RINGS. My question is what else is involved in this or should I just do the rings, valves, add some rocker rollers and headers and be happy? I am also thinking of replacing the stock intake. Would this be cheaper or should I just switch to a carbed 350 for less or more money?

 

if you going to pull the engine out of the car, tear the block apart, it wouldn't make any sense to just replace the bad piston rings and put everything back together.
You'll want to replace all the bearings, get a new oil pump for it,
hone your cylinders and replace any pistons that are showing increased wear.

if you can find a used 350 that runs good, doesn't smoke and doesn't have tons of miles on it. thats your best bet since you seem to be on a budget.

 

now .. if i take a motor apart myself... and JUST have it honed for new rings................. would that be alright?? and then put it back together..??