Man I hate to even post this but, the monty started smoking the other day on start up. Not just a little puff but a ton of smoke, and its only getting worse. Motor is new. Only 5 months old with maybe 15k on it. No water in oil, not low on coolant, still has power...my guess is gonna be the valve seals went bad. I was building the motor with all new components when the situatuion changed and I had to have it running so I just bought a rebuilt head. I think the shop that sold it to me only replaced what was bad and not everything. So do you guys think I'm heading in the right direction? Gonna just pony up the 400 for a clearwater today and hope she holds out untill it arrives. Any other thing it could be???

PCV valve, cracked head, blown head gasket, broken ring, broken piston, valve guides - who knows - I think before you pull the head you should check the PCV valve and run a compression test to see what shape the rings are in. If the compression looks ok, pull the head and find the problem - you might not need a new head - only valve stem seals/guides.

Frank

What color smoke?

White/blue smoke, distinct smell of burning oil. What gets me is that it is a completely new engine. I replaced everything during the rebuild, I mean EVERYTHING... The weak link is the head that was a reman head from a local shop. It was not a new casting and they reused the valves, springs, and who knows what else. I was between a rock and a hard place and had no other option. Warranty was only 90 days and it's been around 5 months since rebuild...

Here's the situation. At start up it blows smoke, sometimes a lot and sometimes a little. Idling in traffic, it starts smoking and when I start out in 1st smokes a lot but not always. just most of the time, once driving, I don't notice any smoke...already ordered a new head from clearwater. Non jet valve and mech lifters so it should be an upgrade and give higher rpm capability. Can't afford to not have it running so I hope it is the problem... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

I have a compression tester, dude. Bring it over here on Saturday or Sunday.

Why do some of you guys insist on mechanical lifters? These engines redline around 5500-6000, but I've never gotten mine above 4500; never needed to. Never needed to adjust my valves, either...

John B.

Mech lifters will also give the ability to run a TEP perf. cam. I was gonna get the hyd lifters so I didn't have to adjust them but the guy at Clearwater was really set on selling me the mech ones. He gave me lots of reasons why the mech are better. Not that he is right but I didn't want to argue with him...