I thought I finally had my problems licked. After going through the complete 12v change over, the starter rebuild, fuel pump replacement and the gas tank fiasco. That's what I get for thinking! I tried road testing it two days ago and it was blowing huge clouds of white smoke. Yesterday it was the same. Very little smoke at start up and then as it reaches operating temp it just billows white smoke from the exhaust and it smokes from the breather tube. So Last night I pulled the plugs and ran a compression test. Here are the results (Ford cylinder order) #1 - 110 #2 - 110 #3 - 100 #4 - 105 #5 - 70 (95 on second test) #6 - 20 (60 on second test) #7 - 110 #8 - 105 The #6 cylinder was blowing oil out of the spark plug hole while I was testing the other cylinders. I guess all the other problems were masking the real problem. Or somewhere in the course of changing all of these things something else happened. Maybe something from that bad gas and gas tank made it's way all the way through the engine? I really don't know at this point. Needless to say I am disappointed. While the plan had always been to tear the car down and rebuild it. I was hoping to get at least some cruising out of it this season. Doesn't look like that will be happening.
I have been dealing with continuous problems for the last year too. It gets pretty frustrating. Sometimes I just take a few weeks away from the car and when I get back to it, I feel rejuvenated about getting all the problems fixed. I guess it keeps me from doing things the speedy way and actually doing them the right way.
Sorry to hear about the problems. You are probably doing best by taking some time away and then getting back on it. I hope you have it going soon and enjoy the trips in the future. Bill, Spring, TX
If the car has set for a while you could just have some stuck rings,it has been posted on the HAMB many,many times that Marvel Mystery Oil is your best friend pull the plugs on both those cylinders and put about 4 oz in each and let it sit overnight,put the rest in the oil then add a can of Sea Foam to the gas tank and take it for a good drive.There is a good chance you might get lucky.
Thanks Jeff. I will give that a shot when I get back next week. It's worth a try. Right now I am starting to put together my shopping list for the 312 and outlining a schedule for this fall when I start tearing it down. There's a post in the Y-Block group on the 312 - "How would you build this y-block?" 54HotRod and Bill - You're both right. I need some time away from the car. Right now I feel so drained from all of it.
If you have low cylinders next to each other as you do, it typically is a blown head gasket. White smoke out the exhaust is your second clue to the gasket. Smoke out the breather tube is excessive blow-by past the piston rings. Sounds like a couple cylinders are hurt pretty bad.
I missed the white smoke part you posted earlier,that sounds like a head gasket you might try checking the head bolt torque first if it is OK then it looks like you will have to replace the gasket.
If you have antifreeze in there, and if it gets into the oil pan, you can kiss the bottom end goodby.
Thanks guys. So do you think that I may have a ring issue as well as the head gasket? Right now I am debating whether or not to do the head gasket before Hot August Nights here next week. If it is just the head gasket I will yank that head off tomorrow and run to Concours to pick up the gasket. They're only 30 miles away. parklane - I checked the coolant level and it doesn't appear that I have any coolant loss.
When doing a head gasket on a Y block, remember where the long bolts go. There are three lengths, not two.
Talked with my mechanic today while I had my daily driver down at his shop and he thinks it is the valve stem seals because oil was blowing out the spark plug hole when I doing the compression test. He said the oil is leaking past the seals and into the chamber then being pushed out through the spark plug hole. I'm going to take it down to him tomorrow so he can do a leak down test. Will keep y'all posted.
Just got the car back from the shop. They did a leak down test and found that it is not the gasket or the valve seals. He said most likely the rings are shot. He said I could try running a heavy full synthetic, like a 20w50 and it may eliminate the smoke and I might be able to drive it for a little bit. Never heard of that before. Guess I'll work double time on prepping that 312 go in it
I have followed this thread and been where you are, I think I might pull the head and see for my self, all the information leadsto a blown head gasket. I remember on an other site John "Hooser" pulled a head between heats at a track somewhere, not that big a deal said he didn't even pull the intake. But he does it often enough. Just my thoughts, Good luck. Gerry
Hey guys, sorry I haven't been around. Last week was a busy week of Hot August Nights fun! I used the week as a break from the car. I needed it. I needed to feel inspired instead of fatigued and frustrated. So we spent the week cruising in my dad's '57 Chevy pickup. It was great fun and I wasn't stressed about whether or not the car was going to break down. Before last week I did try the Marvel trick and the synthetic oil, but nothing changed. It was still smoking like crazy. So in a couple of weeks I will start tearing down the front end in preparation of taking out the engine. After that is out I will start rebuilding the front end. I think the 312 will have to wait until this winter. It seems like a good project for when the snow is flying. I will keep y'all posted
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