smoking at idle question

My friend has a bone stock 1938 pontiac 2 door sedan with a straight eight in it. He says the car smokes some at idle. The car runs awesome and he drives it all over the place. He wanted me to ask here to see if you guys could give he some suggestions to see why it smokes. Thanks Nate

 

valve guides maby

 

might ask him where the smoke is appearing; if it's at idle, maybe he sees it at stops and it's simply the crankcase breather bleeding blowby. car's near 63 years old.... smoke is something it's gonna do!

 

It smokes all the time but at revs above idle the motor does a better job of digesting ot. When oil consumption gets to the point it fouls the spark plugs, then is time to fret about it.

 

bttt

 

i think he should smoke while he is driving .Not just at idle...Lol ,If he isnt burning alot of oil .Why worry about it ..... Just enjoy ......As long as it isn't that Deadly any second now blow the motor smoke .I wouldnt worry about it ....He could try a thicker oil .

 

exactly


rings usually smoke under acceleration from the increased cylinder pressures... guides usually smoke at idle from the increased intake vacuum.

 

That straight 8 is a flathead, limited oil flow to the valve chamber. Also the oil must flow upwards to get to the guides. Flathead guides don't usually cause much smoke because of these things. My guess would be over half-a-century of wear on the rings.

 

..........along with the constant adequate supply of oil to that area of the motor with that configuration. Further, the lack of rocker action/side loads on the valve stems, in most cases, results in very little valve guide wear anyhow. At overhaul they might not even be worn enough to warrant repair.

Drive it. Enjoy it.