I have a few problems with my 289 rite now like, white smoke, ticking, and lost compression that I know of[:@] Hopefully I can get my car to the shop this weekend to get these things fixed and running like a champ. I was thinking about adding a better cam while I got the chance. I dont have "a lot" of performance parts but I do have:
-Edel. performer intake
-Holley street avenger 570
-Flowmaster exhaust
-MSD ignition system...and thats it!!

I dont want to buy any more performance parts because I am going to build a 351w later, so I thought this cam would not be a bad idea since I will be using this engine for a few more months and hopefully can get a better sound and power. Im lookin for a mild cam with some lope in it for a daily driver. Is this a dumb idea?
Please Help.[&:]

 

ohh.. and "if" its a good idea, what cam would work out best for my setup?

 

BUMP.

 

Lost compression and white smoke sounds like it could be rings/valves and guides. Ticking might need to adjust the valve train. Can't be totally certain till you get it apart. If you're gonna build a 351 I'd not put anything into the 289 right now, especially since if it's rings or bad valves/guides you may be rebuilding an engine sooner rather than later [&:]

 

Sounds like a blown head gasket to me. White smoke= water.

 

I agree with glen my first thought is blown head gasket check your oil filler cap for a mayo like deposit

 

+1,,, my first thought as well, the "ticking" could be another symptom of a blown head gasket as well.

A blown head gasket may or may not leak water into the crankcase, for the issue you describe, air bubbles coming up into the radiator filler neck would cinch the diagnosis, although you might not get bubbles untill the engine is warm though.

If you have a blown head gasket, sooner or later you are going to get enough water in a cylinder that the engine will no longer turn over, if your engine gets to a point where it will not turn, do not force it or "Serious Engine Damage Will Result".

 

What are some steps i can follow to find out if i have a blown head gasket or an I better of taken it to the shop? I think i should fix these problems because I will need to have a reliable engine for a few more months hmmm..
-and, I think I can get my dad to pay for 50% of the cost, if not, all of it.

 

A good starting place might be getting the cooling system pressure checked, a parts store should be able to do this for you, (ie; AutoZone or similar).

If you are loosing water, and cant see where it is going, this would be a positive indication ofa blown head gasket/cracked head. There are two possible problems here though, while a leak would probably affirm a blownhead gasket or a cracked head, a negative test would not nesacarily eliminate the possibility of this problem. In addition to this,a positive test might fill a cylinder with water making a tow a from the parts store mandatory.

Did you recently overheat your engine?

 

yes, few months ago. replaced the whole cooling system and got rid of that problem.