hi,

i have a 68 289 C4 auto. The head and cam are stock but i have a holly 600 cfm carb and a performer intake. The car runs and idles smooth and fine but it the exhaust looks pretty white and after i have driven it for a while and park in the garage there is a good smell of gas in it. Is there something wrong or just a 46 year old car?

Thanks,

Tim

 

Probably just the car. Hard to say, but what kind of volume of white smoke are you talking about? Like are you doing a James Bond smoke screen? In any event, keep an eye on the water level as this could possibly be the first sign if a failing head gasket.

 

no, not an excessive amount, its just like the normal exhaust is white. The coolant level has never fluctuated or dropped and temp is always good.

 

hello:

your engine is burning oil, it's that simple.

if it was water it would be loosing water and/or overheating.

likely your valve guides, guide seals and/or rings are excessively worn.

if it is a rebuilt engine then the rings did not properly seal or it is oil left over in the exhaust that might burn pout after a week or two.

 

white smoke is more likely valve seals/guides. Does it do it more at startup vs after its been running?

 

I have a very similar issue with my 289. On start up it lets out a pretty good puff of white smoke. I don't see it while idleing nor while the car is running at 30+ down the road. So i have just assumed that it was leaking seals or valve guides in the heads. Is that correct?

 

ProblemHouston- yes, when you turn the car off, the seals are letting oil from the top end leak onto the valves and pistons. When you start it up it burns this off and you see it. Once it's warm there isn't enough to notice because it gets burned off as it runs.

 

So a new set of heads and or a head rebuild is in order. Decisions...Decisions...

 

Good God no... Just replace the valve seals, or have it done. It's pretty easy to do. You can buy all the stuff to do this for less than $150 bucks, including the tools. Maybe a bit more if you have to buy some basics like a torque wrench etc... but still.

Worst case is that the valves/valve guides are shot, then you will need to take them to a machine shop but it certainly shouldn't require new heads.

 

Well now I can't show my GF this thread to convince her that I need to buy new heads. Looking to get a little more power out of her before I do a complete rebuild. My cousins 67 Camaro is just a bit faster than my 65 fastback at the moment. Figured heads, intake and 4 barrel carb should do it.