Rebuilt 322 Smoking

**brian barling** · 07-06-2010, 09:30 AM

I have rebuilt my 1956 322" Nailhead and cannot get it to stop smoking oil when it idles.

I installed .060 oil restrictors in the cylinder head which helped, and then installed valve stem seals on top of the valve keeper/retainer. This also helped, but it still will give a puff after idling at a stop light for a minute or so.

I installed the newer version aluminum rockers when it was rebuilt.

Other than taking it apart and having the intake guides machined for positive seals do I have any other options?

The Motor other wise runs well, it has 18" of vaccum at idle and does not smoke on acceleraton or deacceleration.

Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.
Brian

**Straight Eight** · 07-06-2010, 03:20 PM

Does you car have a dual diaphragm fuel pump? Did you inspect the vacuum lines leaving the pump and going to the manifold? Was there any oil in the lines? If so, its time to rebuilt the fuel, vacuum pump, or pick up a rebuild. www.bobsautomobilia.com can usually help.

**brian barling** · 07-06-2010, 03:26 PM

I'm using an electric fuel pump.
I did check the pcv valve very closely as well to rule that out.
I'm sure that the oil is getting in to the cylinders by the valve guides.
During the rebuild new guides and valves were installed.

**Straight Eight** · 07-06-2010, 04:04 PM

Did you remove the mechanical fuel pump. and block off the hole?

**brian barling** · 07-06-2010, 05:43 PM

Yes, the fuel pump is gone and the pushrod.
Block off plate is bolted on.

I see the Buick Farm has oil restrictors in their catalogue.
They do not list a phone #. Would you happen to know what size restrictor hole they use?

I remember reading somewhere that someone used a .040"
That seems small to me, but at .060" where I'm at, it still seems to over oil the top end.

Thanks for your thoughts so far, I'd really like to sort this out without having to pull the heads off.

**Gee_Rydes** · 07-07-2010, 09:01 AM

wouldn't a compression test be a good way to be certain about whether it is top end or bottom? Maybe this is already known? Or at least narrow down to a particular cylinder?
Vacuum modulator diaphram?

**brian barling** · 07-07-2010, 09:09 AM

I've got a 5 speed manual transmission, so no modulator to worry about.
Good thought on compression, I did a leak down test, and with a 10% leak average, the ring seal is good. (No oil smoke on acceleration or deacceleraton)
Any other thoughts are welcomed,
Brian.

**Gee_Rydes** · 07-07-2010, 10:11 AM

Safe to assume you squirted some oil in the cylinders after taking the first compression test to see how it changes?

I don't want to assume...

**brian barling** · 07-07-2010, 10:17 AM

Gee, no I did not do a compression test, I did a leak down test, that does not use oil in the cylinders.
I am sure that the problem is top end oiling through the valve guide, now I just have to figure out why.
Thanks again for the input, and any other thoughts are welcomed.
Brian.

**Gee_Rydes** · 07-07-2010, 10:25 AM

Just seems crazy that it would be equally distributed over all the cylinders and not just one.
Did the guy that did the heads know Nails? They ALL say they know, but are you comfortable with his expertise? To my knowledge, Nails don't have valve seals so if it is in fact upper end, it would have to be sloppy stem to guide tolerance right? That would make me think it is a workmanship issue?