Heres the short story: I just installed a 350 in my 82 Camaro. The engine came from a trusted source, and has about 20-30 k on a rebuild. The original owner doesnt remember the specs, but thinks its .040 over with a 270 cam. The engine was running perfectly when it came out 3-5 years ago and sat in a dry barn since.

SO, I installed the motor and drove the car about 20 miles to get it painted. Big problem 1 and 2.
1) Oil breather ( unbaffled valve covers) is SPEWING oil all over the motor. I dont mean a drip or two, but barfing up all over the drivers side compartment.
2) Some signifigant white smoke out the tail, during acell. Looks like cigarette smoke. When I got out of the car to look at it, there was little drops of oil all over the back of the car. (no sweet smell)
Does anybody know what could cause this? Like I said, the engine came from a trusted source and Im going against bad rings or a head gasket. Could a bad PCV valve cause this much overpressure? Any other suggestions?

Problem 3) shes running hot. (fans work, coolant full) The guage tells me between 240-250. Boil line is 260. Now, the instrument cluster is out of a newer model, maybe 85,86 and the sending unit is for a 1977 (to fit the engine) Could a old sending unit communicating to a newer cluster cause a problem? (As in telling me its running hotter than she really is? Any quick way to get a temp reading without using an IR/laser handheld thingy?

Thanks guys. Im about to sell this car if I cant get these things worked out......

 

Sounds like headgasket problems for sure. Temp sender can be wrong. A thermocouple ready digital multimeter is a good way I checked temp. Run it inside of the top coolant hose and reclamp it. It'll be fine.

Coolant in the cylinders could have caused problems with the rings seating, etc.

Checking the spark plugs tells all. Report back, pics would be nice too!

 

How can a spark plug reveal a blown head gasket? Thats a new one to me. Please explain.

 

when you burn coolant, the residue from the coolant gets trapped onto the spark plug, making an ashy, almost lumpy coating on the electrode. you can actually tell "everything" about the way your engine is running by the spark plugs.

sounds to me though that you have a blown headgasket. that can also cause an overheating problem, as the cooling system cannot hold pressure properly, and releasing the pressure on the coolant will cause the boiling point to lower dramatically, and the coolant will heat up.

but check your plugs (all 8!) before you freak out, it could be something simple. and pictures would be helpful.

 

In response to seeing what your temperature is, get a radiator cap with a built in thermometer. Mr. Gasket sells one. Your coolant level has to be full though to get a reading. This will clear up whether or not your current thermo setup is working properly.

 

Throw me the 'something simple' options. Im getting freaked out with people telling me its a head gasket and I need to re ring the engine and such. What are simple things that would cause all this backpressure?

( I dont know if she is overheating, Im convinced that the gauge is off)

Les- Just bought one. I hope I get a chance to use it!

 

I think yall have completely jumped to the WRONG conclusion on this one. Did you miss the part where he said it sat in the barn for 4 YEARS.
And I'll bet you a beer on this one.

1) Why? Because the rings are not sealing and allowing blowby which is pressurizing the crank case.
2) Why? Because the rings aren't sealing allowing oil into the combustion chamber there it is burnt and blown out the back.

Why aren't the rings sealing? Because it sat for 4 years in a burn and either/or they have corroded to the pistons or the cylinder are rusted and the rings are no longer sealing.

3) Why? Because it sat in a burn for 4 years and the thermostat is corroded shut.
If it were a blown head gasket the coolant wouldn't be/stay full.
Easy check! Is the engine hot and the radiator cool?

At the very least this engine should have had the heads pulled and the cylinders inspected before installing and running.
I would have had a complete refresh done.

In any case your(scottd.) going to have to pull this engine and the heads to find out!!!
P.S. If it makes you fell better, do a compression check on the cylinders first and then pull the engine.

 

I agree with Z28SORR here,BUT you might try some Seafoam, or Marvel before tearing it down. Sometimes the rings will just get stuck from setting and you MIGHT be able to free them this way. However sitting this long they may be so out of round they won't seat.

 

run some trans fluid thru the intake...that might loosen your rings up......When we used to install junkyard motors we would pull the plugs and fill the cyls. with ATF the night before.......