Hi Guys New to the board.

I have a blown T/A with a pro-charger 6psi kit. Within the last two years I rebuild my motor and upgraded with TRW forged pistons etc.. Just recently I have noticed a little smoke coming from the valve cover (no smoke from the tail pipes under hard throttle yet). Probably a bad or worn piston rings etc.

My friend suggested that I leave the block in the car ,,, take the heads and pan off and pop the pistons out to see what’s damaged (broken piston ring or cracked ringlands etc) and if the cylinders weren’t to bad just do as quick hone buy a new set of pistons & rings (the same ones I have) and hope for the best. I understand it is not the ideal way to do a motor but I am on a tight bugdject and can’t afford to do the whole motor (at this point). (The motor was completely rebuild and only as about 25 k on it). I really don’t feel like pulling the motor and the idea of doing it while the motor is in the car sounds interesting.

I am really interested in people who have done this before and to get some insight on how long it lasted before you had to pull the motor and do a real rebuild and some tips or tricks you used to get you by. (Because I know there is allot of you who have done this as a quick repair and may have not told anyone because you did not want the criticism for doing it half a$$) again I understand this is not the best but need a shady helping hand to get me by until I can pull the motor and do it right.

 

Smoke coming from the valve cover? How are your gaskets? Any leaks?

 

What year vehicle?.... might affect what you can do with the block in the car. What engine... Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3? You should really include a signature with all this info, so people can get you started in the right direction.

Fred
Moderator

 

Sounds like one of those deals when you change the oil and get some on your headers and it burns off. Is it white smoke?

 

I am pretty sure it's the "puff of death"
I see smoke coming valve cover breather. It's not bad but it's giving me the same signs as when I broke the ring lands on the stock motor.
Dumb question can anything else cause the motor to puff like that?
The motor runs fine and I don't notice any power lose or missing oil.


The car is a 95 T/A.

 

anyone else have any thoughts to my question?

 

Do these Lt1s have crank case vents?

 

All Small Block Chevy engines have crankcase ventilation but I doubt that would do it.

But if it was your rings...how would the smoke come out your valve cover? Think about it...it would only go out your exhaust with everything else.

It would have to come up through your oil drainage passages in your heads, meaning it would be coming from your rotating assembly...not good. Could mean fried bearings? Something is making a lot of friction and burning oil? Just taking guesses here, oil temps at the crank bearings actually get upwards of 700 degrees (or so i've read) so I don't see how that could happen though.

No idea...