OK now im getting pissed off. First I was having trouble getting this thing fired up. Now I get it fired up by replacing the intake gaskets. I adjusted the roller rockers and placed the valve covers. Please tell me why im seeing white smoke coming from holes of the valve covers? Im also seeing white smoke coming from the oil dip stick tubed. I have done a oil change allready and the oil is perfect. So theres no sign of a gasket blown or anything. A long time ago I tried heli coiling a hole that mates between the intake and the heads. Now im seeing white smoke coming from that hole. Also I think I might have a rear main seal leak. I put too much oil in last time so that is my fault. People im lost here. My car hasnt ran good since my 355 build. Im getting pissed off. Might be time for an LS1. Is white smoke common for a new engine? I dont recall seeing that last time I built the motor. ALthough I found out later I had the main bearings in wrong.
Chris

 

What you are seeing is probly blow-by from the rings not being seated.

 

Will it eventually stop?
Chris

 

Mine smoked like hell for the first 3 minutes of driving it down the street. I did alot of low rpm 4th gear pulls and it the rings seated shortly after and hasn't burned a lick of oil since. It burned about a quart of oil that fast though before the rings seated so don't worry just yet...

 

Ok I wont worry. I had a buddy of mine tell me that the engine is burining off moisture from the oil pan that it should go away. He also said to un screw the oil cap and place a napkin while the motor is running. He said if the napkin stays on almost like a small vacuum, then I dont have blowby. However if the napkin blows off then I may have blowby. But Im still nervous though. I dont remember this happening with my last motor build I did. But then again I didnt build it right. So will see

 

If its just a little whisp here and there, make sure your pcv valve is hooked up and working correctly. In this case it would be moisture most likely escaping.

If it is crap coming from the exhaust that smells like an oil fire. Or if its chuffs of smoke from the breather or the oil fill cap.

Go whip it pretty hard. If it still does it after that its something that isnt going to heal on its own. Engines need a load to make the rings seal properly, if they dont get it they are not happy and make you do the job over.

 

SO far there is nothing coming out of the exhaust at all. No white smoke or anything. It just coming out of the valve covers, and the dipstick tube. Kinda of scary to be honest with you .
Chris

 

Is the pcv hooked up and working? Or do you just have a breather or the oil fill cap off? You need an active vent on the crankcase or your oil wont live worth a crap.

 

I will check that out tonight when I get home. As far as I know the pcv pipe ishooked up just fine.
Chris