Colin----There's probably nothing wrong with the way your engine was
"rebuilt". There's a couple of things that could be going on here.
You obviously have more oil going to the rockers than was intended by
the designers. The oil that goes down the valve guides as the result of
this isn't as likely to happen when the guides are still new (1,000
miles). IF this is where the blue smoke is coming from, then I suppose
seals on the valve stems would help.
The emission controls for the '75 (if you still have it intact) is a
closed system. (If you remove the oil filler cap with the engine
running, it will stumble) This means the valve cover is under a vacuum,
and can anything floating around under the cover can get sucked into the
intake manifold. If the blue smoke is being made by oil coming in this
way, then the valve stem oil seals won't help.
Engines that do not have their rocker covers under vacuum have less
problems dealing with the extra oil. You will probably hear more from
them.
The hard-starting of the engine from a hillside could be unrelated to
the above.
Dick
Colin wrote:
Hi Gang,
I've just put my 75 on the road, after a full resto. The fully rebuilt
engine's 40 over, been balanced and ported, has a 270 cam, cr of 9.5, a
header and a free-flow stainless exhaust system. I also installed one of
those external oil lines that goes from the block to the head. The car's
got 1000 miles on it since I put it on the road. The guy who built my
engine up is the best around, and very well respected by all the people
whose opinions matter here in Vancouver, BC where we have a pretty big
Brit car scene. Here's the thing..I get a puff of blue when I start the
car, mostly when it's warm. Today I was at the All British Field Meet,
and the car (3rd in class out of 20 TR6s!) was parked on a bit of a side
hill.
I got a really big puff of blue when I started it at the end of the day.
It was actually hard to start, which it never is.
I've spoken to the engine guy about it, and I doubt his workmanship is
to blame.
He's wondering how well the rocker cover is breathing, thinking the
carbs could be sucking in a really oil-rich mist through that hose from
the rocker cover, and also wondering if we should install some O-rings
on the valve stems. As I said, I don't suspect this guy's workmanship,
and I don't doubt for a minute that he'll do the right thing if indeed
something he did has indeed gone south.
Any ideas/comments about O-rings on the valve stems, or the issue of the
rocker cover breathing as well as it should? As always, all input is
appreciated.
Thanks..Colin Thom CF31098UO
|