390 Started Smoking

[RLSIDWELL]

I have a FE 390 with stock heads and Edelbrock Performer RPM intake. 590 miles on engine since rebuild. I recently replaced my intake gasket because of a leak in the rear. The first 150 miles everything went fine, didn't use a drop of oil. (No signs of a leak!) Second 150 miles involved some highway and a lot of idling around the city. I started noticing some blue smoke from the left bank at idle. This time I used a quart of oil. Third 150 miles was mostly highway driving and only used about a cup of oil.

There is no smoke when the engine first starts. The smoking seems to start when the engine gets hot and is idling. I started unplugging spark plug wires and the smoking is coming from #7 cylinder. Against the advice of most of the FE posts on the forum concerning intake gaskets, I still used the FelPro 1247 Print-O-Seal intake gasket. Maybe I am paying for it now! I do have a PCV system and it appears to be working. The other valve cover is vented into the breather and both valve covers have the oil baffles installed.

Is there any way I can tell if the leak is intake gasket versus valve stem seal? Or, should I just bite the bullet and yank the intake? If I don't see any signs of gasket failure, then I can pursue the valve stem seal theory. I also re-torqued the intake hoping it was that simple, but to no avail.

Thanks for any advice. It is always appreciated.

[trularin]

How confident are you in your rebuild?

[Jerry Clayton]

Well----if you really think that it is #7, you could check the condition of the valve stem seal on the intake valve--the amount of oil usage you speak of is about right for a bad or damaged seal. You said you had stock heads, what is the condition of your guides and what stem clearance do you have? You can change the valve seal with the head on the engine

Also check the torgue of the manifold bolts, and visually check condition of manifold around the push rod holes on #7

Jerry

[Ibr8k4vetts]

Get rid of the Print-O-leak intake gasket and get some Victor's.

[RLSIDWELL]

Pulled the intake today and found the gasket had not sealed at all on the bottom of #7. All other ports the gasket had sealed all the way around. Am picking up Victor gaskets tomorrow. Thanks for the input and wish me luck!