Re: Heads.

by Jim_Rockford Mon Oct 22, 2012 6:24 pm

I wouldn't have wasted my time reinstalling a set of smog era thin casting heads, Time you had the machine work done, you could have gotten a good set of later model heads , or even a set of aftermarket vortecs.. and for the roloc pads, those are a no no for assembled engines , the grit will get everywhere. You might want to give it a little more time to clear out of the exhaust., Not sure if yours got a convertor or not, but it takes a good while for the water in the exhaust to dry out.

by 74MonteCarlo Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:42 pm

Unless you wanna buy me some heads and mail them to me from your own wallet, I'm using these. I'm a jobless college student. I'm not putting something on "just because". The only way this car will get new head(s) is if one is cracked and irreparable.

I wouldn't have "wasted my time" restoring a 77 Impala either, but I didn't say anything.

I've driven the car probably 50 miles, mostly on the highway...I'm sure if there was anything left in the exhaust, it's be gone by now.

by 74MonteCarlo Tue Oct 23, 2012 12:06 pm

I did..something..to it last night, and it seems to be getting better. Just a little smoke upon start up, then goes away.

However...I don't have any pressure on my upper radiator hose...

by 77mali Tue Oct 23, 2012 3:45 pm

If the hose looks like it's being "sucked in", you may need to add coolant mix. If your radiator looks full- take the thermostat out and add some to the block through there- the block holds a lot of it.

by 74MonteCarlo Tue Oct 23, 2012 3:46 pm

Doesn't look like it's being sucked in...just no pressure when you squeeze it.

by 77mali Tue Oct 23, 2012 3:56 pm

Did you check it when the system was hot or cooled down? Check the thermostat too it might be stuck- they're cheap to replace if you haven't already done it.

by 74MonteCarlo Tue Oct 23, 2012 3:59 pm

It's brand new, just put it on.

by 77mali Tue Oct 23, 2012 5:57 pm

OK- "Poor coolant circulation" from my Haynes repair manual.....
1. Inoperative water pump:
To test- pinch the top hose closed with your hand while car is @ idle, then let loose- you should feel a "surge of water".

2. Restriction (clog) in cooling system

3. Fan drive belt defective or not properly adjusted

4. Thermostat "Sticking"

by 74MonteCarlo Tue Oct 23, 2012 9:43 pm

Number 2 could be plausible. It needs to be flushed...but I don't care to spend $80 to have it flushed out, if it has to all com apart again. I want to get the leaking/smoking to stop first.

I was talking to my dad about it tonight, and he remembers squeezing it the first afternoon we started it, and there being pressure. Now there isn't.

Thermostat is brand new...I doubt it's that...but hey, we all have bought bad brand new parts before...

by ant7377 Tue Oct 23, 2012 10:06 pm

Did you try burping the system? Runing it with the cap off to see if there is air in there? Is it over heating?

by 74MonteCarlo Wed Oct 24, 2012 9:10 am

Yes, and no.

by 74MonteCarlo Wed Oct 24, 2012 1:49 pm

I hope I don't jinx myself saying this, BUT...

I think I have the leak fixed. Also, I now have pressure in my upper rad hose.

by 77mali Wed Oct 24, 2012 6:33 pm

So what was the problem Question

by 74MonteCarlo Thu Oct 25, 2012 2:59 pm

Took the car today to have the cooling system flushed and filled. While talking to one of the mechanics, he said it (the smoking upon start up) looks like valve guide seals. Does that sound about right?

by davesr_7 Thu Oct 25, 2012 4:25 pm

yes the older cars did not have guides they were cst iron and they would go bad with the new gas no lead for lube so when you run it put in upper cyl, head lube until guides were replaced

by 77mali Thu Oct 25, 2012 4:48 pm

Well the good news is that if it is only the seals then the heads don't have to come off again. I found a video online that shows replacement to give you an idea of what's involved, you'll have to get some special tools but I don't think (even w/ tools) it'll be all that expensive.

http://www.partsgeek.com/ss/?i=1&ssq=valve+guide+seals+1974+monte+carlo&x=0&y=0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob_4-F-m1FI

by Joe73 Thu Oct 25, 2012 5:06 pm

I've done those seals a couple of times. No big deal. that video is right on. Use that type of valve spring compressor and not the leverage type that bolts to the valve stud. Easy job.

Question is, do you have BLUE smoke or WHITE smoke. In the pic it looks like its white. White is antifreeze, blue would be oil. If you have blue then your talking rings or the seals mentioned above. If the smoke is white I'd be looking elsewhere. A leak down test might be in order.

by 74MonteCarlo Thu Oct 25, 2012 7:04 pm

Whats really weird is that it only smokes sometimes.

Earlier today, let it sit 5 minutes or so, quite smokey. Now, it has been sitting maybe 3 hours or so...ZERO smoke AT ALL.

scratch

I'm just so stumped anymore, and tired of these "guessing games" that keep costing me money that I don't have.

by 77mali Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:44 pm

Man that's crazy...

I get smoke in the am w/ my daily driver & it consumes about a half quart of oil every 1,500 miles or so...Is the car consuming any oil at all?

by 74MonteCarlo Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:54 pm

It doesn't seem to. But, I don't drive it often enough to notice if its burning/using oil. I may drive it 1500 miles a year, and still change the oil 2-3 times.

by ant7377 Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:33 pm

You know, I kinda had a problem like this too. Its still kinda there too. It smokes when I first start it when its cold (valve seals) but then continues to smoke but not all the time. Maybe something to do with the outside temperature. On my 73.

by 74MonteCarlo Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:34 pm

Well, at least I'm not in a one man canoe, LOL.

by ant7377 Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:54 pm

If there is nothing in your oil (water) or oil in your water and its not overheating just drive it the smoke might clear up or something else might come to light that is the problem.

by davesr_7 Fri Oct 26, 2012 1:37 pm

when chking guides chk foor play in guide a bad guide will cause big problems

by 74MonteCarlo Fri Oct 26, 2012 2:00 pm

Now I have a dented rim...LOL. I hit a curb, going over a narrow bridge yesterday. Dented the rim, dented the trim ring, and knocked the battery out of the hold-down. "If I didn't learn to laugh at myself, I'd be dead right now."

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