Flathead smoking on start up
 

I rebuilt this a few years ago,this engine has less than 10mi on it because restoration of car is JUST being completed. The motor smokes alot when you initially start it if has been sitting more than a few days. Question: do the valve guides have rubber seals?? Is it possible the guy that did the valve job(dead now) didnt put the rubber seals on the guides. Compression is low ,mid 70-80lbs. But this car starts perfect,has a lot of power when driving and idles perfect. Hate to bolt front end on now if I have to pull motor. Any suggestions would be appreciated,thank you!!
OH, EVERYTHING in motor is new,rings,pistons (60 over) crank redone and new bearings

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

Not enough information to say if it should have "valve seals--- what year engine
How much has it been run--- has it been run under load----- is the oil diluted with gasoline from many cold starts or priming
Perhaps it hasn't been run enough to clear out assembly oil???

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

seals on intake valve guides only. how are you taking compression readings? warm engine, all plugs removed, throttle held completely open, turn over at least 4 times is the way I do it. vacuum reading? what weight oil? oil pressure reading? did you put MMO or some other additive in to gas tank?

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

46 flathead, not really run under load,about 25-30 mi/hr around neighborhood untill car is further completed. No gas in oil and since it only smokes when first started if its been sitting a few days I dont think it's probably assembly lube. Thanks

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

No oil additives,10W-30 oil. Will take readings again with your advice in bext couple days. Thanks

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

Oil pressure very high 60-80lbs

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

That could be a problem, the rings my not be seated and they may never seat. Would take some further driving to determine, but may need the cylinders re-honed and the pistons re-ringed. Putting around is not a good idea!

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

Thats what Ive been thinking. Also why I havent decided to put front end on car quite yet. Damn!! Would like a definite answer to problem before I tear it down though.

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

What color is the smoke blue, black, or white? I'm JSeery not run under a good load &

could also effect the cam lobes along with not seating the rings.

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

Make sure the 10w-30 oil is not synthetic. Rings won't seat using synthetic oil.

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

I had a 50 sedan that smoked real bad when started, turned out to be a coolant leak into one cylinder. I hope you have better luck.

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

No coolant leak,blu smoke

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

Run the crap out of it for a while. Check plugs.

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

Agreed. Put the front end on it and drive it like a hot rod. Good chance it'll be fine!


Terry

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

We tend as we spend a lot of money on these cars to baby them. Drive it. Things seem to work them self's out. Run it for a while. What can happen now.


Run it hard. do a compression check.


No way to determine you need to tear it apart from a few runs. Just drive it. You'll have to fine tune it anyway





.

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

Blue smoke on start says worn valve guides on an overhead, from oil draining down the guides into the cylinder. Not possible on a flathead. Head gasket leak of coolant is still a suspect, as it results in white smoke. Maybe try some Bar's Leaks Head Gasket & Cooling Sealant. Re-torque the heads, run it hard, re-torque the heads again (leak or no leak).

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

Listen to Tinker: So you buy a new wood chipper generator or welder. So you start it
then it instantly runs right up to governed speed all day. Or you buy a new mower, everybody starts it, throttle to max all day. ther ya go. My Wheel horse 'flat head' Kolher
1969 9000 hrs and still perfect cause it worked. And then we rebuilt a ford flathead for
the town water works which is two story's down under the floor. Its a transfer pump of
reserve water. So all is new in this engine. On start up its governed to 2800 rpms under load. Under load is the key. This was in the 1980's and its still there. got it & don't baby it.

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

Thanks for all your feedback ,putting the thing together and driving it! Only time it smokes is on start up after sitting for a few days, cant understand how oil could get in cylinder after sitting. Puttin it back on the road!

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

That is probably the best approach, run it and see if it improves.

Re: Flathead smoking on start up
 

The solution is simple; drive it every day!:D