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Old 02-19-2020, 08:06 PM   #1
46woodie
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Default 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
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Old 02-19-2020, 08:16 PM   #2
Kurt in NJ
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Default 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???
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Old 02-19-2020, 08:23 PM   #3
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Default 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?
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Old 02-19-2020, 08:26 PM   #4
46woodie
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Default 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
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Old 02-19-2020, 08:28 PM   #5
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Default Re: Flathead smoking on start up

No oil additives,10W-30 oil. Will take readings again with your advice in bext couple days. Thanks
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Old 02-19-2020, 08:29 PM   #6
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Default Re: Flathead smoking on start up

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Oil pressure very high 60-80lbs
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Old 02-19-2020, 08:29 PM   #7
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Default Re: Flathead smoking on start up

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Originally Posted by 46woodie View Post
... not really run under load,about 25-30 mi/hr around neighborhood...
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!
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Old 02-19-2020, 08:54 PM   #8
46woodie
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Default 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.
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Old 02-19-2020, 11:33 PM   #9
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Default 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.
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Old 02-20-2020, 07:32 AM   #10
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Default Re: Flathead smoking on start up

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No oil additives,10W-30 oil. Will take readings again with your advice in bext couple days. Thanks
Make sure the 10w-30 oil is not synthetic. Rings won't seat using synthetic oil.
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Old 02-20-2020, 05:50 PM   #11
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Default 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.
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Old 02-20-2020, 08:34 PM   #12
46woodie
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Default Re: Flathead smoking on start up

No coolant leak,blu smoke
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Old 02-20-2020, 08:45 PM   #13
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Default Re: Flathead smoking on start up

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

Last edited by Tinker; 02-20-2020 at 08:53 PM. Reason: language
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Old 02-20-2020, 10:11 PM   #14
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Default Re: Flathead smoking on start up

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



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


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Old 02-20-2020, 10:19 PM   #15
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Default 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





.

Last edited by Tinker; 02-20-2020 at 10:33 PM.
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Old 02-21-2020, 01:01 PM   #16
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Default 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).
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Old 02-21-2020, 01:42 PM   #17
big job
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Default 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.
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Old 02-21-2020, 05:07 PM   #18
46woodie
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Default 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!
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Old 02-21-2020, 05:57 PM   #19
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Default Re: Flathead smoking on start up

Quote:
Originally Posted by 46woodie View Post
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!
That is probably the best approach, run it and see if it improves.
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Old 02-21-2020, 06:22 PM   #20
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Default Re: Flathead smoking on start up

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Originally Posted by 46woodie View Post
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!
The solution is simple; drive it every day!
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