Just registered to this site/forum in hope's of someone steering me in the right direction with a new dilemma I'm facing. I've got a 78 Cutlass Cruiser Wagon (original 3.8 6cyl car). 3 years ago I dropped in a very nice running olds 350. I'll try to make this next part as brief as I can: I sold the car to a guy. 2 days after he bought it he told me it made a loud noise and broke down (then got impounded). I didnt want the car to get crushed so I gave him some of his $$$ back, and got the car back (out of impound). Big hole in oil pan (threw a rod). Doo doo for brains put the car in 1st instead of "D" and tried driving onto the freeway (that's what blew up the engine). Anyway, I now have an olds 400 G block that was pulled from a 69 442 convertibal. The man I bought the 400 engine from had purchased it 23 years ago in 1997. The guy he got it from had supposedly rebuilt the engine (bored it over some, not entirely sure how much). Story goes he drove it around a couple months, then wrecked the car. That's when my friend bought it. Purchased it for 69 442 convertibal he had at the time. Plans changed. He sold his car, and the engine remained stored in the back of an 87 custom cruiser wagon ever since (til recently of course). I went though it before dropping it in the wagon and the engine was very, very clean inside, so much that I am very confident that the gentleman's back story checks out. I did however replace the lifters/pushrods/rocker arms. Now, I started it (for the first time in 23 years) last night. These are my concern(s): lots of smoke (white?) and doesnt seem to want to idle too smooth on it's own. That night it fired up, didmt see smoke (it was dark out. Maybe that's why?). But when I started it in the next mornin'? Big 'ol puff of smoke out both exhaust pipes (like a BMW). Also seems to surge slightly (high and low idle, not all the time, just here and there). And lastly, diesels after turning off (after warming up a bit). So, why is it doing this? What's the cause? (Mainly the smoke, that's what scares me). Now, beings that the sb 307 accessory brackets I used on the 350 wont fit, the water pump won't work, therefore I didnt bother putting any coolant/water in it (hence I dont run it very long til I address it this weekend). However, I know for a fact that them coolant passages were dry as hell (that engine did not have any coolant/water in it). So that should eliminate any coolant related smoke issues (Head gasket, cracked head, cracked block etc...). It runs relatively smooth when idle is (for now) adjusted/toy'ed with and when accelerated/rev'd (good response, no stumbling). I'm thinking either A. it needs be be ran and blown out after 23 years. B. My carb is going awol. C. The regular low octane gas ain't cutting it for that 10.5 compression 6.6. D. Maybe the intake gasket didnt seal properly and is allowing oil to weep into the intake ports or E (worse scenario). Bigger problems (rings, valve stem seals, etc). So again (re cap): no coolant/water (dry), does have an exhaust leak (had to temporarily jerry rig LF manifold to pipe connection (tight fit), running sb 350 manifolds (which I know is not ideal, but headers for this set up is $1,400. Dont want to dish that out just yet), 3 month old 87 octane gas and suspect edelbrock 650 electric choke carn, New mechanical fuel pump, new HEI distributor carried over from 350 (pulled #1 plug and "popped" to tdc compression, then reinstalled distributor accordingly), new ac delco wires carried over from 350 (yes, I confirmed firing order was correct/counter clockwise), new R43S (I believe) plugs (colder plug better for high compression engine right?) and suspect tub intake gasket that was somewhat of a p.i.t.a. to install. When I dropped my 350 in 3 years ago it started up and ran great. This one? Has a hard time idling (unless I help with adjusting/though I still cant seem to an ideal sweet spot) blows smoke like crazy when starting (especially after it sits a while) and has run on dieseling going on when shutting off engine (say, 1-2 seconds worth). An engine this clean inside? WHY???? Why do you think these symptoms are present and what would be the next best course of action (short of buying an early short stroke 400). Much thanks in advance - 78 Cutty (wagon guy)

 

There was just an ongoing thread about an recently assembled engine that had intake manifold gasket issues and replacing the gasket cured the problem.

Your issue cold be several things and it's difficult to troubleshoot over the internet.

 

Get the belt rounding problem solved first. Retorque the intake/head/ bolts. Make sure the timing is correct, and the tune is good. Then take it for a drive.

 

It may also be as simple as heaving a bunch of crap in the exhaust system that just needs to be burned off. I would also be willing to bet its not tuned up properly yet.

 

Yeah I actually started thinking about that today. Maybe when numb nutz blew up the 350 some oil/coolant could have made it's way into the exhaust (true duals, flowmaster 44's; no cats). That other guy who responded mentioned something about the "tune" as well. What y'all mean by that? As stated initially it has new 43s plugs, new ac delco wires (carried over from 350) and new HEI disrributor (carried over from 350). New fuel pump/pcv valve too. So everything in the way of a tune up should be good, unless y'all are talking about something more in depth. (Also, for the record im not so sure about the edelbrock carb on it now. Could be a culprit).

 

I think this is what was being referred to about the tune. Whacked carb = whacked tune; doesn't matter how good the plugs and wires are.

 

A tune up is more than just the changing of parts, timing and carb adjustments are essential in getting them to idle and run correctly.