I did those seals! Got the head rebuilt. It's been running maybe a year or two since the rebuild, maybe a year since I had the head cleaned (again) and a new head gasket. Maybe two months or so since I torqued the head and set the valves again. Power is okay. Starts okay. Smokes a little when warming up, but stops smoking after running it. Hopefully it will be a year or more before I have to do anything major. On Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 2:59 PM, Ken Ames <ameskg@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Maybe just try new valve stem seals on your 196. : ) > > Ken > > Quoting Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>: > >> My 195.6 has been running well, but it blows smoke when first starting >> up at idle. It starts up fine, no smoke, runs for maybe three to five >> minutes before I notice smoke out the tailpipe. When I drive it, no >> smoke. After running to the grocery store or library, I can idle it >> once warmed up - and no smoke. Perhaps a good run up the highway for a >> half hour or more might do the car a world of good. Anyway, after >> reading about 195.6 rebuild costs, I've been thinking of 232's and >> maybe a small body v8 crossmember and a 304. Something newer, run by >> the jeep crowd, and easier to get parts for. >> >> I was looking at Atlanta Craigslist and saw a freshly rebuilt 232 long >> block for sale. Meet the owner at the SC border, load the pallet, off >> you go. Then I wandered over to the Jalopy Journal and read about >> machine shop stories. Wrong parts, poor rebuilds, good machine shop >> work but the engine rebuilder did not pay attention to tolerances, ... >> So - I'm thinking I'll keep that 195.6. I'll let it burn a little oil >> on startup. I'll run it up the highway to warm it up completely. But >> I'll stay away from rebuilt engines on a pallet, cash and carry, lots >> a luck your gonna need it deals. >> >> (Besides, Goza Machine in Acworth is a stand-up shop with a good guy >> running it. If I have to do anymore work - I'm heading back to Tommy >> Goza.) >> _______________________________________________ >> AMC-list mailing list >> AMC-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >> http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com >> _______________________________________________ AMC-list mailing list AMC-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com