Re: [AMC-list] Smoking head on my 232 engine

[Joe Fulton <piper_pa20@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

It could be a timing issue or it could be something else.  Late timing could make the manifold get hotter than it would otherwise and cause some oily residue to burn off.   I would check for anything, like wiring or hoses that may have been placed against a hot part of the engine.  I don't know if the Duraspark modules are susceptible to overheating, but that is one reported weak point of the Prestolite module.  You said the car had been sitting so oil could have leaked onto the manifold or rodents could have displaced or chewed a wire. 

If you can't find anything laying against a hot surface I'd make sure the timing is OK.

Pull the number one spark plug (front plug) and place a long screwdriver into the spark plug hole to feel for the piston top.  When the piston is at the top on the compression stroke, the timing mark on the balancer should be at TDC.  If it is way off, the outer ring on your balancer may have slipped.   If it is correct, note the location of your number one plug wire on the distributor cap.  Now remove the cap and see if the distributor rotor is at or approaching that location.  If everything is satisfactory, you know that the mechanically the engine is in time. 

Joe

 

--- On Sun, 3/17/13, Thomas Garner <Tgarner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: Thomas Garner <Tgarner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [AMC-list] Smoking head on my 232 engine
> To: "AMC List" <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Sunday, March 17, 2013, 3:32 PM
> Hello everybody. 
> 
> I have a 1964 AMC Rambler with 232 engine. It sat all
> winter. I put in a new distributor. (It's a duraspark setup
> off an 81 Spirit. Also, I put a 2bbl intake and carb setup
> on it from the spirit) I started it up and it ran ok but not
> perfect. So I went to set the timing. I couldn't find the
> timing marks on the crankshaft pulley. I took a socket and
> breaker bar and tried to turn the engine, but the crankshaft
> bolt was apparently loose so all I did was keep tightening
> the bolt instead of turning the engine over. I thought it
> would be ok to just keep turning till it tightened. It did
> finally tighten up. Then my son came home so I decided to
> have him bump the engine around. Found the timing marks,
> marked them with marker and hooked up my timing light and
> then started the engine.
>  The first thing I noticed was it immediately started
> smoking from the top of the head and I detected a smell,
> almost like rubber burning.  I let it run for a bit to
> see if it would burn off but it only got worse. I finally
> turned it off and checked my oil. Seems to be low. I checked
> the oil before I started it earlier and the oil level was
> fine.
>  Tightening the crankshaft bolt down too much wouldn't cause
> this would it? WOuld the timing being off with the new
> distributor cause this? I don't think so, especially since
> it ran and didn't smoke after I first put in the
> distributor. I guess it could be coincidence and I need to
> change valve seals or something, but before I started doing
> all that, I thought I'd ask.
> 
> 
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