smoking motor unexpected fix

[moparshaker]

hey guys and gals, i have a 71 charger 500 that is all original stock and runs well. this year after winter i noticed it would smoke when starting and at idle (not alot but a steady smoke). i just thought well the motor is just worn out and is in need of a rebuild. well i got off work early yesterday and decided what the hell and replace the valve stems since i have plenty left over from other projects. never replaced stems on a motor in car , but was fairly easy if anyone wants to know. well when done i even did a compression check on all cylinders and had 155-160 in all and to my surprise fixed my smoking issue. all stems were hard and didn't fit tight and exhaust valves on 3 & 5 were broke and intake stem on 6 was broke. beats having to rebuild motor. just thought i pass this info around to not panick when you see alittle smoke. later b-body

 

[747mopar]

I take it your referring to the stock O-ring style, I never did understand why they used them (I've never seen a set that wasn't completely shot when disassembled). I won't use them for that reason. Glad to hear it was an easy fix

 

[moparshaker]

yes they were the stock stems, car sat awhile before i bought it and that might have helped harden them. last summer never noticed smoke , but i am glad to only hear exhaust instead of seeing it lol. it was easy too , i did have to take a break half way thru the second head cause i started getting a cramp when trying to install the keepers on #4 , so i took lunch break and then finished. i could stand to lose 50lbs too lol not a young either trying to get to back of head with hood on. maybe i'll take it easy on the pizza and wings now.

 

[Cranky]

I thought the stock valve stem seals were the umbrella type?

 

[747mopar]

I thought the stock valve stem seals were the umbrella type?

Really, I didn't know anybody used them from the factory at least back then.

 

[Secret Chimp]

My 67 Coronet had (completely brittle) umbrella-type seals when I went to replace them.

 

[Kern Dog]

A few years ago when I was chasing the cause for the smoking problem in my Charger, I replaced the valve stem seals. I have Edelbrock heads with Viton seals. Not a terrible job, but not a whole lot of fun either. I was paranoid I'd lose a valvespring retainer/lock .They are not the same as a stock Mopar engine.