brown smoke???
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Senior User
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From: Billings, Montana
brown smoke???
Ok, my friend bought a rebuilt 390 about a year ago. Well he hasnt had any problems with it till today. This morning he said he had brown smoke coming out the tail pipe. He was a little worried so he shut it off and left it. He was wondering if i knew if anything was worng. I of course didnt so I came here. Anyone know if there is a problem??
Also, he was wondering what he would have to do to the engine to make it a 429. I dont know if they are the same block or if it would have to be a 428. Well what ever it is, let me know so I can pass on the info. Thanks for the help.
--Dan
Also, he was wondering what he would have to do to the engine to make it a 429. I dont know if they are the same block or if it would have to be a 428. Well what ever it is, let me know so I can pass on the info. Thanks for the help.
--Dan
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From: Missouri
The 429 is a a completely different animal. Some 390s will bore out to a 428 and all will accept a 428 crank if you can find one. Brown Smoke?? You got me on that one. Somebody mighta put some manure in the gas tank? 
Seriously, what does it smell like?
Seriously, what does it smell like?
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From: Billings, Montana
OK, so if he were to make it a 428 what would he need? And how much will it cost? He is still in highschool and has a parttime job but spends all his money on his truck so he dont care how much it will be. He justs needs to know what he needs.
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From: Littleton, CO
First you would need to determine if the 390 can accept a bore to the 428 specs (sonic mapping by the machine shop will do). After that, crank/rods/pistons and a 428 flywheel/flexplate (cash as well 
).
I would start by pulling the plugs and see if there is any discoloration on them that would indicate a problem. Usually we see white or blue smoke (and plenty of it with mine) but the brown is a mystery.
--MG
).I would start by pulling the plugs and see if there is any discoloration on them that would indicate a problem. Usually we see white or blue smoke (and plenty of it with mine) but the brown is a mystery.
--MG
Last edited by Mike G; Oct 29, 2003 at 05:14 PM.
Post Fiend
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From: Brea CA
I've seen brown smoke before and wondered what it was. Have heard a few reasons like bad gas, additives in the gas, the gas formulation, running too lean, blowing the carbon out, blowing the exhaust out (extension of the carbon one) and pinging/detonation. Thinking about it a little more, I've seen it when someone's getting on it.
I have a theory, since this happened to your friend who is also talking about a 429, maybe he was getting on that 390 a little hard?
Barry
I have a theory, since this happened to your friend who is also talking about a 429, maybe he was getting on that 390 a little hard?
Barry
Last edited by BB; Oct 30, 2003 at 01:18 AM.
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From: BC, Canada
Certain lead substitutes or anti-knock gas additives can have a redish brown colour when burned, but it's unusual to actually notice it.
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Originally posted by Comegetsome
Certain lead substitutes or anti-knock gas additives can have a redish brown colour when burned, but it's unusual to actually notice it.
Certain lead substitutes or anti-knock gas additives can have a redish brown colour when burned, but it's unusual to actually notice it.
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From: Belleville, Ontario
Originally posted by Mike G
First you would need to determine if the 390 can accept a bore to the 428 specs (sonic mapping by the machine shop will do). After that, crank/rods/pistons and a 428 flywheel/flexplate (cash as well ).
I would start by pulling the plugs and see if there is any discoloration on them that would indicate a problem. Usually we see white or blue smoke (and plenty of it with mine) but the brown is a mystery.
--MG
First you would need to determine if the 390 can accept a bore to the 428 specs (sonic mapping by the machine shop will do). After that, crank/rods/pistons and a 428 flywheel/flexplate (cash as well
).I would start by pulling the plugs and see if there is any discoloration on them that would indicate a problem. Usually we see white or blue smoke (and plenty of it with mine) but the brown is a mystery.
--MG
The 390 has a rod length of 6.488 as does the 410/428. The preferred rod of that length starts with "C7...", sorry I don't have the correct casting # handy.
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Having been a Kawasaki mech since the 70's I may be able to throw some light on this....
In the original Z1 manuals there was a bit about trouble shooting different color smoke
Blue: Oil
Black: Fuel
Brown: One of the main jets has fallen out
(Yes, thats really what it said, LOL!)
In the original Z1 manuals there was a bit about trouble shooting different color smoke
Blue: Oil
Black: Fuel
Brown: One of the main jets has fallen out
(Yes, thats really what it said, LOL!)
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Simple fix maybe, run it up again. Pay attention to the water temp and oil pressure. You said, it was rebuilt a year ago. What Im wondering, when it was rebuilt....it was the typical smoker engine.
Now its hittin and burning out the junk from the left over VOC's from the exhust system from the preveiuous engine, exhuast.
Let the thermistat break and settle out, shut down and look at the plugs. Pay attention to the gas ring on the porcelin, the lower the better, for ideling.
Then drive it, a hard run, plugs will tell the story.....Motor Craft 45's will have the gas ring about mid part of the plug.
Now its hittin and burning out the junk from the left over VOC's from the exhust system from the preveiuous engine, exhuast.
Let the thermistat break and settle out, shut down and look at the plugs. Pay attention to the gas ring on the porcelin, the lower the better, for ideling.
Then drive it, a hard run, plugs will tell the story.....Motor Craft 45's will have the gas ring about mid part of the plug.
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