I have a '75 F150 with a 360 in it. I've had it for a couple months. It had been sitting for 7 years and started on occasion. I had it towed home and besides a manifold and exhaust leak it ran fine until a week ago.
I added dual pipes when I fixed the leaking passenger side manifold. The other day I was driving it in the driveway when the passenger side exhaust started blowing oil smoke like a chimney.
It smokes NONE when it is first started. As a matter of fact it won't smoke until the engine is good and warmed up. The warmer it gets, the more it smokes. Will also blow smoke rings at idle (passenger side pipe)....Oh....and it only smokes at idle or when I let off of the gas. If I speed the engine up to about 2000 rpm the smoke dissapears. No smoke from the drivers side pipe.
Has 116,000 miles. From what i've heard this is nothing for FE engines. Oil changed every 3000 miles. No knocks or terrible sounds....only very light valve clatter from the passenger side valve cover. Engine runs and starts like a top.
I also installed new valve seals when the smoking started. No change. I saw a post on here about stuck rings and tried to free them by putting oil in the cylinders and letting it sit. No change. I've been told to drive it and see if it clears up. I somehow doubt this but it's worth a try. Any suggestions? Time for a new motor? Heads??

 

it could be a cracked ring, or piston, w/e it is it isnt good, i dont think it will dissapear by driving it. good luck

 

Is it smoke coming out of the engine bay or out the tail pipe? Sounds to me like oil being burned off the exhaust manifold, and being blown away by the fan when you rev it up.

 

All of the smoke is coming out of the passenger side tailpipe. No smoke from anywhere else. Only smokes from the passenger tailpipe when the engine is warm and at idle, or warm and letting off of the gas. Otherwise, no smoke.

 

sounds like oil getting past the rings.

 

I would agree with the rings being the problem. I would bet it is only one or 2 rings. ring set probably only about $60 bucks canadian for stock type rings. once again due to the exchange rate that is almost free for you guys south of the border.

 

Heh, almost free. That's a good one. That's for those of us with steady jobs, not trying to get by running our own business. Jobless recovery and all.

Yeah, it's probably rings. You dont necessarily have to remove the engine, but it'd probably help. If you remove the head on the one side, drop the pan, and rotate the crank so you can check bore taper. The one with the most taper is probably the one that's causing the problem. While you're in there you might as well do 'em all. Push the pistons/rods out the top, hone the bore(s), install the new rings, put 'em back in. Re-assemble everything and go. New head gaskets are advised, as are new bearings while you're in there.

Rinse, lather, repeat. Oh, wrong instructions!

 

It can be done with the motor in you would only have to take the 2 nuts off the motor mounts to the frame, and lift up about 2 inches. it is a little tricky getting the oil pump and pan out and back in but a little patients and you will be done in no time.
That is how I did my beefed up 360. the time take ballances out what you would do to remove the entire engine anyway.

 

Thanks for the replies. After I get the cab floors finished, put on some new tires and figure out why the turn signals don't work i'm going to run it on the highway and see if it helps. I doubt it will, but it's worth a try. Started it yesterday and the smoke comes and goes. Seems odd with only 116K. I pulled the valve covers to put in valve seals and the engine was surprisingly clean. Seems like the oil was changed timely. But then again this truck sat under a gum tree for 7 years.

 

Just wanted to reply and follow up on the smoking problem. I finally got the truck on the road this weekend. I ended up rebuilding the carb and I found out that the EGR valve was stuck open. Replaced the EGR and put on new gaskets, etc, adjusted the carb. Put on the tags and hit the highway. I pulled onto the road and you could not see behind the thing for oil smoke. It looked like the space shuttle taking off. I got up to 65 and within a half a mile the smoking totally quit. I drove it approximately 60 miles this weekend and it hasn't smoked since. I guess there must've been a ring stuck and driving it loosened it up. Truck runs great. Thanks for the replies. Now if I can just keep gas in the thing.....wish it had dual tanks.

 

Glad the smoking quit, wish I could if ya know what I mean. I don't know about you, but I couldn't afford dual tanks these days .

 

i also believe its the rings, cause i have a 351m that was doing the same thing so i tore the top end off and the cylinders still have the cross hatch marks in them, telling me that the rings hadn't seated

 

Don't forget that Fe's our famous for bad intake gaskets. At #3 cyl. mostly at the exh-heat-riser port & intake port area. Check #3 plug for wet oil fouling..
Another one of FORD's Dirty little secrets of the big block muscle motors..
When you pull the intake you'll the gasket all oily and wet in this area..
my 2cents
orich

 

6 years ago guys....OP reported the problem solved in his last post 1/25/04....

 

LOL!!!!!