OK I took the worse smoking side valve cover off tonight expecting to find alot of goo preventing oil from draining back down.... Unfortunately the heads were surpisingly clean. The drain holes were both clear.
There were piecs or metal - what looked like 1/2 round shattered remenants of valve seal caps, but that was the worst.
Tomorrow I am going to do a compression test - it sounds ok, it starts easy. If the compression test is ok, I will likely change the valve seals - thinking that this pretty much should stop the smoke screen when it is cold.
I don't think there is a lot to be gained by flushing the oil with tranny fluid.
This motor has a main bearing knock when it is hot, and the bearings sound poor when you gun it. Lucas helped quiet things down and build oil pressure when it is cold, but once hot, the mains knock.
If I can clear the smoke screen, I may take a stab at chaningig the mains, but there is no point in this if the top continues to smoke.
This is only an occaisional use light duty truck, so I don't want to go into too much on this motor, a 302/AOD would serve my needs just fine.
Any suggestions or further tricks would be appreciated.
The one quart of lucas helped, has anybody gone to the recommended max of 60% Lucas? I might not be able to turn it over in the cold - any opinions?

 

My 78F250 400 had been regularly serviced by the previous 2 owners (I saw the records). Unfortunately both owners used Penzoil. When I removed the driver's side valve cover I had to do a double take, -It looked as if there was another valve cover under the first one! There was so much carbon that it was molded to the shape of the valve cover complete to the impression of the Ford logo. I have seen this many times with Penzoil tho. Entire upper engines filled with flakes of carbon. I can't understand why anyone would run that stuff in an engine. I bought the truck knowing that I was going to have to give it a rebuild so I didn't care. When I tear it down I bet I will see the other valve cover and the lifter gallery in the same condition. There is nothing that will remove that carbon buildup. If you disturb the carbon it will plug up the oil pickup screen. This happens many times after an accident which results in the loss of the motor.

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