I have a 1981 ford empress motorhome with a 460 in it with 71000 km.Starts and purrs like a kitten, when driveing around runs awesome but when she warms up then if i climb a good hill,then lay of the gas comeing down the other side,she smokes a mix of white and blue smoke big time.If i stop i have to shut her of or i am completely smoked out,if i keep going it will fade away untill the next big hill.when it idles from start there is no smoke.I checked my oil it is clean no water in itany help would be appreciated

 

Valve seals.

Not sure it's fixable without the heads off in that chassis.

Stock neoprene seals aren't great, but they are cheap and can be replaced without pulling the heads if you can get the tool in there.

http://www.newenglandclassics.org/Ar...eplacement.pdf

 

If you have an automatic transmission, and if it has a vacuum modulator, check the vacuum modulator for a cracked diaphram, just pull the vacuum hose off the modulator and see if trans fluid drips out of it or if its wet with trans fluid, if it is, replace the vacuum modulator, make sure you get the right one, i belive they are color coded, hope that helps, Chellie

PS, trans fluid will burn white.

 

I must have (*&( for brains. This is exactly right. That white with blue combo just screams transmission fluid. Check this first. Good luck.

 

No, You dont have (*&( for Brains You just forgot about the Vac Mod Take care, Chellie

 

ok i am going to check that out thanks for the advice i will let you know if the vac mod was leaking

 

So i pulled the vac modulator,there was no oil comeing from the hose end,but about two litres of tranny fluid came out when i took the modulator out is that normal??

 

You just needed to pull off the vacuum hose only, sorry I did not specify that you did not need to remove the modulator, fluid coming out of the trans when the modulator is removed is normal, check your trans fluid level, and add as needed.

 

I guess it is looking like valve seals,I still dont know what is causeing the white smoke,is there anything else i can check.Any advice would be awesome.

 

It could very well be valve seals, if the motor home is not used very often, they get hard and crack, also, when going up a hill is when it smokes a lot, check the oil drain return holes in the head, when you have the valve covers off, at the rear, I am just wondering if, oil is building up in the valve cover at the back and not draining back into the eng. fast enough due to a restriction in the Oil return/drain holes.and causing the smoke. by having oil filling up in the valve cover, towards the rear.
Also, do you have a after market aluminum intake manifold, if you do, the intake manifold gasket could be leaking a little coolant or oil or both into the intake ports, aluminum expands 4 times more than, cast iron does, and will walk on the heads, and after time cause the gasket to leak, or seap,

have the cooling system pressure tested and replace the radiator cap.

 

Thinking maybe rebuild the top end.when we pulled the heads off seals looked good no cracks but the valves had a lot of carbon build up on them causing them not to seat properly.Could this Cause any of my problem?Buy rebuilding the top end ,could this cause problems with the bottom end

 

Also forgot to mention valve guides were very worn to

 

If the valves aren't sealing you will obviously be down on power.
With the valves wobbling around like that there's no way your seals can keep the oil back
No, the only things connecting your heads to the bottom end are the pushrods.
If you find the heads are badly warped and need to be surfaced a lot you might have difficulty getting the intake manifold to seal.
But I don't think this would happen in your case.

 

Thanks for the help.The heads are at the machine shop getting new valve guides put in.the heads are not warped and have no cracks.Going to put in new valves and seals.Hopefully that solves my problems!If you think I should do anything else please let me know.

 

So the heads are done and the engine is pretty much all back together now.messed up on where some of the vacuum lines go,does anyone have pictures or diagrams for vacuum lines on the 81 460,should be bringing her back to life soon!