Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Drove my truck this morning and noticed clouds of white "smoke" coming out the drivers side exhaust, got an occasional whiff of antifreeze and my radiator was low on coolant. I'm assuming I have a bad head gasket, any way to verify?

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Sorry to hear that, always a bummer when something like this happens. One simple thing to do is hold your hand at the exhaust tip and see if it smells like antifreeze or oil.
You can do a compression test on the coolant system. My mechanic showed me a compression test with a clear tube attached to the coolant system and it changed color if any air/exhaust bubbles got into the coolant.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Just checked my oil and it looks a little milky, more like brown. I did smell antifreeze while it was running.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Yeah, doesn't sound good. Sorry bud.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Thanks, I'll get it going again!

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Hate to say it, but the last time I replaced a head gasket for the exact problem you're having, it didn't fix the crack that was causing it. Tear the head off and carefully examine the gasket. If no issues the have the head checked. No sense doing much more testing. It's not only walking like a duck, it's quacking as well. Off with its head!

Jeff

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Yea, I'm thinking new engine, there's so much water in the oil and I had to drive it about ten miles to get home, i didn't hear any bad noise but I'm sure I started the process of ruining the bearings. Thinking back it's been stumbling in the mornings, I had to rev it a little to get it to smooth out so its probably been leaking coolant in the cylinder and oil for some time.
Anyone have a good recommendation for new 350s for a 72 Gmc?

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Check your local GMC or Chevy dealer for a GM Goodwrench 350. They are not too expensive [$1500 ~] and come with a warranty [something like] 3 years or 50000 miles.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

I just bought a 290 hp GM performance long block from Jegs for about $2000. Runs great.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Did they deliver to your house? How did you unload it, forklift, hoist?

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

That's a great motor, plenty of power to tow a load or pass people with. :metal:

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

As a retired mechanic, I'd rebuild it, especially if it's matching numbers to the truck. As far as hiring someone else to do it, I'd have to have rock solid references.

Or this

http://www.jegs.com/p/Chevrolet-Perf...52506/10002/-1

Or this if you need a new balancer, intake, HEI. Comes with gaskets.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Perf...d=#moreDetails

If you want more power, put an RV cam in it before you install it. I'd go smaller than the cam in the 350-290HP, IMO, .222int-.222ex duration @ .050" is too much for 8:1 compression and shorts you on torque.

I'd get something around .210-.220 duration @ .050" and 112 degree lobe centers and less than .450 lift, ought to be good for around 275HP and 350 ft/lbs of torque.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

x2!

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

No I had it delivered to my mechanic's shop. They would've delivered to my house though. The 290 hp is lower on torque (325 ft lbs)than the 260 hp version (350 ft lbs). But I wasn't changing the cam or anything. I made up some torque with my intake and exhaust.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Hey what's the warranty stipulations on those Jegs Goodwrench 350s. I heard you had to have them installed by certified mechanic to validate warranty.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

I had mine installed by a mechanic cause I didn't have the time after working two jobs. The warrant was 3 yrs/100,000 mi.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

I just answered my own question above: here's what's on Jegs site. Plus I just called and spoke with them. Basically your on your own to fight any warranty issues with no leg to stand on if I install myself. Guess they look for any reason not to honor warranty. Which is not a GM thing just a regular Corporate America thing.


Warranty coverage is based on months/mileage, whichever comes first, and begins on the date of
installation
by an authorized GM dealer or by a qualified Independent Service Center (ISC). For all other over-the-counter
sales, warranty begins on date of retail sale.

PS, sorry if I got off topic. But seems like you may be going this route if you get the news we all think when you pull heads.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

I drained a little oil out of it and found a lot of metal shavings, I'm pretty sure now that it's had water in the oil for some time, I'm not even going to bother pulling the heads, I'd rather just buy a new engine than have this one start knocking a few months later, I only want to pull the engine once. I haven't decided what to get yet but I need to do it soon, I drive this truck every day. What would you guys put in a 72 gmc 4X4, th350. I live in the mountains and only tow my teardrop trailer with the truck, it's my daily driver. I'd like to keep it around $2000.
Thanks for the suggestions!

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

I would do a stockish ("RV" type cam) 350. It'll do everything you want, make good vacuum, run at elevation, etc

Jeff

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

That's good info, Jeff, even if it's disappointing. We all know a shop can mess it up every bit as good as we can LOL.

But maybe Jeg's is flawed in their thinking. If a shop messes it up they will have every reason why it was a defective engine and they get paid to do it over. The owner, on the other hand, does not want to do it twice.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

$2000 can be done but it will be a tight squeeze. It becomes all about your tolerance for re-bolting old and iffy parts back onto your new pack. Distributor, oil pump, water pump.... it all starts adding up.

I will be allocating $4000-$5000 and it's because I plan to get new everything within reason. And that includes radiator.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

x2.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

The oil pump comes on the new long block. You can rebuild or find a good distributor cheap. If your intake and carb are good, clean em' up, replace the thermostat and bolt it together. You know that your water pump, starter, alternator etc. work, so just clean them and install. New belts and hoses can add up, but if you use Rock Auto and your own labor you'll come in right about $2000.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Yes, thanks for the correction. Oil pump included.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

What ever you decide to do you need to do it soon, that engine isn't going to last very much longer in it's current condition.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Well here`s what I did, I found a local machine shop Portland Or, that built me a 340hp 4 bolt main with speed pro-pistons and cam, double roller timing chain, high volume oil pump, numbers matching block and heads build sheet and 6 month warrenty for $1495 exchange had to add intake, new starter and misc but he installed the intake as well. Runs great, great oil pressure and very happy with the engine. Now that being said itonly has a 6 month warrenty but if something is wrong with a SBC its going to happen at break in. I would look around unless you want to keep it numbers matching find a good engine rebuilder or this guy might ship you one.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

if it is getting rebuilt, make sure you use a oil that is meant for breaking in engine(s) and not the stuff you buy for a regular oil change ..

one of my friend(s) is getting an engine redone AGAIN because he didnt realize that =0/

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Fortunately all those parts are less than a year old on my truck, ive replaced everything under the hood except the oil pump but I can't imagine a new engine coming without one installed.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Thought about getting mine rebuilt but I don't have time, plus I have no idea if my block is cracked, bad head or just a head gasket. I'd hate to waste time and money having a builder find issues, I'd rather just throw a new engine in and hopefully be done with it.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

I think you should start speaking with local shops that rebuild and re-manufacture engines. Most do a great job for a good price with good warranties and a place to actually take the vehicle if something goes wrong. They will install very reasonably because it's all they do. And you can drive your truck out with pretty quick turnover.

I like the prices of the internet engines but there's something about an Amazon type purchase with an engine that I cannot get past. I like to look someone in the eye and shake a greasy calloused hand on a deal when it comes to something like this.

I've bought many engines this way. Bought one for my sons car last year after he spun a rod. Why do I buy from these types of shops in lieu of doing myself.

Because the last 6 or 7 engines I've bought have caught me at a bad time when I've not had the time to dicker with pulling a pack and gathering parts.

Example: The truck I have right not threw a rod and destroyed the engine back in the late 80s with about 70,000 miles. I was in my last year of college. I took it to a re-manufacture shop, I think I paid around $600-700 back then. They had 350s O' plenty back then! I drove out of the shop a couple days later. It was a life saver for me.

That same engine is in the truck three owners later. It has over 100,000K and it's tired, but it's been a good engine. And that shop is still there and they are the ones that did my sons engine last year.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Yeah man just get a GM crate motor and be done with it, quick and easy, can't go wrong there.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

There are no rebuild shops around me unfortunately and the two auto shops in town are ridiculously expensive, they wanted $3000 to rebuild my tranny and they would send it to the same place I paid $800 to finally do it. I just can't spend much more than $2000 right now, just bought new tires last week, kinda sucked up a bit of my cash flow.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

It might be worth a trip to Redding. Just for the hell of it you should call a place like American & Import and see what they say. At least you will have a third price. I guess one of the good things about being in L.A. (and there ain't many) is there is a crap load of these types of shops. And the good guys will usually spend a few minutes to give you their honest 2 cents.

But then again I'm kinda strange, as I like working the phones!

Good luck!

American & Import Engines
1301 E Cypress Ave, Redding, CA 96002
(530) 222-2550

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Might be a budget buster but I would look into a 383 stroker for more torque. Had my 350 rebuilt many years ago and have always wished I would have spent the extra for a stroker, but it wasn't in the budget at the time.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Check this deal out from Speedway motors, inexpensive and free shipping!

Long Block
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/GM-Per...ine,69874.html

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

x2.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

x3

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

My truck has a 4" lift on 33" tires, I doubt I'll find a lift in my area to go high enough to clear the rad support and grill, I don't want to pull the front end apart so I'm thinking of pulling the front tires or letting the air out of the tires to drop the truck enough. Can any of you see an issue with doing so?

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

I used to remove front tires on lifted vehicles all the time to get them low enough to work on when I was a mechanic. Just don't let it down on the brake rotors/dust shields or other non-solid suspension parts that won't support the weight of the truck. I don't like letting tires down with weight on them, it can damage the tires; blow-out on a lifted vehicle could get hairy.

I usually put a floor jack on the cross-member or front diff and just let it down all the way or on wooden blocks, but to clear the cherry picker you might need to strategically place the blocks under the axle, but I'm not sure even then you will be able to extend the lift boom in there deep enough to not risk flipping the lift over and damaging things.

You have to drain the coolant anyway I think in the long run if you pull the rad support first it will be so much easier than all the climbing up and down over and over and squeezing yourself in there and all the possible damage to the fenders I've done it both ways and I always pull the rad support now. It's not as intimidating as it looks if you have never done it before.

Bumper, grill, A/C lines if you have them, trans lines if you have them, coolant hoses on the engine side only, wires, support bolts, fender bolts, etc. I see no reason to remove the radiator, shroud, headlights, washer bottle, voltage reg if you have it from the support. Get it down to the last couple bolts then get a friend to help remove it or use the cherry picker with some tie-down straps.

Remove the carb first, then if you use a tight enough lift chain/s you can usually get the engine out without removing the hood, IF you remove the core support so that should ease the pain a little.

Re: Clouds of white coming out of one side of exhaust
 

Do you have an old set of rims around? put them on and drive her in the garage...