Cold Dark Shado

well i took the car out about a half hour ago just to run it a little and i came to a stop sign and noticed that smoke was comin from the drivers side cornor of the hood by the windshield. i i went around the block and took it home and parked it. I shut the car off and smoke came out of that cornor for about a second then stopped. i cant figure out where its coming from.

Could it just be oil burnin off the motor and i shouldnt worry about it to much? Any ideas on what to check?

85camaro_girl

I have an 85 2.8 also and I noticed that on mine one day going to class. Its never done it since and nothing is wrong under the hood so I figured it was alright. I once had a problem where there was smoke coming out and i looked at one of my small hoses and it was spraying anti-freeze everywhere causing smoke but I'm sure you would have smelled something funky like that. My guess is that it was nothing.
What does everyone else think?
Michelle

Joe_L

Was you car down any on oil?

My car did this. Look at the crank balancer, behind that is a seal. My seal went, and it spewed oil all over the engine, then it burnt off later while driving down the road.

Cold Dark Shado

i havent check the oil yet. Theres no oil that has dripped on the ground tho. Ill check the oil here in a minute.

85camaro_girl:
Did it only happen to you that once? Any oil leakage?

Cold Dark Shado

well i went out there and the oil level is fine. I did notice that the exhaust manifold and the down pipe, the contection between the 2 seems to be funked up. Im goin to start it up and see if thats where the smoke is comin from.

85SportCoupeto89RS

It sounds like you have a driver side valve cover gasket leak. Is it blue smoke that comes out??

Cold Dark Shado

yup its blue, i did kindda notice that there seemed to be wet oil on the lip of the valve cover.

Oh another thing, on that same valve cover thers a hose runnin to it connected to some little thing, is that the PCV valve? i pulled it out of the cover and it was full of oil and didnt look the greatest

Dale

iTrader: (12)

One side will have the pvc, other will have a breather. I think some other ones have a 3rd tube. I can't look at mine right now.

If you have oil on the valve cover lip, either oil got spilt while installing, or you have a seal leaking where one of them items I just mentioned go into them. I have not seen a valve cover gasket leak, and got oil above the lip, just below it on the heads.

Cold Dark Shado

Well i think the motors done. My wife took it to the store about a mile away and she called me when she got there and said that the smoke is barreling out from under the hood and its makin a really loud "Klunking" noise. So i told her to try and drive it back here and she was cool with that so i waited for her and when she got close i could hear the knock plain as day and she was like a half a block away and it sounded like a jack hammer. The knock is constent,on and off the throttle, and it got a wine to it as well.

So when she parked it i poped the hood and a trace of smoke was coming from the pass. side rear of the engine bay.

Im think the motors let loose. What you guys think.

Dale

iTrader: (12)

Time for a 3.4l block swap :rockon:

85SportCoupeto89RS

Agreed 100% start searching local junk yards for a 3.4

Cold Dark Shado

Man i would but i cant find one around here
ive called all the local ones and the only one i found was a 2.8 out of a s-10

pasky

Have you checked to see if it is coming from your throttle body? I have had a car do that to me, was driving down the highway and just out of nowhere white smoke was coming out from my hood (it had died btw). My fuel pump had blew. Not sure if it would be the same problem, but might be wise to check, hope this helps.

Cold Dark Shado

ill give it look. But im pretty sure its a lowerend knock(spun bearing,rod,ect). if i could id record the sound,its bad....

Dale

iTrader: (12)

Tell them you are looking for a 3.4l from a 93-95 Camaro. Don't tell them what your putting it in, etc. Just tell them that, and thats it, otherwise you will confuse them.

Also, try car-part.com, and search for above. See if their is a yard in your area.

I got mine off ebay.

Cold Dark Shado

I found one!!

I checked carparts and there was one at one of the yards i called before and they said they didnt have one but i just got off the phone with them and its got 140K on it strong runner and has a 30 warrenty for $275

i plan on rebuilding it and my wifes family is close friends with the owers of the yard and ive done biz with them before so i trust them on condition of stuff they say.


When you said not to tell them what im doin and just to tell them what im lookin for is why they said they didnt have one cuz i said the first time i was lookin for a 3.4 for an 85 camaro and of course they wouldnt have a stock replacement for an 85 but when i asked this time for a 94 3.4 they had one.


Thanx for the help, now i just need to sell my monte

Dale

iTrader: (12)

N/P/ I have called places before and "let the cat out the bag" on what I was doing and they were . So never tell them somthing is modded. Them places get confused.

Autozone wont even touch my truck anymore. They just when I pull in the lot, cause its so damn modded.

Good luck on selling the other car to buy and engine. While trying to sell your engine, print out ked85 "tech sheet" on how to do this swap, use the search button. Read Read Read before you start pulling it out. However, were here if you need any help, or have questions.


3.4L :rockon:

Cold Dark Shado

Just so i have an idea around what would i expect to spend on doin this? If i rebuild the motor and have someone install it(dont have a cherry picker ). With parts and the donor engine?

KED85

I'll lay it out kinda simple.
DO YOU REALLY REALLY LOVE THIS RIDE?
IF YES
KEEP READING
Rebuilding costs money.
So do parts.
A new 3.4 from GM cost $1800
A great core for $275 is a very good price.
Have them do a compression check for "health".
My 3.4s registered 150 PSI & 175-200 PSI. I bought my 3.4s w/50K & 44K on those used mills.
Swapping is a very simple very detailed project.
Ya simpley replace the mill & add your original 2.8-3.1 engine intake induction/ignition/sensors/pullies & ECM.
Ya ADD to this the 3.4 injectors & 3.4 balancer & 3.4 flywheel.
DO NOT REMOVE THE 3.4 exhaust manifolds as the 3rd gen F body exhaust bolts right up as is.
Ask for the 3.4 "Y" pipe & the 3.4 motor mounts when ya get this engine.
Use the 3.4 motor mounts when ya swap in the 3.4.
WHY?
SIMPLE
THEY ARE NEWER!!! BY what, 10 years?
Be aware that ya will probably need tranny work after the swap is done.
WHY?
SIMPLE 200 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE! overwhelm a border line operating tranny.
ENJOY THE RESEARCH before ya pick up a single wrench.
Read about the 3.4 mill in the GM Performance Parts catalog.
Gaskets for this project go for about $100-$150.
Ask anytime I'll try to help all I can.
I do not know how much rebuild kits go for, for a 3.4.
1-800-831-0884 Northern Auto Parts sells very inexpensive.
Enjoy the research.
Read the GM pub for the HP & Torque & other specs.
The pub is extremly specific.
My gas milage increased & so did power.
My car pulls like a freight train.
I LOVE TORQUE!
Yes, car goes fast, too.
I did my 3.4 swap to pass CA smog test.
I go for second test (since swap) in a few more weeks.
Research by using the search button.
Read my swap thread for almost 99% of your questions to be answered.
AGAIN YA GOTTA REALY LOVE YOUR RIDE TO DO THIS MISSION.
About what close to 35 plus almost 40 3.4 swappers so far and growing.
It is an extremly simple yet very detailed swap.
Yes end result looks exactly like what ya started with, see pic, cause that is a 1995 3.4 in the pic under the 1985 stuff ya see.

Cold Dark Shado

Well do i really love this car? Ive only owned it for maybe 2 weeks

i bought cuz it was cheap($380) and i was lookin for a Camaro project car. So i dont really mind puttin time a cash into it.

When i talk to the guy at the yard again ill see if they did or will do a compression check on it. I was planning to tear down the motor completely and go block up with it cuz its not my daily driver so i can take my time with it and do it right.

I read your artical twice now and will do so many times over im sure along with any other threads that i can find useful to helpin me with it and print them all off.


would 1500 to 2Gs be to low of a guess? That includes rebuild parts and the donor along with having some one put it in?

Cold Dark Shado

oh yea, i pick up the 2.8 gasket set right?

KED85

IF ya got $2K
GO BUY THE NEW CRATE ENGINE
Only need add 3.4 injectors from any 3.4 FWD vehicle.
Retain original exhaust manifolds.
Serious.
Why waste the effort of a rebuild?
How much better can ya get than NEW?
You do already posess the majority of the swap specific parts. For free.
Yes, you do purchase a gasket kit for the engine that was original.
Serious.
GO FOR THE GLORY OF A FINISHED RIDE.
AGAIN
AIN'T NOTHING BETTER THAN NEW!
ESPECIALLY WITH A 12,000 MILE WARRANTY!
Walk in with cash in hand and lay out $1500 & say ya want to buy a 3.4 crate engine.
If they argue, pick up the 15-$100 bills.
Ya won't get far from the counter;>
Buy the engine gasket rebuild kit from Northern.
Use my notes to plan & save.
Enjoy the research.

Cold Dark Shado

i dont have 2K oright now,i wish i did, in hand. I was thinkin over all cost not up front cost. But tif my monte sells for around that maybe i will go crate

skahide

well im having somewhat of the same problem. it is smoking coming from the right side front fender, yes im leaking oil. i thought it was just oil on the exhaust manifold so i degreased it and it hasnt happened since, until today. started smoking again. and losing oil. i notice that if i drive longer it doesnt leak very much but if i run it to move it like from one side of house to other it leaks. like the size of my hand (not fist). im guessing that it is my valve cover gaskets. it seems to be leaking oil in the back around there. am i right? how hard to replace. i have no experience with major engine work like that but i may have help from an ex mechanic. Do i dare try it? i have a 88 camaro 2.8 V6. i can get that gasket at an auto store right? thanks guys