PNW_Smoker's 1972 Blazer

[PNW_Smoker]

I bought my Blazer in March. Since day one it's blown some smoke when you start it or let it idle for an extended amount of time. My neighbor is a mechanic and works on a race team. I've asked him what he thinks and he says it's got bad valve guides. I asked him if he thought it would be a good idea to buy some aluminum heads and slap them on since the engine has good compression across the board. He says I could do that but from what he's seen it will probably smoke with new heads.

I'm not a huge wrench when it comes to engines so I guess my question is what do all you think?

I wouldn't mind pulling the engine and rebuilding the entire thing if it wasn't the beginning of summer. I don't want to not drive it while the weather is nice.

Below is the Blazer in question.

[68panelman]

Beautiful blazer. I would wait till if off season since you don't mind pulling engine and rebuilding. Or just send out the heads.

[YBNORML]

Nice blazer! I love the medium bronze color
It's been my experience that new heads on an old engine just causes more problems. I would opt for a complete rebuild / replacement. These days you can get a new engine for almost the same as it would cost to rebuild. If numbers matching is an issue. Save the old motor. Just my .2cents. .
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[PNW_Smoker]

I found a place out of Portland that will rebuild the block for $750.00.... In the mean while though it sucks when everyone tells you how great your blazer looks then you jump in it, start it up, and smoke them out... Embarrassing.

[Livrat]

You could spend a day and just replace all the valve seals (without removing the heads) with the "umbrella" type.. that would cure most of your smoking issues (assuming it is valve guides) and would be good enough until you decide to rebuild

[IGOR]

Josh-

You could also start building an engine while still driving it - then once the new one is done, swap the engine over in a weekend or an evening or two. I know where a few blocks are at.

-Ben

[PNW_Smoker]

Originally Posted by IGOR

Josh-

You could also start building an engine while still driving it - then once the new one is done, swap the engine over in a weekend or an evening or two. I know where a few blocks are at.

-Ben

Hey Ben,

How's the build coming along? (Edit: I checked out your build thread. Looks good man)

I've also been thinking about that route. Do you know what who ever would want for the blocks? If they were cheap, like dirt cheap, that could be an option.

[BlazinC5]

If your not concerned with having the same block in your Blazer, Talk to an engine shop and see if you can have them build one up for ya, Some bigger shops even have rebuilt 350's just sitting on a shelf waiting for people to swap out. Just pick it up whenever it's ready and swap it in a day or so then return the core to them and get the core charge back. I and some friends have done that in the past.

[JMac11]

I would be surprised if it consumes a quart evrey 5000 miles. Your truck probably still has or had single o ring seals on the valves. If it has good compression, you can fight it and change the seals, it is an aggravating job to do. Other than personal vanity I would let it smoke till it fouls a plug regularly.

[PNW_Smoker]

Originally Posted by JMac11

I would be surprised if it consumes a quart evrey 5000 miles. Your truck probably still has or had single o ring seals on the valves. If it has good compression, you can fight it and change the seals, it is an aggravating job to do. Other than personal vanity I would let it smoke till it fouls a plug regularly.

Basically it just bugs me everytime I start it up.