New build of a 351W - only about three or so hours on the motor with only 40 miles on the road. Broke in fine with no problem but since had been running rich, popping through the exhaust, and blowing white to greyish smoke through the exhaust with more on the passenger side ever since. Engine temp runs at 180 degrees and no coolant loss.
Some engine specs: 351 W, backed with a C-4 Auto, Melling HV
Oil Pump, Edel perf RPM heads & intake; Edel mechanical Fuel Pump, Comp Cam with 224 degrees and .501 lift on both int & exh; have tried two diiferent carbs - Road Demon Jr. 725 and a Holley 600.
With the Demon I could not get it to behave so I tried the Holley. Out of the box ran fine until engine warmed up then the same problem. Tried to tame the carb by lowering the power valve from a 6.5 to a 4.5; engine pulls about 11 -12 inches of vacuum. Also jetted down from 64's to 62's. Popping stopped but still can't lean it out to stop the smoking that reeks of the odor of unburned fuel. In fact, the pass sidepipe outlet gets saturated with unburned fuel.
Another issue that is of main concern to me is the
oil pressure. When cold runs at about 50-60 psi but once warm will not rise above 20-25 psi. I changed the
oil and the oil was like water and also reeked of fuel odors. This leads me to believe that the cylinders are loading up with fuel that's breaking down the cylinder wall lubrication and passing into the oil. This thinned oil could account for the minimal oil pressure.
Another observation I made is that the Edel Fuel Pump has twice developed oil leaks at the mounting flange. Both times I changed the gasket, I automatically presumed it was the gasket but now I am not so sure. I say this because after the second time I have now noticed a small amount of oil on the top of the fuel pump. I checked around the mounting flange and it is dry and the mounting bolts show no signs of leaked oil. Could this be a problem with the fuel pump diaphragm that is allowing oil into the pump and it is being pushed out through on of the gaskets between the pump sections? I have read some posts in here about ruptured diaphragms reeking havoc on engines.
I have also read a thread regarding using the wrong oil filter. I do not have a remote system and the standard oil filter that the 351W calls for won't fit between the engine and the frame rails. The guys at the loacl parts house sold me a shorter filter, an STP 16. Could it be that this is the wrong filter? Can anyone tell me what's the correct short filter I should be using?
Well, I know my post is somewhat long, so let me say this. I have problems that are either separate or related and possibly one may have caused the other. Of primary concern is the low oil pressure problem. Can it be a bad Oil Pump or possibly the wrong oil filter? Secondly, what is causing the engine to run so rich? Can it be a power valve problem like Gerry A had or can it be related to a possible fuel pump problem?
As I have only 40 road miles and about 3 or so hours on the motor, I am hoping that nothing major has occurred like what happened to Gerry.
Any help, ideas, suggestions, or thoughts from you gurus will be deeply appreciated. My wife & I just completed the build and would like to get some road time in before Old Man Winter gets here.
Thanks,
Tony