Help!!!

[genolan]

Just took the car for a nice ride pretty hard and it ran great. went back out and it started to shutter going up the driveway really rough under load. When I rev it in neutral it seems fine with just a little roughness. I turned it off and restarted and it smokes out the passenger headers. The smoke is on the white side with no distinct smell. I did notice that the one spark plug wire was kinda burnt but not melted. Could this be the cause or did something really bad go wrong. I tried to see if the spark was shorting to the header but couldn't see anything. Head gasket?

[mln385]

Picture of plug wire may help, if it is shorting to the block or header this would be a symptom.

Check your dizzy cap too, center tab might have an issue. Look for tracking inside or a possible cracked rotor.

[genolan]

The headers are to hot to get the wire off. I did shove a paint stirrer between the wire and headers since wood is an insulator but no change. Would it smoke if one cylinder was not firing?

[genolan]

The engine doesn't make any bad noises like knocking just rough and smoke out the passenger exhaust.

[392cobra]

Could be the intake manifold and/or head gasket. Sucking anti-freeze into 1 or cylinders.

[mln385]

Originally Posted by genolan

The engine doesn't make any bad noises like knocking just rough and smoke out the passenger exhaust.

Is it smoke or unburnt fuel from a cylinder not firing? Pull the dizzy cap and take a look. It will take all of five minutes.

[genolan]

just looked at the cap and it seems ok, The smoke had no real smell and was on the white side. I'm not sure what unburnt fuel looks like

[mln385]

Grayish white mist if you don't smell or taste antifreeze, probably isn't head gasket. sounds electrical or electronic.

[mln385]

Let it cool down pop some plugs and see what they look like, or if you have an IR hand thermometer start it up and check all your header exhaust port temps. if one or more is cooler than the rest you have a cylinder not firing.

[genolan]

just pulled the wire off and it was melted pretty bad with the conductor showing. I'm trying to post a picture. Just so I don't freak out white gray smoke can be unburnt fuel?

[genolan]

[392cobra]

[genolan]

Thanks for posting the picture Fred

[392cobra]

Wouldn't hurt to check your oil condition and coolant for anything out of norm.

Could help your peace of mind too.

[mln385]

Originally Posted by 392cobra

Looks like the terminal end is exposed which would create the arc to ground. I would replace and start her up.

[genolan]

Headed to the local speed shop to get a new wire, plug and heat sock. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this solves the problem.

[mln385]

Good luck let us know how you make out.

[genolan]

Just replaced the wire and plug and No Good same problem. I checked the coolant overflow tank and it's half full but I have no reference point to compare with. It's looking more and more like head gasket.

[392cobra]

I was afraid of that,damn.

Get yourself a Cooling System Pressure Tester. Craftsman make a nice one.
It will help you find the leak without just going in and replacing all the gaskets.

[genolan]

A friend told me to stick my fingers in each side pipe and see if one is slippery and it is. The cause is coolant in the pipes. DAMM