The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network - View Single Post - Low mileage crate 350HO smokes on start up ?

**hatzie** · 12-26-2018, 02:13 PM

The soft rope trick works quite well too.
My grandfather used this to do valve stem seals on his 60's Plymouth while I "helped".

Take out the battery or at least completely pull off the ground connection.
Pull all six or eight spark plugs so the engine rotates easily by hand.
Rotate the engine to TDC on your first intended victim by hand then rotate it back a bit so there's spce between the combustion chamber and the piston crown.
Stuff 1-2ft of the soft rope down into the cylinder leaving about 8-10 inches hanging out of the plug hole and then rotate the piston gently back up toward TDC til it stops and have your five year old grandson put on gramps work gloves and hold the radiator fan so it doesn't spin... see I was helping.

This holds the valves in place while you R&R the keepers, springs, and seals.
Back the piston down and pull out the rope and move it on to the next cylinder.

Gramps said it worked better than air when the valve seats were less than 100% perfect but still plenty serviceable.

12-26-2018, 02:13 PM	#20
hatzie Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wentworth, NH Posts: 4,916	Re: Low mileage crate 350HO smokes on start up ? The soft rope trick works quite well too. My grandfather used this to do valve stem seals on his 60's Plymouth while I "helped". Take out the battery or at least completely pull off the ground connection. Pull all six or eight spark plugs so the engine rotates easily by hand. Rotate the engine to TDC on your first intended victim by hand then rotate it back a bit so there's spce between the combustion chamber and the piston crown. Stuff 1-2ft of the soft rope down into the cylinder leaving about 8-10 inches hanging out of the plug hole and then rotate the piston gently back up toward TDC til it stops and have your five year old grandson put on gramps work gloves and hold the radiator fan so it doesn't spin... see I was helping. This holds the valves in place while you R&R the keepers, springs, and seals. Back the piston down and pull out the rope and move it on to the next cylinder. Gramps said it worked better than air when the valve seats were less than 100% perfect but still plenty serviceable. __________________ 1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials... 1973-1991 GM Light Truck Service, Unit/Overhaul, Wiring Manuals, Parts Books and Some 1968-1999 GM Service Training textbooks in PDF 1988-1998 GMT400 CK service manual project 1988-1993 GMT400 CK parts books. 1967-1972 GM Light, Medium, & Heavy Truck Service Manuals in PDF Please include at least the year and model in your threads. It'll be easier to answer your questions. And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful.