[Dwight Romberger]

Thanks, captbrian

[Bob Engle]

To check bearings, you have to drop the pan and pull a cap off of a connecting rod. Be careful not to lose any shims on the rod capscrews. If the bearing is smooth, no deep gouges and the crank shaft is not scored, the bearings will be Okay. You can adjust the bearing gap with plastigage and changing shims to get to spec on the proper clearance.

Let me know what you find on the smoking.

Bob

[Dwight Romberger]

Thanks Bob.
Dwight

[Fred Rawling]

First, the breather only has the screen inside.

I remember from why back, they always said that if you did the valves on a straight 6 without doing the rings, you would burn oil. A compression test as previously suggested will tell you a lot.

A vacuum gauge is also very helpful diagnosing the problems

I would drive it a while with some marvel mistory oil in the gas. If the rings are just stuck from sludge, they may free up.

I think you should buy a shop manuel to get the information on how to turn the crank shaft to allow the pistons to come out before you start taking anyting apart.

You do not have to pull the head to pull the pistons however you may not be able to get your hand up far enough in the cylinder to see if there is a ridge at the top of the cylinder.

If you are going to do the rings, you must besure that any ridge at the top of the cylinders if removed which means removing the head.

I would check the rod bearings and the clearance with plastigauge. You can remove shims if necessary to get the .002 clearance. It would be a good idea to pull the pan. The previous owner may not have cleaned the sediment out of the pan and when you buy a car that starts to have problems right away, you need to check everything.

Be careful if you remove and reinstall the fuel pump. The ears that the bolts go through can break easily.