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[Mike77]

Now that I finally have my 77 actually running well (correct timing and mixture) I've noticed that once it warms up and the temperature guage is in the normal zone there is smoke coming from around the manifold/headpipe area. The manifold and head pipe gaskets were replaced and I retighted the bolts after the engine had been run a few times. The smoke does not seem to be coming from a leak,and it keeps smoking after the engine is shut off (only on that side of the engine). It just sort of looks like smoke from excess heat, but the temp. seems fine, and the fan is working. The only other thing I noticed is it looks like oil seaping out around the headgasket area on the sparkplug side of the engine, and I guess it's possible that is burning and creating the smoke, but I can't narrow down an exact point of origin. Also, is that oil leaking around the head an indication that I've got or will soon have a blown head gasket? I realize all of this is tough without looking at it, but I thought maybe someone else had run into this. Thanks

[Kabok]

Hi,
I have the same problem with mine. I am doing the head gasket soon. It is leaking from the head gasket. I am 98% sure. Do you smell burnt oil? The good thing is this does not indicate the head gasket is going to fail soon. I had my problem for four years. The only thing is I got tired adding oil.
If you’re using a 30 or a 40 grade oil, you can make that 10w-50, and that will stop the leak if you’re lucky. Eventually the leak will need to be fixed.

[Lizard]

take off the valve cover and check the torch on the head bolts and if need be add a couple of extra pounds too it, but if you decide to replacethe head gasket the sooner the better and it isnt a hard task, as you dont have to completely remove the head if the gasket comes off nicely and not stuck to the block or head, if it isnt stuck to the head or block it is a 1 hour job for a good backyard mechanic