Goodwrench crate engine smoking from passenger side exhaust

[iamtherealJayy]

So I just picked up this Frankenstein truck that’s got a goodwrench 350 with “<30k” on it. It’s been sitting some odd years due to previous gent said it was flooding out and running rich. I put a battery on it gave it a shot of brake clean and it fired right up and idled, but it’s most definitely got an issue flooding the passenger side, I removed a plug and there was fuel dripping off of it. I also broke that spark plug so I’m changing them. Can I run what I use in all my other 350’s? Ac Delco r44t or r45ts? I’ve got both available. But anyways what I was getting at is there’s a fog coming out of passenger side tailpipe(dual exhaust) it’s a lighter color (hoping not white) and it gets darker with more throttle until it’s black. (Drivers side blows a little dark smoke with a serious rev). I’m not sure where the distrivutor is at but I can’t retard it enough to get the timing line onto the timing tab, #1 on the cap is around 6’ o’clock. I’m thinking start with completely redoing the timing as a start and then work on the quadrajet. I guess I could just rotate the plug wires one round. During retarding the timing the truck would barely run and had little to no throttle input before a puff out of the carb followed by smoke. Ps the sound of secondaries opening on a quadrajet never gets old lol

 

[fast 99]

Sounds like it was over advanced in an attempt to compensate for a rich condition. Black smoke fuel. Assume choke is open. Yes, being as it is an unknown quantity go back to basics, check everything tune up related. If possible, when running look down ventures for fuel dripping, if it is, that's a problem.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

By over advanced do you mean a tooth or few off when the distributor was put in? I slightly advanced the timing to where the coil cover was straight side to side because that’s usually where I start and the truck wouldn’t start, slightly retard it and it fired right up but the timing mark is still showing wayyyyy advanced(around the top of the harmonic balancer, timing tab being by the ps pump)

 

[85 Squarebody76]

So I just picked up this Frankenstein truck that’s got a goodwrench 350 with “<30k” on it. It’s been sitting some odd years due to previous gent said it was flooding out and running rich. I put a battery on it gave it a shot of brake clean and it fired right up and idled, but it’s most definitely got an issue flooding the passenger side, I removed a plug and there was fuel dripping off of it. I also broke that spark plug so I’m changing them. Can I run what I use in all my other 350’s? Ac Delco r44t or r45ts? I’ve got both available. But anyways what I was getting at is there’s a fog coming out of passenger side tailpipe(dual exhaust) it’s a lighter color (hoping not white) and it gets darker with more throttle until it’s black. (Drivers side blows a little dark smoke with a serious rev). I’m not sure where the distrivutor is at but I can’t retard it enough to get the timing line onto the timing tab, #1 on the cap is around 6’ o’clock. I’m thinking start with completely redoing the timing as a start and then work on the quadrajet. I guess I could just rotate the plug wires one round. During retarding the timing the truck would barely run and had little to no throttle input before a puff out of the carb followed by smoke. Ps the sound of secondaries opening on a quadrajet never gets old lol

Is there not a brown wire next to the power brake booster ?? If so you need to disconnect it to set the base timing.. Not sure what year truck your working on '86 or'87 and up has the wire..

 

[iamtherealJayy]

It’s not a throttle body truck. It’s a Frankenstein truck. 1981 c10 cab on a k20 frame. Finding new things everyday with it. My 87 has the brown wire you’re referencing however.

 

[75gmck25]

I had one wet plug and a tick from that side of the engine. Turned out the rocker arm polylock had loosened enough to let the pushrod pop out of the recess. Basically one dead cylinder.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

This engine does have almost what I’d call a diesel injector noise? At the passenger side. I’ll try to pop off a valve cover and check it out. I plan on doing a tuneup since one spark plug wire is different so new plugs, wires, redo timing, fix the quadrajet since I actually want to keep it etc

 

[iamtherealJayy]

I did notice while fiddling with the carb that when the secondaries open you can see fuel dribbles come out and land on the top air door. Is that normal? Or is that just more verification it’s dumping fuel from somewhere

 

[75gmck25]

What type of carburetor do you have? On a Quadrajet or Edelbrock the secondaries open based on air flow, so nothing happens to move the secondary flaps when you actuate the throttle with the engine off.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

It’s a quadrajet, I noticed that with engine running when I was playing with the carb and timing.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

Popped valve cover off….

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

Can’t feel the lifter down in the hole either, so uh what causes a new crate engine to do this? All the valve cover bolts were hand tight that’s why it’s so greasy come to find out. It’s fairly clean under the sludge. Inside the valve covers wasn’t terrible but not what I’d expect from a “new” engine. Supposed to be around 5 years old I’m told with under 30k

 

[Shorty81]

Looks like you were told a story.....

 

[iamtherealJayy]

It ran surprisingly well for a completely dead cylinder. What should I do to go about getting this engine back going? I planned on using the engine in something else when I was done with the truck. Can I just pull the intake check out the lifters replace what needs replaced and reassemble?

 

[Grit dog]

First thing I’d do is pop a new pushrod in it, set ALL the valves since one was obviously loose? and see how it runs.
And yes that could be a 30k mile engine. With no oil changes!

 

[iamtherealJayy]

I tried to just sit another pushrod in and it just sunk down the whole way, the lifter is gone to visit somewhere so I’m assuming pull the intake and put the litter back in and go from there. Surprisingly I theres a memo book of maintenance and new parts in the glove box and the only thing in there is radiator repair and coolant stuffs… uh oh hope it hasn’t been over heated