Pclancy
Active Member
You guys have steered me through countless issues since I purchased this beast. I call her the world's luckiest Newport as I have doggedly fixed every issue that has arisen (and there have been many). I now am invested far more than the car is worth. Such is life. I am obessive complusive, and now turn to ask for advice on the last major current issue.
Oil consumption on the orginal 400 engine ranges between 6-700 miles a quart. I know it is burning the oil, as every seal and gasket has either been replaced or adjusted to the point where any seepage is not the problem.
The engine does not smoke noticeably when driving. A bit on start up (lighter color). The engine has about 60,000 miles on it (not flipped). It sounds and runs great.
I have very good mechanics. Their advice is to test compression, and from there maybe do a leak down test. And then take it from there. The suspicion is that this a top end problem, most likely to do with the valves or valve guide seals. Much muttering about how the original lean burn system (recently removed after it quit working and after much hassle replacing all the ignition components (some more than once--cheap parts) and then tinkering with the TQ carb to get it to run less lean) may have contributed to this problem over the years.
Before I pull the trigger, what advice do you have? How much am I looking at, worst-best case scenario? If the engine needs an overhaul, do I rebuild or remanufacture? I assume there are no crate 400s, right?
With many thanks
Oil consumption on the orginal 400 engine ranges between 6-700 miles a quart. I know it is burning the oil, as every seal and gasket has either been replaced or adjusted to the point where any seepage is not the problem.
The engine does not smoke noticeably when driving. A bit on start up (lighter color). The engine has about 60,000 miles on it (not flipped). It sounds and runs great.
I have very good mechanics. Their advice is to test compression, and from there maybe do a leak down test. And then take it from there. The suspicion is that this a top end problem, most likely to do with the valves or valve guide seals. Much muttering about how the original lean burn system (recently removed after it quit working and after much hassle replacing all the ignition components (some more than once--cheap parts) and then tinkering with the TQ carb to get it to run less lean) may have contributed to this problem over the years.
Before I pull the trigger, what advice do you have? How much am I looking at, worst-best case scenario? If the engine needs an overhaul, do I rebuild or remanufacture? I assume there are no crate 400s, right?
With many thanks