Rings for KB pistons 4.080

crewchief said

I'll be pulling the intake yet again to inspect the gaskets and intake galleys. That damn left side smoke still has me puzzled. The #3 plug was wet prior to intake mill work and after reinstall. She smokes at idle as well as down the road. I had someone following in a second vehicle and they have noticed smoke during cruising and during slowdown. But just out the left pipe.

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OK.... having someone else observe is the best way to do it. Does it smoke when accelerating? These questions have to do with the vacuum level; decel is the highest vacuum, and cruise can be fairly high and idle can be 10"-15" or even much more, depending on cam. So if the smoke is strongest for decel, and middling during cruise and idle, and just about gone under acceleration, then the smoke is in proportion to higher intake vacuum levels and that points to the intake tract.

If it is there under acceleration too, then I'd think of a ring problem. I personally would pull just that one. BTDT with an improperly installed oil ring expander on one cylinder.

Don't forget to look at the #3 valve stem seal and valve guide.