My FE be smokin. . . HELP!

[DrDano]

My '62 Galaxie has developed a smoking problem. Not like aunt Beatrice and her Pall Malls, but it seems to be burning oil. The passenger side bank on the 390 is blowing blue smoke out the tailpipe on startup. . . nice small cloud of blue smoke. . .but you dont notice it badly while driving. However, that said, I was towing my sled with the car on Saturday and it was smoking like mad when under heavy load pulling the car off the line at each stop light.

Does this sound like a ring issue? I'm thinking it could also possibly be a guide that is worn out, the engine does have a very faint tick to it that sounds like a lifter or something. Any ideas??

[Fat Hack]

Valve seals most likely.

Do a compression test. If you find a low cylinder, squirt a little oil in it and check it again. If the reading doesn't change much, you got worn valve guides or bad valve seals. If the reading goes up, it's a ring issue.

[DrDano]

Sweet...love buying new tools...now I have an excuse to get a compression testing kit. I'll check that out soon.

Would it still likely be guides or valve seals if it seemed to get worse while under heavy load pulling that car?

[old beet]

Valve guide seals, not too hard to replace and not much money. Every FE I've had, had some broken rings(most were over-heated at some time). Got 108 K on this one, runs like brand new!!!............OLDBEET