OK, I have a 66 Valiant with a 225 slant six.

As soon as I start the motor I start getting smoke from the breather. When the engine warms up and is sitting at idle the smoke goes away.

When I rev it some I get smoke from the breather, very little from the tailpipe.

Regardless of the temp I get little smoke from the tailpipe, mostly just the breather.

Does that sound more like valves or rings?

I am hoping for valves because I have $200 for a head rebuild, but not $900 for a full motor rebuild.

Thanks!

 

Save your money.. You should at least do an overhaul. Rings,bearings,valves,timing chain. & head work 7-800.. The problem being it probably needs to be re bored ? Won't know until it is disassembled and checked
Or look for a good used engine

 

So, may as well save up and send it out for a rebuild.

 

Seems to me some of you made some assumptions. "We" weren't there, didn't see the smoke, how much.

First, do we know the PCV is properly hooked up and functioning, not gummed up?

Next, "how much" smoke are we talking? All these cars after PCV was implemented should NOT have an open breather, but should have a breather with hose connection, plumbed to the air filter bonnet.

A CONSIDERABLE amount of blowby can occur from valve seals.

And, not knowing the mileage on this engine, or the care and oil changes, it's very possible that the rings are fine for what is PROBABLY not a currently heavily driven vehicle.

 

Everything is hooked up right. It does have an open breather AND a PCV valve, recently replaced.

There is a heck of a lot of smoke that comes from the breather when I rev it up. Very little from the tailpipe.

As I said on idle, as soon as I start the car, there is a good amount of smoke.

At idle when it is hot no smoke until I rev it up.

The engine has 171,000 miles on it. None of the plugs are fouled.

I will do a compression test in the morning. I live in Phoenix and it is already 90 out!

 

I keep having the distinct feeling that I have the wrong valve cover for this engine.

 

Yes you are not seeing things, my little valiant actually has power steering!

 

Valve cover looks OK to me.
I say,
Do a compression or leak down test, but it kinda sounds like blow by. 171,000 miles was considered kinda high in the 60' and 70's. If you gotta keep it original, then I would think about starting to save $. But for myself I would look for a good used runner and let the other motor sit until I could get it rebuilt. The /6 is far from rare. Yours looks sweet. Not surprised by power steering but, do I see a 2 bbl Holley? Nice! Those little A-bodies were tight little cars.