Chevy Engine running strangely

[TXfreeze]

I think the smoke is a head gasket.....taking off the head and replacing them and servicing the head will get rid of it. I don't think you are going to just back those bolts out. Best of luck with that.

I think so too. Thanks

 

[TXfreeze]

I appreciate your taking the time to explain everything, the white smoke doesn't seem to be there at the moment last I saw it was from below the plug chamber, no the engine is not missfiring or backfiring since I put back the missing vacuum hose. Did the radiator bubble test again, I could see a few bubbles in the liquid but it didn't puke let it run for a couple.minutes. As for the tail pipe no colored smoke, only what looks like vapor and water dripping, As I said early on I take that to be moisture in fuel lines due to the high humidity here, I'm not too worried about the broken bolt, more so about the fitting that goes on the plug wire I attached a photo of it. I can't decide which to do a radiator pressure test, $250 deposit at AutoZone, or a UV dye test. As far as I can tell there is no overheating after 10 Mins running temps are around 140 F, no sign of coolant leaking either, although could be internal and that's why I need to do a pressure test, I guess to be on the safe side I'm going to have to do both. For what it's worth as you can see in the photos, the oil cap has a brownish residue and the oil looks tanned, sign of water getting into the oil and a blown head gasket.

 

[TXfreeze]

I think the smoke is a head gasket.....taking off the head and replacing them and servicing the head will get rid of it. I don't think you are going to just back those bolts out. Best of luck with that.

Yes those bolts are very old and rusty, I'm going to see what soaking them in PB Blaster might do to help, same for the plugs.

 

[DHudson]

I appreciate your taking the time to explain everything, the white smoke doesn't seem to be there at the moment last I saw it was from below the plug chamber, no the engine is not missfiring or backfiring since I put back the missing vacuum hose. Did the radiator bubble test again, I could see a few bubbles in the liquid but it didn't puke let it run for a couple.minutes. As for the tail pipe no colored smoke, only what looks like vapor and water dripping, As I said early on I take that to be moisture in fuel lines due to the high humidity here, I'm not too worried about the broken bolt, more so about the fitting that goes on the plug wire I attached a photo of it. I can't decide which to do a radiator pressure test, $250 deposit at AutoZone, or a UV dye test. As far as I can tell there is no overheating after 10 Mins running temps are around 140 F, no sign of coolant leaking either, although could be internal and that's why I need to do a pressure test, I guess to be on the safe side I'm going to have to do both. For what it's worth as you can see in the photos, the oil cap has a brownish residue and the oil looks tanned, sign of water getting into the oil and a blown head gasket

That 1st pic is a spark plug boot shield. It helps keep the spark plug wire from getting burned from the exhaust heat. I removed them from my 454 pick up and use high quality silicone boot spark plug wires. Has worked well for 20 years. And make getting wires and plugs out a lot easier.
The brownish tent on the oil cap is normal. If you had water in the oil, it would look milky.

 

[TXfreeze]

That 1st pic is a spark plug boot shield. It helps keep the spark plug wire from getting burned from the exhaust heat. I removed them from my 454 pick up and use high quality silicone boot spark plug wires. Has worked well for 20 years. And make getting wires and plugs out a lot easier.
The brownish tent on the oil cap is normal. If you had water in the oil, it would look milky.

 

[TXfreeze]

So that's what it is, I most certainly will replace the wires with ones you recommended. As for water in oil, I was talking to another vortex owner he has a 350 I think and I told him I thought it was the head gasket, he said it was most likely the exhaust intake gasket, they are made of.plastic and they are known for.wearing down, I showed him my oil cap and he said could be, the oil is a tan like color I have a photo I will upload later, thing is if it ain't vroke.don't fix it and there no other symptoms that would indicate a gasket leak.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I use this stuff on exhaust bolts.

I would do a compression test before I wasted any other time. Yes the vortex intake is. . . Well, a piece of plastic!!! One time seriously overheated can destroy it. Water leaks? well!!! I guard all my junk against overheating, the 350vortex gets special attention!!!

Creamy oil is likely Water in oil. I once had a hole develop in a timing chain cover. Any place that could let Water into the oil/crankcase is suspect. Get quotes unless you're doing the work yourself. As I recall that will really be a job on that rig.