Head Gasket fixed...now what???

hey guys. i just recently got everything bolted back up and ready to go. I started her up,and there were a few coolant hoses that were not tight enough, so i tightened them all up (after thinking i didnt fix the head gasket [Image: frown.gif]. To my suprise it starts up and runs great...but there is some white smoke coming from the back of my exhaust manifold. I am thinking it could be from where some of the coolant from the loose hoses is just burning off, and i smelled the smoke coming from the exhaust...it just smells like gas (still havnt set the timing on it yet) so that tells me the exhaust smoke is probably from it just being out of time. I just wanted to know what you guys thought. Why else would there be white smoke coming from behind my exhausty manifold??
any help appreciated!!!
Zach

set the timing and drive it for 1/2 hour or so, not too hard and see if the smoke goes away. It's normal for some coolant to get sread around during a head gasket job. And if you had some loose hoses there went some more. Just keep an eye on it.

------------------
NATO Member. it's not a vice, it's an obsession
Good judgement comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
88 TC X 2, 86 SVO, mods list at
http://www.turbotbird.com/showroom/pd_88tc.htm

I agree that it's likely just the left over coolant burning off.

------------------
Dan Eaves
88TC 5spd, Crower 5.5" Sportsman Rods, Short Wiseco Pistons bored .030" Over, Ported Head with Polished Combustion Chambers, Gutted & Polished Upper, Ported & Polished Lower, Polished T/B, Ported E6, SVO T3 .63AR Turbo, Bosch Bypass Valve, 3" DP w/No Cat, 2 1/2" DynoMax single cat back w/DynoMax Super Turbo Muffler, RR Cam, K&N in Fenderwell, Gillis Boost Valve, Centerforce I Clutch, Removed A/C, Polished Wheels, Polished Valve Cover, Polished Crank and W/P Pulleys, Walbro 255LPH HP Pump, Kirban Adj FPR, and the DAMN Heater Core is new too !

NATO MEMBER (Vice Chairman...if it's a vice...I deal with it)

hey guys, thanks for the posts, you guys were right, it all burnt off. BUT another problem has occured. My valve cover gasket (the good Felpro rubber one) has been what looks like cut in 2 by the pressure of the valve cover on top of the head...i didnt bolt the bolts down to tight...i made sure not to so that wouldnt happen...so i am guessing i have to re do that, but the big problem is my timing belt. i went out driving and it ran great...then i let off the gas...and it just died....figured out the timing belt had jumped or skipped a few teeth or was too loose...i dont really know...but i tried getting it tighter and i cant. Is the anyway to get the belt tighter to prevent this from happening again??i have even gone as far as using a crowbar to pry the belt tensioner toward the Alternator even futher...but that doesnt work well [Image: frown.gif]
any ideas??
thanks
Zach

The tensioner should set the proper tension by it self if you loosen the bolts enough. If the belt that loose replace it. Are you sure the belt is actually jumping out of time?

i am pretty sure it was jumping...the problem went away when i re-did all the alignment with the pullys and set the timing right. I even went back (after it first happened) and checked to see if the pullys matched up the way that i had them before (have them all marked) and the were off by about 2 teeth. i am going to see if this will work itself out and pick up some slack...if it doesnt..its time for a new timing belt...thanks for the posts, ill keep you informed!
Zach