I'm BEFUDDLED!

[Mark_88]

Good to hear...

This isn't the Motorcraft 5200 by any chance is it?

Mine kept flooding out when I first got it and I could not figure out what was wrong...until I took the top off and saw the needle wasn't seating properly...and one time it fell right out. When I finally bent the prong to adjust it way down it worked like a champ...

Anyway...good stuff

 

[Softwireman78]

No sir it's a 350 cfm Holley Hot Stock. The crap they put in fuel these days does a number on carb components. I'll be adding and ethanol treatment each fill up to try and prolong unnecessary maintenance on it. Must have a bad ring she's smoking a little so the first chance I get she's gonna get her some new rings, bearings, and seals.

 

[Mark_88]

Could be carbon deposits on the rings...or it could also be valve seals...just a matter of when it smokes...if it's constant then probably rings...on deceleration could be valve seals...

Could also be pulling oil into the intake through PCV...if you run it back into the base of the carb...I took mine out completely and vent the blowby out and directly into the cat...for now...using the air pump shaft as a vent...2.0 cats had this on them on carbed models...not sure if yours is so equipped...

But overall, a good rebuild will do much better than any other solution...

 

[Softwireman78]

It's a light constant smoke. Compression on 1 & 4 are roughly 120 psi, 2 & 3 are just over 100 psi or thereabouts. Long nights and I've CRASHED a few times since then. PCV vavle is ran back into the carb base and I can see a light smoke coming up through a small tube on the Holley, but not near enough to create what's coming out the exhaust. No cat either, Headman Hedders back to a Thrush muff. I found a complete rebuild kit on FleaBay from Enginetech for $94 delivered. I question the quality for the price despite the "100% Satisfaction Guaranteed" watermark on all the listing photos. Gonna call Day Motorsports again that do quite a few 2.3's for the circle track crowd and get pricing from them. It'd only be a solid day's work to tear it down and rebuild it. I'd rather just do it once with quality components, and not scar a cylinder. She's not much to look at now compared to some others of her era, but she is paid for, and I just have to barely bump the key and she's ready to go!

Could be carbon deposits on the rings...or it could also be valve seals...just a matter of when it smokes...if it's constant then probably rings...on deceleration could be valve seals...

Could also be pulling oil into the intake through PCV...if you run it back into the base of the carb...I took mine out completely and vent the blowby out and directly into the cat...for now...using the air pump shaft as a vent...2.0 cats had this on them on carbed models...not sure if yours is so equipped...

But overall, a good rebuild will do much better than any other solution...

 

[Softwireman78]

I noticed in my 1st post it says 4 speed and it's a 5. Must've fat fingered my phone and don't catch it proof reading until now. Took her for about a half mile ride day before yesterday (be fully legal Tuesday) and she's as responsive as she ever was! I've gotta remember to take it EASY for the time being and well after break in when I do the overhaul. That's my old dancing partner and boa does she know how to cut LOOSE!

 

[Andy D]

Spend 5 $ on a qt of Marvel Mystery Oil . Use in the gas as directed on the label. It is good for top cylinder lubrication and gentle solvent action, smells good too. That's been sitting awhile , add a pint to the oil too. Old engines love it My 35 yr old mowers like it. So did the BMWs when dosed. It did nothing but make the engine a tad more responsive. BY butt dyno. Maybe dismissed as BS. However, using it in the mower gas has resulted in a drop in carb trouble . The walk behind starts easily too. Nothing beats pulling the starter once and the 20 yr old Toro lights right up.

I hung out at BITOG long before finding you Ranger guys. The general consensus about MMO is that, at the worst ; used as directed it can do no harm. It is cat safe too. Anecdotal testimony goes up from there. You could pull the plugs and shoot a tea spoon full down the holes. Let it sit over night. Spin the engine over with the plugs out to get rid of excess MMO. Install plugs and start engine. A cylinder or 2 may have had the valves open while it sat. Moisture rusted the rings to the cylinders. YOu just might free up those stuck rings and give the cylinders a little hone. Last ditch, you also could look into anti fouling extensions for the plugs This is old school stuff, 90 yrs old. It is still around because it is cheap and easy and sometimes works.