[STEELCITYFIREBIRD]

A full fel pro Gasket set only comes with positive seals for the intake, O-rings for all 16 (last I used, been a while, drawing from old stock here), and the seals usually have ribs inside, if yours don't that's likely a problem?.
the cam grind # reminds me of the Crane #'s I use to see. 284302, although I don't see it in my old catalog or online.

[STEELCITYFIREBIRD]

Originally Posted by Formulas

Your keepers are not engaging the o'ring seals 100%

I don't know anybody who recomends the single valve springs with flat ribbon dampners they are prone to breakage

I put Viton seals on my exhaust as well

Stock keepers umbrellas on exhaust crower 404 springs or equivalent shimed proper, new PROPER Viton seals cleaned up heads and valves and you would be enjoying your ride for under 250.00 machine for ex seals a bit more

E'heads would solve but much more $$

Then pushrods would be in order too.

[lust4speed]

Some photos of the piston tops might tell us what shape the rings are in.

Photo in Post 16 looks like the head gasket failed. Don't see a nice clean fire ring impression and do see considerable rust. Nothing to do with the oil problem, just pointing it out.

Agree that it looks like insufficient clamping force by the seal.

[Stripes]

pistons

[Stripes]

more pistons

[Stripes]

other pistons

[lust4speed]

The few clean spots are blowby, and really not much at all. Looks to me like the rings are not the problem and the oil is coming from the top.

[Formulas]

There is always exceptions to every rule but on oil burning

Start up and deceleration =oil past the valves

All the time =rings

.

[Jim Moshier]

Just curious do you know what kind of pistons these are? with molly rings? I just took apart my engine and it looks almost just like your engine and yes it was the guides leaking I suspect. I had the builder put on intake and exhaust and he said I didn't need them on the exhaust.....again I want them on both intake and exhaust!

[Stripes]

I was told they were trw pistons. I know they aren't stock at 60 over. No idea on rings.

Is it necessary, preferred, or a good idea to remove the carbon from the piston tops? It's a very slow go with the 3m rubber finger pad. If I could chemically clean it after start up that would be great. Sea foam, acetone and the like have little impact
A razor blade does ok, but very slow. And if any carbon dust gets on the cylinder wall, will it hurt it on crank up,?

[steve25]

That aftermarket retainer is not long enough to contain the O ring like needs to take place to limit oil on the valve stem, and along with that type of O ring seal set up you need to run the factory steel oil shield also under the retainer to have the needed oil control.

Only a factory retainer is long enough, so if that is the type of retainer you are running then both the Intake and Exh valve guides needs to have the needed modification done to them to run positive type seals.