Freshly rebuilt: smokes
 

I bought a 740 GLE a couple years ago, the PO had just rebuilt the motor, and was selling it because it smoked. I don't know if it was white or black smoke, and it was long enough ago that I don't remember, but according to a neighbor who knows something about them, he said it was due to either injectors or the IP. I'm inclined towards the IP being incorrectly timed personally, but that's just my favorite theory, I don't actually have many details about it. Wondering what you all think.

Also, completely separate, I am very interested in putting this engine in my '65 P1800. Anyone ever done that? (Also putting this last statement/question in a different thread).

What was involved in the rebuild? "Smoke" could also be steam from coolant getting in the combustion chamber.

Yes I considered that as well. As for the rebuild, I don't actually know all the details. I'll have to try to find the PO.

or rings not seated, or just oil from the blown motor it replaced burning out of the exhaust.

Could definitely be any of the above. I think timing would be a great place to start. Someone could get 98% of the way thru rebuilding one of these without almost any engine-specific tools or methods but then still get hung up on setting cam and pump timing if they had never done it before and/or didn't have the right stuff.

How does it run? If smoke is coming from incorrect timing you will have other symptoms as well -- hard starting, stumbling, sluggishness, bad noises, etc. If smoke is coming from rings not seated, might have some of the above symptoms from low compression, and.or might also have high oil consumption.

If the engine starts easily, runs quiet and smooth and uses no oil yet is still smoky, then I think 745TG's call on an exhaust full of leftover oil from a previous motor fail sounds like a pretty good guess.

Great! Thanks for all the input. Unfortunately it will be a while until I can get back to it. Just moved, have too many other things taking my time.

What does it smell like? Burnt oil and incomplete combusted diesel smell different, as does anti-freeze steam. If the IP and injectors were original to the core motor its a safe bet that they are in need of some freshening up.