I just finished rebuilding my B18C1 bottom/B16a head combo. I put in JE 11.5:1 CR 81.5mm pistons, new rings, and fresh bearings and bottom end stuff. I got it running. The oil pressure is good, I've only put 10 miles on it so far. But it smokes. It looks like blue smoke, which I know is oil. Is this normal for a fresh motor? I did a compression check and it read 240psi on 6 cranks on each cylinder. Could the oil rings not be seated yet? Or could stuff be burning off from the head? I didn't do anything to the head except clean up the carbon with some ATF and carb cleaner. The head was fully serviced about 8000 miles ago. Other than the smoke the car runs good. Any input? Thanks in advance...

 

What were your ring end gaps, bore taper, and piston-to-bore clearances?

 

Piston to wall was .0040" or so, it was a little over the .0033", but well within standards according to JE. The ring gaps were set at .015" for top, .016" for second and the oil rings were left alone, they were closer to .017". I don't know what bore taper is, please explain and I will probably know.

 

Bore taper is the difference in diameter b/w the top and bottom of the bore.

 

Ok, thats what I was kinda thinking. The taper was very little, it was pretty even at the bottom and at the top. Probably no more than .0002 difference