smoke out of breather cap on I6

Hi guys,
I just acquired a 65 Chevy panel and am trying to figure out some smoke issues. Have the I6 (230 or 250) and it has a PCV valve on one end (rear) and an open breather cap on the front. Well, the PCV cannot keep up with the crankcase pressure and smoke billows out of the breather and of course come in the cab. The PCV valve is connected to hose that leads to the cast intake at the bottom of the carb, but has a real hard 90 degree angle and is of a smaller size. Looks like a 3/8 to a 1/4 90 degree then back to 3/8. Would that be enought to "back up" the system with smoke, or do our motors have a closed system, and I'm missing some parts?? Or do I need to make some (a closed system) like the thread on PCV valves on this section???? Or do I have too much smoke and may be a bigger problem that just this issue????
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!!!
MS

I was hoping not, but yeah, I put my hand over the filler hole and then let off and it is a STRONG smoke filled bellow of smoke and pressure!!! Looks like that motor may be coming out soon for a rebuild
Will do a compression test to definitly get a direction. What is acceptable compression on the inliine 6's??
Thanks for the reply!!

Hello everyone,
I just bought this van in Spokane WA. and will be restoring it. I love all the cool pics that you guys have shown and will load some soon. The van is a 1966 chevy 6 door cargo I believe because of the seat configuration and bumpers, also the windows are not pop opens. I will be re building the 230 and was wondering if anyone has any tips for removing the engine I would appreciate it. These vans are the best Ive always owned Japanese vans but they are so hard to work on and expensive not to mention no where near as cool. Its fun to have a place to share this project! Thanks
Big Noer Seattle WA[url=http://www.nwlink.com/~phoenix/VAN/r-rear-side.jpg]

Or if you have a good friend with a giant lift! Bill

WHAT EVER YOU DO.........DONT DRIVE IT LIKE THAT!!! has anybody heard from him?.......maybe he had been driving it......

HI guys,
Reporting back to you. The motor detonated!!! Was driving about 50 mph and heard a big BANG, and fluids everywhere in the doghouse and a huge plume of smoke out the back... People behind me were pretty suprised!!!!! Motor is toast!! Found another 250 for $100 with 67k original miles on it, so gonna try that. Just dropped the new motor in the other day, and am just finishing up connections and fluids..... I knew it was on it's last leg, but tried to limp it as long as I could... Got another 500 miles out of her before she blew!

Crap, really? ugh! So if this is a sign of worn piston rings, I'm guessing the pistons developed some wobble until it finally chunked and blew (or otherwise blew chunks). So my Ford 240 I6 is in trouble, at risk of the same fate?

Sorry about your luck malibusurfer... thanks for the update.

Yeah, I got the old motor out laying in the shop, and am going to break into it and see what the culprit was... At the very least, take the head off and see if anything looks WAY bad!!! If anything is salvagable I'll keep it for a rebuild, etc...

I'm curious to as to what blew , ,I had a 230 in my 65 GMC in HS that had a habit of busting pistons just above the wrist pins after over revving it, but being 16 I had a habit of over revving it to

Well, found the culprit on the 250. In cylinder #2 there was a chunk on piston missing and letting oil past, hence the smoke. It was over heating too I think to a cobination of crusty radiator, not so good H2O pump and lack of belly pan.... I think one of those or all of them contributed too the meltdown. Head is still good, so I can salvage that and possibly rebuild the motor. Thanks for the interest guys....