What does oil on the spark plug threads signal too? A worn valve cover gasket yet i dont see any oil running down to the plugs. I put brand new AC44T plugs in and ran the car about 2miles to get it good and hot and to make sure the choke was coming completaly off. And the plugs already had oil on the threads and the plugs were coverd in either soot or oil. ( it doesnt look wet just black )

1972 454
781 heads
pretty stock i assume
770 cfm carb street avenger only about 3 years old
HEI stock coil / wires
good 12 vots to coil
i think about 10 inital 32-34 total i dont remember

It takes very little oil to show on the threads and is almost certainly from any valve cover leak. The oil will thin out from the heat and pool at the plugs. The black color of the plugs is due to it being too rich. Two miles is not enough to get the engine hot enough to clear the plugs from a rich choke situation. First thing to look at is the choke to ensure it opens properly. Next check the idle circuit to get it as lean as possible by using a vacumn gauge to get maximum vacumn. After these two things are verified drive it for a solid 30 to 40 minutes and shut down and check the plugs. Do not let it idle for any length of time before checking the plugs as the idle circuit is usually richer and will darken the plugs very quickly.

I will take some pictures for you guys tomorrow. IT seems to leak down into the plug threads pretty quick or that was risidual stuff. I understand that the choke cirucut needs a long time before it burns the crud off the plugs again. What would be the correct jetting for my 454? Its mostly stock i would say 8.5 to 1 little to no cam (other than stock) 781 heads (dont know much about them) the hei and the 770 cfm holly avenger vac secs. Should i put in about 72 primarys and 76 secondaries? or smaller? I think the carb may be a tad too big but i cant really do anything about it.

A 770 cfm carbuerator is not too big for a 454. I wouldn't do anything with the jetting until you verify the choke and idle circuit issues. The stock jetting in the carbuerator should be close.

Would a bad PCV valve cause some oil consumptions problems / a rich condition on a big block? What exactly does the PCV do? I know it vents the crankcase of vapors but i have the PCV hooked up the carb and a breather on the oil filler. What will a bad PCV do to a motor?

Could be rich mixture due to wrong power valve in carb vs idle vacuum,float level in carb,retartded ign timing cauisng lower idle vacuum which may be all or part of your problem or maybe it's oil on the plugs but i/we cant tell witout actually seeing the plugs unless you post good closeup pics.

You may not be aware but if your running an aftermarket perf cam the 10 deg initial advance you state your running is too retarded,it should be at least 16-18 deg btdc initial advance. The retarded ing timing your currently running will cause your motor to run sluggesh,will greatly lower your intake vacuum at idle & lower engine speeds along with power loss,wastes fuel,power valve in carb could open up early due to retarded timing reducing intake vacuum @ idle like in your case.

So take 5 mins to crank up the intial timing to approx 16-18 deg and your problem will surely be improved if not completely corrected .

Just be listening for detonation after cranking up the timing and if it does you may need to reudce the intial timing a deg or 2 & possibly limit your mech advance to 34-36 deg max to get rid of the ping.

Afterthought,if you advance the timing and things dont clear up chk your float lvl/s in carb and also check your idle vacuum(in drive w/auto trany).
Then check the power valve in your carb (if holley) and a very roughy approx would be if your idle vacuum is lets say 12 @ idle (in gear for auto trany) then you would need a 6.5 or 7.0 power valve (as an approx est)for a holley,if your running a q-jet thats a whole different story but i think you said you had a holley so your ok there. I would bet the stock jetting on your holley is close enough for your setup but that could be looked into later on if mine and others suggerstions dont get your problem/s corrected.

If you check all the above info out and it's not the fix for your problem maybe you do if fact have oil issues with ring seeal/valve guide&seals/leaking intake gasket,etc. But again i/we cant tell without pic's of plugs and you not stating if the motor is using any oil and how much.

let us know how you make out.

Scott

My engine had VERY oily/sooty threads. It was burning about a quart of oil every 150 miles. In my case it turned out that a wristpin had walked and dug into the cylinder wall, trashing my entire engine. It was still running though with no symptoms other than burning oil and ugly spark plugs.

My engine had VERY oily/sooty threads. It was burning about a quart of oil every 150 miles. In my case it turned out that a wristpin had walked and dug into the cylinder wall, trashing my entire engine. It was still running though with no symptoms other than burning oil and ugly spark plugs.

well i hope like crazy thats not it on mine. That would be terrible