[VAC] Smoke & Tears

[Bob Kiger <myairstream@xxxxxxxx>]

I have not been reporting the nightmare that I faced with my puller (a 1979 
Ford E-150 with 351 Windsor powerplant) since returning from winter in the 
Baja.

To make a long story short, a qualified US mechanic/machinist replaced:

Carburetor
All vacuum lines and PCV valve
EGR valve
Smog pump and all hoses
Catalytic convertor (mexico)
Rear main seal
Pan gaskets
Valve gaskets (twice?)
Oil & filter (twice)
Power Steering Pump & hoses
Oil pressure sender

Virtually every orifice that looks at oil has been replaced.  Even tiny 
and  suspicious cracks in the block were epoxied by the machine shop during 
these processes.  I expect to buy a new engine within two years.

The Good News is that I passed the California Smog Test yesterday and am 
now legal again.

The Bad News is that there is oil emmanating from the engine which is 
burning on the exhaust manifold and causing white smoke.

This only happens when I take it up hills or at high speeds (RPM).
In less than an hour the mechanic machine shop that replaced all the 
gaskets and did most of the sealing work is (begrudgingly) putting my 
puller on the rack.

I paid them over $500 for their services.

My Quick Question is, "When valve or pan gaskets are installed with cork 
gaskets they are not supposed to be torqued down.  They are supposed to be 
tightened uniformly and snugly?  Then, in a follow up visit, they are 
supposed to be uniformly snugged tighter to further compress the gasket and 
seal."

Am I right or wrong.  The shop does not say that I am wrong and are in fact 
putting it on the rack soon.  I just need to know if my premise is correct 
as a defense in case they get testier :)

Thanks for a quick reply.
Bob