restoring s13 240

Okay, I've posted before but we're finally getting somewhere with the engine.

We cleaned the whole injectors/fuel rail system and now the car actually starts in all 4 cylinders. Although we're still having problems with the ignition it's just a matter of changing the distributor cap, rotor and wires that I'm gonna do first thing when I receive my paycheck.

Next up, there's a ticking sound coming from one of the valves I suppose, it comes and goes but It doesn't have anything to do with the engine heat. I was thinking maybe the oil doesn't get inside the release so that makes it tick, I'm gonna change the oil since its very VERY old and black.

Also, this really bugs me, it might be just something like the fuel injector cleaner getting burnt but I dont know. When I rev the engine really high it starts to have some smoke coming out of the exaust, could this be from a dead piston ring or headgasket? What else can cause this?

Thanks,
Andy

How long has the engine been sitting?

Definately change the oil if it's black... refrain from driving it all if you can. If the tick presist's just put in a little LUCAS oil...

i would have changed the oil before i did anything else, lol.