my motor has started to smoke a little and burn a little more oil than usual. my brother, who is a mechanic, says that oil is getting by the valve seals and causing this. i was wondering if i got another head and rebuilt it with new seals, cleaned up the ports a little and decked it just enough to make sure its flat, if this would alleviate the smoking problem. or is it likely that oil is getting past the piston rings too? is there any way to tell? would my bottom end be able to take a head swap if i didnt bump up the compression too much?

Do a compression check.

Do it dry and then "wet" by adding a teaspoon sized squirt of oil in each pistion. Post your findings and the change between the 2 tests will reveal the general state of your rings or valves.

Often a poorly tuned carb or gas in your oil (leaking though the fuel pump) will aggrevate smoking. A fowled spark plug will also make it blow crud. A good oil change never hurt either. (Adding a quart now and then doesn't qualify as an oil change.)

If you don't bump compression, the bottom end won't know the difference. (As long as you don't abuse your new found powers)

If you had any valve seal problems, vacuum issues, etc., and this is coupled with poor sealing piston rings. When you put on a good sealing head on a poor sealing block, you can actually exacerbate the oil burning problem. This is why it is such good advice from sl6ramtruck.

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'66 Cuda 225/4spd
'66 Dart GT convertible 225/auto
'64 Dart GT 340/4spd

New valve stem seals may cure the problem. I had a slant that oil fouled the #1 spark plug. I found the seal in that intake valve was just crumbs inside the valve spring. Replaced all the seals and no more plug fouling.

I bought a Dodge truck with 318 some 5 years ago with 95,000 miles. After a couple months it smoked terrible after letting it idle for a few minutes. Stomp on the pedal and holy insect fogger Batman!! I replaced the valve stem seals and no more smoke!

You can replace the valve stem seals without removing the head. However, Don't drop a valve down the cylinder.

An older guy that taught me a lot about engines when I was groing up once told me that as a general rule when an engine tends to smoke on acceration is usually oil getting by the rings, if it tends to smoke on de-accelerating is tends to be the valve stem seals. This is of course not a tried and true method or one set in stone, but more of an indicator.

Just a thought, but what about trying synthetic oil. A mechanic buddy told me to try that before a head tear down. Might be worth a try.