Classic/Antique Car Repair: oil burner, wt oil, oil leaks

Question
howdy

i've got a 64 chevy p/u w/ an 81 camero 350 engine.  i had major oil leaks & was goin' through 2 quarts/week.  i replaced the oil pan (the lip was bent to hell) & all 3 gaskets around the pan & the timing cover.  no more leaks.  driveway is clean but i'm still goin' through 1 quart/week.  how/why would my engine be burning up that much oil?  i'm driving about 400 miles every 7 days which doesn't seem excessive enough for that much use.  drop me a line if ya got any ideas.  thanks.

db

Answer
WAIT  YOU SAY YOU REPLACED ALL THREE (3) PAN GASKETS  , THERE ARE ONLY TWO PAN GASKETS THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT THAN YOU GOT THE FRONT SEAL THAT SITS INTO THE TIMING COVER AND THE REAR SEAL GOES  UP INTO THE BLOCK SO I HOPE THAT YOU DID THIS. IF YOU HAVE NO LEAKS, TRY A TEST WITH YOUR CAR HOT PARK IN YOUR DRIVEWAY AND SLIDE A LARGE PC. OF CARDBOARD UNDER THE MOTOR AREA AND IN THE MORN IF YOU HAVE NO SPOTS YOU ARE GOOD FOR THE LEAKS.DOES THE CAR SMOKE AT ALL AS YOU MIGHT BE SMOKING THE OIL OUT. IF NOT PUT YOUR FINGER INTO THE TAIL PIPE AND FEEL AROUND AND SEE IF YOU GET WET BLACK STUFF ON IT IF YES THAT IS OIL. IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF MILES ON THAT MOTOR YOU MIGHT JUST BE USING IT, WHAT TYPE OF OIL DO YOU USE ?,F I WAS YOU I WOULD CHANGE THE OIL AND FILTER AND GO FOR A NEW GOOD FILTER THAN PUT IN A STRAIGHT 40 WT. OIL. ALSO A CAN OF OIL TREATMENT AND SEE WHAT THAT DOES.AS YOUR VALVE SEALS COULD BE LEAKING OIL AND YOU MIGHT BE BURNING A BIT W/O THE SMOKE ALSO YOU CAN GO ONE SPARK PLUG HOTTER TO HELP WITH THAT .OR YOU CAN REBUILD THAT ENGINE IF SO I WILL HELP YOU WHEN THE TIME COMES OK
TRY IT OK
BIGW