Quote Originally Posted by mstrivel
I just got an old 54 chevy with a 283 and it smokes like crazy out of the oil intake, blow-by. what do you think causes this?

Define CRAZY? When you remove the cap and place your hand over the oil filler tube how much pressure (or vacuum) do you have?

Does this engine have a "PCV" (positive crankcase ventalation valve), or does it still have an early style "road draft tube"? The change was about 1962, maybe a little earlier in California. Road draft tubes worked by creating a vacuum to draw out the blow-by from the crankcase.

If the engine has been sitting "for some time" the oil rings could be carboned up as Richard pointed out. Old valve stem seals get hard a glass and just fall apart.