After recently getting my 79’ SA running, I ran it out for a while today. I recently replaced wires, plugs, coils, and adjusted air/fuel. It feels like it’s misfiring still, and when I rev it up to just past 5k (after warming it up) it billows a huge cloud of white smoke. I did some research and saw that this may be due to bad oil seals. For some background, this is the first time it’s been running for ~10 years.

 

White smoke is usually coolant/water seal issue. Running, if you stand at back of car you can prob smell coolant.
Does it just keep blowing white, or does this go away after proper warm up?
If it is a sl-o-o-o-w leak, mad worse by long storage, then just running and driving the car might keep it to a minimum. My 80, after a long winter's storage (and oil added to the combustion chambers for storage too, for protection) would blow a HUGE cloud on first start in the spring, but after a few minutes it would clear and I was good to go for the summer.
Have a look at the rad coolant with cap removed. If there is an oily sheen, this can confirm the coolant is mixing with the engine combustion chamber (thus: oily), which is, well, bad.
Likely means a rebuild as a water jacket seal has failed. You might be able to drive the car as-is for a while, but it will get harder and harder to start as the water keeps flooding into the combustion chamber.

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

Get a friend to rev it up (*after warm-up) and stand at the back of the car. Place your hand in the smoke and then smell it. Does it smell sweet? Rub your fingers together. Is it oily?

We won't be able to help until we know what kind of smoke it's making. Regardless, an engine rebuild is in your future. In the meantime, don't rev it so high - spinning the engine at high RPM increases intake vacuum and sucks more coolant and oil past the seals into the combustion chamber...

 

Took a little look see at the coolant today and saw visible oil on the surface. Not sure if you can see here in this photo, but’s it’s for sure there. Quite unfortunate day, I don’t have the time or money right now being in school for a rebuild so I think this might be the end of my project. Bummer.

 

Hey guys, with the white smoke situation, what would it mean if it happens much more on a cold start with the choke on?

 

THAT is the usual tell-tale of failed/failing water-jacket O-ring seals. Step to the back when its doing this and do the smell-test: does it smell 'sweet'? Like hot coolant does? How much we talking about? Have seen failing rotaries where the car literally disappears in the White Stuff. Or just a few puffs? Either condition, if coolant, indicates failure, just a question of degree. A follow-up is to check the rad-water. See anything like a skim of oil sheen on it? Another indicator the water is getting at the combustion side of the engine.
If all of the above, then the clock is ticking on a rebuild. Depending how much you drive it, how bad it gets, it can be surprising how long you can still drive with the engine in this condition. Ultimately so much coolant is getting into the block that it will be too wet to start, or you will begin to notice hotter-running on the temp gauge. Secret here is to Know When To Fold 'Em (to quote The Gambler), since at some point you risk damaging the housings, as opposed to "merely" pulling it apart and just swapping in new seals.

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

it could also be a carb issue, my carb when flooding gave white smoke, not black ..