Smoke and noxious smell from 84' 300zx

[BadQ45t]

I have a well maintained 84' 300ZX. Today I drove it for the first time in about a week and when I pulled up to my destination (up a big steep hill) I smelled a noxious odor and popped the hood and smoke came out from the passenger side from under the block.

I checked the oil, the Redline is pink and healthy. I checked the coolant and it is full although the overflow is pretty empty. Is this a symptom of a blown head gasget? I have pretty recently replaced the value cover gasgets, what else could it be? I am not a DIY so should I put it on a flatbed and send it to my mechnic or should I start it up again and see if it repeats itself.

The other thing was that the radiator hose seem more hot than usual but the temp gauge was totally in the normal range.

Thanks in advance for you advice.

Jeff

[NISTECH]

fire it up again and see where the smoke is coming from. Since you were climbing a hill you were putting the trans under a tremndous load so either the fluid over flowed out the vent on the trans and hit the exhuast or you have a leak from a sensor/switch on the trans or the pan gasket itself. If you have a manual trans it could be it came from a trans switch or the pinion seal. I am thinking the smoke is generating off the exhaust from trans fluid making contact with it. get it running again and try to pinpoint the source of the smoke.

[BadQ45t]

Thanks, I was so worried I didn't fire her up today, I do have a manual and I was going up a VERY steep hill. I'll try firing her up tomorrow and see what happens.

Thanks for the advice, since it happened right when I went up this hill and was fine for the other 8 mile trip I made right before it I hope this is it.

Thanks again,

Jeff