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Enjoy.
Allan, how is the engine running now?
It runs much better.
Was the compression test done with the throttle wide open?
No, just bumping the starter with the ignition off.
Were valve seals installed when the head was rebuilt?
I don't think so. Just new valves and hardened seats. The reason to take the head to the shop was not a rebuild, but to install hardened seats.
The low reading on #4 could be due entirely to the tight valve adjustment.
An engine with those compression readings could continue to give good service for a long, long time.
A couple more questions:
Does the engine smoke when started after several hours of no running?
Does the engine smoke when decelerating?
No. If it does, it is a tiny amt I don't even notice.
It doesn't smoke, rattle or knock. It uses oil, mostly from leaks I'm stopping one at a time.
It does emit some oil spots beneath the breather tube pointing down (early series style) from the side plate covering the pushrods.
And it will emit some whitish smoke from that tube when cold.
It has good steady vacuum and does not loose coolant and has a new head gasket.
Bill
Okay, things may not be as bad as the mechanic stated. As a general rule, you can add about 20 or so pounds to the those readings because they were done with closed throttle.
The oily plugs could be nothing more critical than bad or missing valve stem seals.
Adjust the valves, take a look to see if the stem seals are installed and drive the damn thing!
If there are no seals, might think about installing some if the oil consumption becomes too bad or the plugs foul.
Bill
Allan: I'm just guessing, but the low reading on #4 may have been caused by exhaust valve burning due to its not closing properly.
I'm still hopeful it can be coaxed into running abt 1500 miles Saturday, even at 75 or 80%.
Followup note:
So it's off to the 500 mile each way event (not 1500) set for Saturday.
Thanks again !!
Allan