need help....

[j_martin]

4's sucking a little oil, but should still run strong enough. It might have gotten there from cross-firing from another cylinder, then wiping the oil off the rings with unburned gas.

Wire to wire, cracked distributor cap, faulty 2 cylinder coil.?? IDK what your ignition system is.

[cocacola]

this is an old school engine with distributor and common coil. both are new including plugs and wires. also breaker points....new too. today, I put powertune (lots of it) in all cylinders, but more in #4 to clear up carbon and maybe stuck rings. Will start later and put more in to see if it's carbon on valve seat or sticking intake valve.

[crossflow 1]

Move the harmonic balancer back and forth by hand and feel how much slack is in the chain. Lots of play in the timing chain will make it pop thru the carb.T he more rpm the more it will pop.

[cocacola]

thank you for the tip...I'll do it. basically, this engine ran fine to the best of my knowledge until my father in law left alone for 7-8 years with the first 6 months floating in the water.

tomorrow I'll check that balancer, but would that make #4 read low

[crossflow 1]

SBC center cylinders always run hotter surprised the other side isn't just like it.

[cocacola]

today...I ran 2 cans of PowerTune through it and let fast idle afterwards since I could not go to the lake. Idle seems much improved...smoother. I know you are supposed to drive the heak out of it afterwards, but didn't have time to do that. Compression still about the same, but less missing when I rev it hard (stupid to do unloaded...I know, I know). Need to take out and drive it in the lake.

Afterwards....something I didn't plan on. Engine spins stronger on starter motor than ever. This is not a new battery, so that's not it plus I keep it charged up. Could carbon be causing that much drag?