Still tyring to sort out low compression
 

OK, I had the heads done, had the valves adjusted, had the cylinders honed and inspected, put deves rings in, set the deck height at .060. However
when I torqued the heads, I used an unreliable torque wrench for the 16 lbs torque, and I DID use head gaskets. Compression is measured at 95-95-90-65.
Only 2 and 4 fire ) and 4 is the one at 65!), the plugs look black on those cylinders and cleah on the others
you can choke the carbs with your hand with the engine running on 1 and 3 or even remove the wires at the cap, to no effect on idle.
There is a chirping sound on startup. The mechanic who adjusted the valves for me had to shim one on the rocker stands ( 4) to get it to adjust....I think I under-torqued my heads. QUESTION:Is there a
way to check this without dropping the motor?

[This message has been edited by guards73/2.0 (edited 09-03-2001).]

You can remove the induction system, then the dizzy, then the rear tinware, then the two side tin pieces. The driver side tends to get hung up on the dipstick. I've done this several times to replace a broken cht sensor, and to clean the cylinder and oil cooler. Takes a few hours but not difficult. You can then get to the top head nuts.

Compression should be at about 110 for an older motor, 135-150 on a new one. I'd make sure that the lifters aren't hydralic. Do a leakdown test, remove the head gaskets. and make sure a ring hasn't broken (I think you mentioned before that you weren't sure if you put the rings in correctly)

Before all that maybe try a leakdown test, it will tell you weather it is the rings (air coming out the oil filler) the exhaust valves (air coming out the exhaust) the intakes (air blowing out the carbs, or the head gaskets. Or if the leakdown percentage is low I'd say your deck height is too high or you used bus pistons.

I have never tested this theory of mine out, but I bet the diffrence in taking the compression when the engine is cold vs. hot could be about 10?
I would say if the test was taken when cold (which I am assuming because you say it hardly runs) 95 isn't a BAD number....
-Kevin

Almost makes me wonder how good the cam lobes are on the 1&3 end of the cam...

I have seen some weird things, and as SOON as 2 opposing cylinders have weak compression, I start thinking CAM!! You can test it with a dial indicator..