Parts car prob

[rd]

I moved my 85 2.3 l parts car to the driveway last week to see if it would run. The timing belt and dist seem to be right. I tried starting it, and with some starter fluid it fired a couple times, but no more. With the coil wire off at the coil, the coil arcs to the fender nicely, so it seems to have spark!

I checked the compression and got 60, 80, 30, and 80. With an air chuck in no 1 cylinder, supposedly at tdc, I get air blowing out the thermostat housing and dipstick. After this, I did not check to see if it had fuel in the carb even.

My guess is at least a blown head gasket.

Anyone else have suggestions?

Think it should run with that kind of compression?

I got it as a parts car, but now I'm wanting to get it running just to see if I can. Donation of a carbed 85 motor would be welcomed....

 

[SVO1]

It Might pop off with that amount of compression, but it will not run very good.
I would say a blown headgasket.
One thing with the #1 Cyl I have seen is the cyl wall likes to crack into the front water jacket behind the water pump. By your reading I am doubting it is cracked, but always a possibility.
I would try using a syringe or something to fill the float chamber and see if it will run. ( I actually use ear wax removal bulbs, they work great for putting gas down the vent)

 

[bhuff30]

That is some wacked compression. You can expect about 120-140psi from this engine. I think you'd better set the cam timing correctly while fixing the head gasket.

 

[rd]

I specifically pulled the cambelt cover to check that, and all the marks lined up. The dist rotor pointed to no 1 cyl, and from my hold the finger over the plug hole test, and the air pressure test, it seemed that I was at no 1 tdc on the firing stroke. The coil will arc to the fender, so it's getting spark.

I got it cheap because the previous owner said he overheated it, and he and the father in law could not get it running again. The radiator appears to be toast. They also created a duct tape master piece as a replacement for the auto trans shift handle.

Abberations in the gene pool I guess?

Thanks for the input. This is a maybe project when I have some spare time. I have a reported good 90 2.3 efi engine in the garage as a backup for the car.

 

[16vstang]

Thanks for the input. This is a maybe project when I have some spare time. I have a reported good 90 2.3 efi engine in the garage as a backup for the car.

Sounds like its turning from a parts car to a project!

 

[rd]

16VStang, yes, they do that. I just have to see if I can make it run. Just looked at a 92 Ranger project truck w/o a trans, but the guy wants too much I think. Plus it was a shrimpers work truck. May pass on that one.

How way up Maine are you. We go to Shapleigh every summer. Got up to Portland to the airport last summer, buts that's as far north as I've been in recent memory. Great area, but I lost interest in winters about 30 years ago.....We see these funny yellow things they park in front of old trucks and Jeeps in the side yard all over the place. Forgot what they were for.

 

[16vstang]

Would defanatly pass on the shrippers truck You would never get the smell out. As far as how far up im a little over 300 miles farther north than portland. Its a compleately different state up here In aroostook county we have less population than the Whole Portland area! I love winter though so I like it, and the summers are realy great only a few days do I wish I had ac Well anyways good luck with you fox!

 

[rd]

Yep, that's way up in Maine. Is that still down east? It's been 30 years since I lived up there, (in NH) and I forget.

I will say that we really love our cousin's camp in Shapleigh. It still has some dirt road left, has a legal outhouse, and you can't buy anything for 30 miles around it after 9 pm. A family treasure.

But the whole area is trying to grow.