I'm new here and I thought I would start by saying you'all got a great site it has already been helpful THANKS!
Car 67 satellite 383 2bbl converted to 4 bbl with al. intake and dual exhaust with flowmasters but oldstyle log exh manifolds.
Here's the puzzle. The first owner which owned the car for 33 years told the second owner he had done a major overhaul and documented the mileage. The second owner whom I bought it from put about 8,000 miles on it.
When I got it and started messing with the engine this is what I found.
Bad Idle
Constantly stalled
Bad manners "back fire"
Vacuum steady normal about 17" at idle and normal through out the normal ranges.
After a bit the idle is better still a slight miss. It no longer back fires unless cold. And I can't really get it to stall.
The original compression test showed cylinders all over the board with two at 135 and 145 and others at 90 and 110 etc.
I put the al. intake on and the area below the intake looked clean. Meaning where the tappets and pushrods are located. I cleaned the engine and the heads cleaned easily but the block was stubborn and had old road grime on it. I removed the valve covers to install new gaskets because they were leaking and the rockers and springs were clean even showing shades of turquoise paint on the springs.
The oil pump looked like it had been changed. The Engine does not leak oil OP 45-60 psi.
The engine does not use oil.
Anyway I decided to try to kill it since it looked like it needed a rebuild anyway. So I did everything I could besides over-reving it and it just seems like it is getting better.
Remember the vacuum is dead steady through out all operation. New electronic ign and upgraded alt and electronic voltage regulator "as suggested".
One pump turn key start up cold or hot fires right off.
I put it in low with it warmed up stomped the gas and it smouldered the rear tire without any hesitation No posi yet.
Vacuum at idle is now around 18" still a very slight miss, plugs changed carb tuned/overhauled.
It has a nice steady low idle.
So with the engine not leaking or using any oil at 128,000 miles, steady vacuum solid performance but bad compression numbers what do you think the first owner really did as his noted Major overhaul. The manual clearly shows finger prints and time spent between the overhaul pages for a 383 engine with pencil markings on the tightening order for the heads he put a circle for one side and an x for the other as he tightened them.
Thanks again! gary