Timing

To All,

I went and got a leak down tester at HF. Directions were not clear on it's use but luckily some video's on the net.

First I did a check with the engine stone cold. Most of the cylinders are 35 % to
40 % Not great but it is cold. I hear the sound of air and if I missadjust and increas pressure I can tell the sir is escaping via the crankcase. So that would be rings, but it is cold. I think. But I can also hear sound from the exhaust but not sure on that. Could just be hearing the crankcase noise. But 5 & 7 are not good. 5 cold was 50% and 7 is 60%. So I then went ahead and set the valves. Some of the adjusters are not very tight. The valves were all over the place. With gaps as much as .0032 and as tight as .0012. I just set them all to .0030 and hoped for the best. Started up but when it is cold even with the chock it does not like to run. But I held it at around 1500 RPM and after a fairly short time it settled down and went on normal idle at 1000 RPM. So I got it warmed up and went back to leak test #7 . Not fun trying to get at that plug when it is hot. But I got it out and re did the leak test. So it came back up to 45%. Now for where I need help.

I figure cold the improvement was rings and that the other cylinders would offer the same improvement. So they would be in the 20 to 25 % range. But 5 and 7 are still low and that leads me to think that they have valve issues.

Oh and the vacuum is a bit up from before. Still bounces but not quite as much. If I put my fingers like pinching the needle, I can guess that the vacuum at idle is around 10 inches.

Now as to how the engine runs. From 1000 RPM to as much as 3000 RPM there is a definite stumble or miss. If I hold it at around 2000 RPM, I can hear what could be described as a slight backfire. Now I also think the engine is running rich. So I sure would like to do something about that.

But my big concern is those two cylinders. I am wondering if becasue they are next to each other that may have something to do with this. So my next task is to pull the rockers. Then I can make sure that the leak is not across the two cyliniders. Somehow I think I have a head removal waiting for me to get this sorted out.

So any feedback is appreciated, but somehow I think I know what most will say.