<VV> Dead cylinder

[Roger Gault]

Real zero compression means you have a big hole or no valve action.
Is air pumping in and out of the spark plug hole?  I'd expect that if a
valve wasn't moving.

If the lifter was collapsed, you should have major clicking noises.
If you have a dropped valve seat I'd expect a loud tick also.

Run the engine with the valve cover off and see if the valves are going up
and down like the adjacent cylinders.
If all that looks right, you have a broken (or holed) piston or valve head.
If you have an air compressor, try blowing air into the spark plug hole and
seeing where the air or hissing noise comes out.  Valves?  Block?

Roger


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Houston" <tampatexan at tampabay.rr.com>
To: "Virtual Vairs" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 3:03 PM
Subject: <VV> Dead cylinder


> Well, I need some help!  I was on the way home from work the other day,
> and as I left a light, my faithful '65 110HP  4 speed developed a miss -
> or should I say, a severe miss?  I checked all the obvious stuff (plugs,
> plug wires, etc), and finally did a compression check.  Number 4
> cylinder has zero compression.  The others are between 195 and 200 (on
> the brand new compression gauge I bought just for the occasion).  I
> removed the valve covers and can't find anything wrong.  Following the
> directions in both the GM Shop Manual and the Corvair Basics manual, I
> attempted to set the valves on that cylinder.  About the only thing I
> found that appears wrong is there is no "free play" on the intake
> pushrod - - there isn't any "spring" to the lifter.  Is it possible that
> the lifter is collapsed and not extending enough to open the valve??
> Other than that, I have no ideas left.  The engine wasn't making any
> terrible noises before the miss started, and didn't make any after the
> miss started, so I don't think anything mechanical has broken inside.
> Should I be ordering some lifters?  What are the chances that there is a
> hole in the piston?  Any further suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Jim Houston
> '65 Monza Coupe
> Brandon, FL
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