Projects '53 Mild Custom - Dads Hot Rod

After running dry and wet compression tests these were my best numbers.
#1 - 140
#2 - 90
#3 - 90
#4 - 120
#5 - 90
#6 - 130
#7 - 120
#8 - 90

Heres where it gets interesting... the firing order on a y block is 15486372. When you arrange them like this -
1548
6372
1 and 6 are 90° from each other, meaning when one is on compression, 6 is on exhaust and so on...5 and 3, 4 and 7. So I arranged the compression readings in the same order...
140 90 120 90
130 90 120 90
I am not positive what this points at, Maybe valve lash? I am going to check the rockers next and cold adjust em to .019

 

Reached out to Tim Mcmaster and Daniel Jessup. Daniel had the theory that whoever set the lash didnt rotate the engine correctly and that could cause the correlary numbers in compression. Sure enough, all of the low cylinders were 3/4 turn too tight, adjusted them this morning and they jumped to 120-150! So that problems solved

 

Dug into the engine. Oh happy fun. Discovered through a long process that whoever built the engine didnt own a shop manual. The cam timing was way off. Fixed that and we have got a runner!
https://youtube.com/shorts/EalDYJYYSrQ?si=H4TkiL5IGasEm44k

The list just got clearer and shorter!

 

Well ****..... I got the timing all figured. Have some horrible vac leak. Alas... thats not the driving factor of my sorrows this evening. I also have a blown headgasket. This engine. This poor poor engine....
On the positive side, once I do head gaskets (***uming the block isnt cracked) I should be in pretty good shape....finally...

 

Diving in. I think I found the break. Definitely found the vac leak. I guess I installed a 239 intake gasket and not a 292 so loads of leaks. Turned out to be a little blessing in disguise, the valve umbrella seals were completely toast. Rock solid and half of em cracked so this thing will get a little more overhaul and hopefully be all good.

 

Okay so a good bit has happened. Headgasket replaced, that fixed 1 problem. Correct intake gaskets fixed another. Then a fuel regulator and pressure guage fixed the newest problem. It now fires up and idles smoothly!
I moved on to the brake lines and replaced em all. Also put the last exhaust hanger on. Tomorrow I will get the trailer and stash this thing in my folks shop while I finish the metal work on the body! Progress feels good!