Compression Test 1608

[SteinOnkel]

I re did the test yesterday with the engine warm
Results are
1-130
2-110
3-132
4-130

Number two with a spoon full of oil still resulted in a reading of 110

Don’t know the extensive history of the car. PO had it for about 10 years or so. I would say the car suffer from lack of use more than anything else. There are the usual PO/garage mechanic issues. Example. Changed the radiator, fan, thermostat and water pump along with the timing belt. But neglected to check the overflow bottle and line which were plugged causing the radiator hose to swell like a sausage. rtv everywhere. And so forth

Those numbers aren't great. It's pretty warn.

Run it until it drops a cylinder, then rebuild. It could go for another 50k miles or be done in 2k. No way to tell.

[seabeelt]

It’s all good. I’m pretty sure all of the rubber bits are toast. Bottoms of the shocks ( they look original) the rubber is shredding. Control arm bushings are crumbly at the outer edges. Sway bar bushings look really dry. Service the PO had performed included a new fuel pump and flushing the gas tank. I’ve changed the fuel filter twice in 500 miles as it’s still collecting lots of junk. Dash was removed at some point and not put back right. Headlight switch is wired wrong and the column switch does not have any effect on the headlights. Had the wrong oil sending unit in place. Looks like the mechanic just added another one for the gauge and took out the one for the light because he couldn’t get the old sender out. ( now fixed as well as the coolant bottle and line) the diagnosis the mechanic gave him regarding the heater was wrong. Mechanic said switch and fan were bad - switch was bad but also wired wrong. Heater core was bypassed because the valve leaked ( now all fixed) My son is coming to visit for a month in a couple of weeks so I’ll probably wait for him to do all the rubber bits. Timing is at 15 deg BTDC so I will adjust but it seems to run pretty well given all the above. The body is pretty amazing. Original paint with minor chips and surface rust where the paint was dinged that far.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

It’s all good.

I like your optimism!

Given all that you mentioned, engine compression numbers would not be high on my priority list. I took my '71 out for a spin a few minutes ago (the one with 125 psi on all cylinders), and while it's not going to win any races, it's not bad for its age. Counting seconds as I go from 0 to 60 seems like it's around 11 to 12 seconds. Original engine, and I believe the car when it came out could only manage a 0 to 60 somewhere between 10 and 11 seconds.

-Bryan

[seabeelt]

It’s been a while. My son and I pulled the head and swapped it for the rebuilt one from our old car. I haven’t re run the numbers yet but performance is greatly improved. Number two on the removed head definitely has a issue as the valves are black while had other three look like the brown crispy build up you see on spark plugs

Oil consumption has dropped noticeably and the tappety tap after it gets warm is gone

Lots of other issues fixed as well.
Remove and reflush the gas tank to get rid of the sediment in the bottom.
Replaced the fuel pump with a good used one the supposed new pump installed by the PO mechanic ( if done at all) had a leaking diagram and was pushing air bubbles and leaking on the garage floor
Replaced intake and original carb with leaking accelerator pump with waffle and dual IDFs
Replace windshield washer pump. Motor ran but intervals were old and dry and didn’t pump fluid
Replaced front suspension - sway bar bushings (what a PITA) control arms tie rods center link and upper ball joints.
Rebuilt front calipers and new front brakes
New shocks all around old ones had Fiat stamped on them
Replaced inoperable column switch ( no high beams and fail to return directionals) with the one from our old 71

There is lots more odds and ends but ver excited and happy with the car.
Just passed the first 1000 miles of ownership

[Nut124]

Glad to hear things are looking up.

What manifold are you using with the dual IDFs? I'd love to see some pictures of your setup.

[seabeelt]

Pm me with your email and I’ll send you a pic or two. I’m using the Fiat Waffle intake with the 13/15 dual Webber’s