Trey's 60 baja build thread

[Big Dave]

I did a compression test this afternoon. All four cylinders are around 40-50. I have not adjusted the valves on this engine recently. Should I even bother adjusting the valves on it? Or based on initial compression tests, is the engine pretty much hosed?

I'm no mechanic, but I thought those numbers should be up around 100 lbs.

Check this link out: http://books.google.com/books?id=pGhO-3 ... q=&f=false

Did you floor the throttle and crank it until the gauge stopped climbing? Since all the numbers are equal, I would look elsewhere. A low compression engine will still run fine, just not have much power.

Did you set the valves? What are you setting the timing to/with?

[Boneloader]

I agree with Dave... is it firing on all 4? Check for vacuum leaks--by my experience, the most common source of problems.

~T

[vwtrey]

still havent located the problem. I'm going to spray starting fluid and look for a leak somewhere. Its too damn cold now. We got up to 8ish today, without the windchill

[turbobaja]

Man, with a baja that looks that good, how can you not spend every wakeing moment racking your brain trying to get it running good?

Are you sure you've got good quality fuel and good pressure? Got some water in your fuel tank possibly? Filters all good? Any chance your exhaust is plugged up somehow? Are you able to get a decent idle with any of the carbs you've tried? Is it fouling plugs? Can you give us more info on how it's running rough? Does it hesitate under load? Where in the rpm range is it acting up?

Make sure you don't have a crank case full of fuel/oil. That can make for a poor ring seal and low cranking compression.....as well as plenty of other issues too. And always dissable ignition and hold the throttle wide open with ALL spark plugs removed when checking compression....with a fully charged battery .

Just trying to help brainstorm. That's a sharp looking ride, it needs to running as good as it looks .

Edit: Don't forget to check your grounds too! What kind of shape is all the wiring in?

[david58]

I did a compression test this afternoon. All four cylinders are around 40-50. I have not adjusted the valves on this engine recently. Should I even bother adjusting the valves on it? Or based on initial compression tests, is the engine pretty much hosed?

Check the adjustment on your valves. The valves and rings are what makes compression. If the valves are too tight then the compression reading will be low. With 40 to 50 psi I doubt the engine would crank without starting fluid to set off the bang. Then it would struggle to run and hardly pull out of it's own tracks. But you say it runs so let's try another approach here because I am thinking the compression gauge is wrong. Dis-able power to the coil if you have one carb close off all the air going in with the palm of your hand and if you have 2 carbs use both hands now have someone spin the engine over and see if you feel a strong suction as the engine spins. If you do then I don't think you have a compression problem. A engine can be worn out and have low compression, but it is not on the top of the list. Nobody said anything about the points and condenser which is the heart of of the ignition system. Look at the points and see if they are corroded or pitted and check the gap. When was the last time you replaced them? When was the last time you replaced the spark plugs? Speaking of spark plugs if you have a worn out engine with low compression the plugs will be your first clue.

[vwtrey]

Ill pull the ign wire and put my hand over the carb and see what it does. I replaced the points, condenser, coil, wires, plugs, dizzy, carb, fuel filter, adjusted the valves, ummmm...I think thats all? It sounds like an electrical problem. The wiring is new. I dont think I have a trans ground strap, but I'm using aluminum mounts, so I didnt think it would cause problems. Its horribly annoying. I could have the car on the road if it wasnt for this.

[vwtrey]

well, after much work, I decided that the #4cyl was pretty much dead. disconnecting the spark plug wire made very little difference. So I decided to take the engine out and put in another one. I noticed on the back side of the head by the cylinder, black soot. So I pulled the head off. The nuts for #4 were uh, not very tight? I should have checked that. I was going to, and spaced it. Anyway, doesnt matter much. there were bearing pieces in the oil anyway, so It's due a rebuild.

Second engine seems to be running better. I'm going to put the single bbl solex on it, and should clear things up good. Now I need to find a rebuild kit for the darn thing.

[fusername]

are the head studs 10 mm or 8mm? if you are going to put this engine aside as a parts block for a future rebuild, and it has 10mm studs, torque all head studs to 45 ftlbs. If any pull, they would have pulled when the engine got hot, if not the block is probably ok in that regard. much easier to do this test now than later.

[vwtrey]

Put the second engine in it, just as shot as the first one. Thats what I get for having junk laying around I guess.

So, I should be getting a little bonus from work in June. Hopefully that will be enough to rebuild one of my engines or get a longblock. I should get around 2300. So we will see when the time comes. Kinda cruddy day, I'm ready to have this on the road!

[Boneloader]

Need parts? Gotta unload some stuff quick, Trey! Got some pistons and cylinders (87.5 slip ins) with about 50 miles on them. Yours if you want them.

~T

[vwtrey]

hell, I'll take whatever you dont want. PM me.

[Leatherneck]

Sorry to hear about the engine problems. As easy as these things are though it is always good to at least pull the heads and maybe even the jugs just to have a look and see what you have. Keep at it though it will come together, hope June pays off for you.

[Boneloader]

I'm pretty sure I will be relocating to San Antonio soon--I would be happy to contribute whatever I can to your project, Trey--I'd be passing right through on my way!

By the way, I blame you for inspiring me to cut up my ragtop and baja-ing it. I will try not to copy the color, though. I would like to use a nice cream white, like Herbie used. Yeah, I'm a big fan of #53.

~T

[bajaherbie]

[vwtrey]

Thanks guys. I am giving the Air Force another 6 years in June, and that will be a bigger bonus than expected. So I will have this thing running by the end of summer. An engine is all I need(right now).

Troy, thanks man. Let me know when you are coming through. And dont blame me for baja'ing something!