Just got my first mopar yesterday. 318 poly in a '66 belvedere II. Don't know too much about it as it was a wife selling it while her husband was away. All she told me was that it had low compression in two cylinders. It seems the motor is rebuilt as I found a bunch of old gaskets and some new ones in the trunk. It doesn't seem to be running on the front two cylinders on the passenger side. I checked to make sure the firing order was correct and it seems to be good (out of my chiltons) I'm thinking I need to take off the head, but want to check and make sure there isn't anything I need to know before doing this. I've never worked on mopars before and don't want to mess it up too much. BTW, it smokes a little bit, but doesn't see like its burning oil so I'm thinking maybe the valves aren't closing right? Thanks for the help.

 

Sounds like a blown head gasket between the two cyls. Do a compression test.

 

Thanks for the advice. I just got done moving and I'll have to figure out where I put it.

 

If you have a way to pressurize through the spark plug hole with both valves closed, listen at the open carb, exhaust and valve cover breather. Carb= intake valve, Exhaust= exhaust valve, Breather= rings. Do a proper compression test as stated, warm engine if you can. Post your numbers and someone will give you help, and what to do next. Don't just start taking things apart just to see. You can get lots of info while it's together.

 

I found the compression tester and while I was grilling the hamburgers I got done with the drivers side and the numbers came out 92,92,94,0. Looks like a pretty serious problem. I'm going to have to find something to pressurize the cylinders to see where the leak is.

 

I recommend a compressor, and a cylinder leakdown test! It is labor intensive, but a great way to asses the general health of a motor. I have a link on how to build one if you need it.

 

I found a link off of the 1962to1965mopar site. I want to get all the valves adjusted first so that I 1)know how to do it 2)do the test w/i a set of parameters that I can use the next time i do it.

 

Excellent plan, keep us posted.