Project let's get my engine running as good as it can!

[ecgreen]

So the plot thickens! I went back out to the barn and tried to get a cold compression reading. Nothing. Tried a few cylinders, nothing. I decided to hook the gauge itself up to a small air compressor. I hooked it up directly and nothing, zero on the dial. I think that gauge crapped out on me. now the 95 PSI cyl was the last one I checked before the gauge stopped working. Gonna try a new one before I move forward.

 

[Uncle Gump]

That seems weird.... but I would do the same thing.

So is your tester just one you push tight to the hole and someone cranks the engine? Or does it screw into the spark plug hole?

 

[ecgreen]

its a screw in, thats how i connected it to the air compressor to test it. weird that it failed, right?

 

[Uncle Gump]

It is...

Put your finger over the hole and crank it.... see if it builds compression.

 

[ecgreen]

It absolutely was the gauge. Bought a new one and tested cyl 6 today and got 170. Lesson here is test your test equipment. OK, so we are dealing with a healthy engine compression wise!

I gaped and installed a set of motorcraft plugs today. I'll take it for a test drive today and report back.

U guys rock btw

 

[Uncle Gump]

Well that makes me feel better... I was worried you had a cylinder heading south.

The good news.... your engine is in good health currently... and you can carry on with other planned repairs upgrades.

Other things to consider would be a proper flush of the cooling system and heater core.

I would also look over @PetroleumJunkie412 information he has posted. Maybe flush the oil system and switch oil brands. Does it have the typical 2.9L ticking? If so... I would get the valve covers off and inspect the rockers and push rods closely. Also pull the rocker shafts and ensure the oil passages are clean and will flow oil properly.

Ensure your filters are up to date... maybe run some good injector cleaner through the tank... then just drive it like you still owe money on it.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Other things to consider would be a proper flush of the cooling system and heater core.

This X1000000000000

2.9 and 4.0 had head issues. My best guess is casting residues. Theres some pics in one my threads on head porting that shows it. Also my build thread.


CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN the living crap out of your coolant passages..

I would also look over @PetroleumJunkie412 information he has posted. Maybe flush the oil system and switch oil brands. Does it have the typical 2.9L ticking? If so... I would get the valve covers off and inspect the rockers and push rods closely. Also pull the rocker shafts and ensure the oil passages are clean and will flow oil properly.

Ensure your filters are up to date... maybe run some good injector cleaner through the tank... then just drive it like you still owe money on it.

Yup. Be very careful on oils.... valentine makes one for flat tappet motors that is high zinc. Its my planned one to use after rebuild.

Any racing oil is appropriate for flat tappet engines.

The racing label is a misnomer. Just means that it has levels of zinc appropriate for older engines.

 

[ecgreen]

OK, the motorcraft plugs made a ridiculous difference. Most of my power is back, the rough idle is gone, and the jerkiness is way better. My initial idle is actually higher now, around 1500 - not sure whats up with that. I know my TPS/anti-diesel screw needs to be calibrated, but other then that I am not sure. I can't believe plugs made that much of a difference. I still have some sort of pinging between 2500 and 3000 RPMs in the lower gears. To tell the truth it almost sounds like a heat shield rattle. Not quite sure. The cooling system is all brand new (with a 4.0 rad.) And I do plan on flushing it some more.

As for valve noise, it is like a type writer.

And thanks for the advice on the oil. I will heed said words of wisdom

 

[ecgreen]

... then just drive it like you still owe money on it.

 

[ecgreen]

I drove it about 60 miles yesterday just to get a feel. Like I said, the plugs solved a ton of issues. It still has a weird pulsating hesitation on acceleration, although very minor right now. Also, there is either pining or something like a rattling piece of shielding (like I said yesterday) between 2500 and 300 RPMs, especially in 2nd and 3rd gear.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Ehh, with plugs usually goes wires, cap, and rotor. Motorcraft wires, always. Look for a brass cap and rotor.

Coil could be getting ready to crap itself as well. Motorcraft or MSD/Crane are good choices. My personal preference is MSD, but they have a higher failure rate vs. Motorcraft.

You may want to take a look at picking up a tfi module as well. They do weird stuff when they're getting ready to die. My truck would die and restart itself over and over when doing 65 the first time i lost one.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

OK, the motorcraft plugs made a ridiculous difference. Most of my power is back, the rough idle is gone, and the jerkiness is way better. My initial idle is actually higher now, around 1500 - not sure whats up with that. I know my TPS/anti-diesel screw needs to be calibrated, but other then that I am not sure. I can't believe plugs made that much of a difference. I still have some sort of pinging between 2500 and 3000 RPMs in the lower gears. To tell the truth it almost sounds like a heat shield rattle. Not quite sure. The cooling system is all brand new (with a 4.0 rad.) And I do plan on flushing it some more.

As for valve noise, it is like a type writer.

And thanks for the advice on the oil. I will heed said words of wisdom

Told ya so! Lol same to me when I threw in the autolites.

Idle issues seem common, I got many search results. Mine turned out to be the throttle body.

And also everything PJ said +1

 

[ecgreen]

Told ya so! Lol same to me when I threw in the autolites.

Idle issues seem common, I got many search results. Mine turned out to be the throttle body.

And also everything PJ said +1

You did indeed!

I just got back from some mild offroading and she did pretty good. Wicked jerky throttle in 1st and 2nd gear in 4-low. Could be me and I just haven't learned how to drive it smooth off-road yet.

 

[Ramcharger90]

Im going out on a limb here.... Have you tried throwing bolts and washers down the top of it yet? Normally that make a new one show up after a few days.