Hi all, finally got to go about seriously checking out the engine in this '58 Apache.

After driving it around town a bit I've noticed that it smokes a decent bit out of the valve cover. It's burned a couple quarts of oil over the last month, and I've noticed some water in the valve cover. After reading lots and lots of forum posts I think this is just condensation, I don't see any signs of major water buildup.

Here's the smoke out of the valve cover
Link
and
Link

First I did a vacuum test, and got a low vacuum at idle, with a bouncy needle and an occasional fall.
Link

I had a feeling it was idling too low but I didn't have a tach meter so I rigged up an oscilloscope. It's kind of the long way around, but it's cool to see the dwell in real life. This is at 323 RPM with like a 30% dwell.
Link

Brought the idle up, and was able to get a better vacuum with screw A on the Rochester Single Barrel. Vacuum's still jittery. Oh, and I checked the timing it was good.
Link

Then I pulled all the plugs, each one was oily around the threads and in the recess of the plug
1-6 Top to bottom
1-6 Left to Right

Then I did a compression test and obtained the following:
Cylinder 1 - 87 PSI
Cylinder 2 - 65 PSI
Cylinder 3 - 70 PSI
Cylinder 4 - 82 PSI
Cylinder 5 - 80 PSI
Cylinder 6 - 103 PSI

After that it rained and I had to pack up. I didn't get to do a wet test or a leak down yet. I don't think the numbers above look great, but I've never worked on an engine this old. Thoughts?




Last edited by GB Ward; 04/22/2018 11:25 PM.
1958 Chevy Apache 3104
Restoration - Been waiting long time
In the DITY Gallery