Your post makes perfect sense as the whole engine is a bit of an unknown so your idea of doing some basic compression test is dead right. I’m hoping the compression will be good as the last owner did a rebuild but then again much of the things I have found has not been so good.
I just replaced the electric facet pump with a new Delco mechanical pump, As the truck broke down on its first outing. It wouldn’t go up hill as soon as the throttle was open to climb the hill the engine would just die. After replacing the pump and very dirty filter it runs better. However on the second trip out it broke down again. This time weak spark. The coil felt hotter than the engine block so figured it could be breaking down. I replaced the coil and it fired right up. The car has a pertronic igniter and a pertronic coil that failed both these looked like new. Just bought a new pertronic coil and will fit it this weekend.
The engine does start in half a crank every time so hoping that is a good sign for compression
I don’t think the smoke is related to the pump or recent ignition problems as it been doing it since I bought the truck last September. However only actually been out in it twice as it was winter and had a lot of other jobs to do on it.
If you fancy watching me panic having not driven a manual transmission in 20 years and then breaking down here is a link to my first road trip Video
Thanks again to everyone that has offered advice. I will keep you updated on progress with the truck here in the not so sunny UK
Regards Chris
Last edited by ThreeSixHundred; 04/17/20197:56 PM.
