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11/24/19: My push rod cover gasket came in and I installed the cover to start the engine. The engine ran terrible with the same #2 cylinder still missing. I shut down the engine, thinking the lifter was still collapsed so I removed the subject lifter and disassembled to do a thorough inspection. After cleaning I blew thru it and it appeared that the check valve wasn’t working properly. I blew it out with compressed air and it now seems to work correctly. After reinstalling, It still ran terrible with the same lifter cylinder missing. Now I’m thinking that maybe a valve is bad. Never having done a compression test on this engine, I decided now would be a good time. The test came out good, with all cylinders between 150 to 160 PSI. That eliminated any piston or valve problems and points right back to low oil pressure.

The plugs looked like they were burning overly rich, but I can’t really relate that to the rough running, because at this point, it won’t run without the choke being pulled out at least half way. I media blasted the plugs prior to reinstalling and as I was reinstalling I noticed that two gaskets were missing. Thinking that I blew them off in the sand blast cabinet, I emptied out the blast media thru a strainer, but couldn’t find the gaskets. I searched high and low but could not find the gaskets. Now I’m thinking that they may not have been installed in the first place. In any case I need to get new plugs.

11/25/19: I purchased new AC R45 plugs and installed them today. I started the engine and it still was missing with another collapsed lifter. This time it was a different lifter. I also noticed that none of the rockers were not getting any oil so I quickly shut her down. I had removed the distributor and side cover several times to gain access to the lifters so apparently the last time I didn’t get the distributor seated enough to engage the oil pump. I pulled the distributor and reset it, this time I measured to insure I engaged the oil pump. I restarted the engine and it sounded so much better. Running on all cylinders, oil weeping at all of the rockers but it still has one lifter that was clattering. I think at this point I need to drop the oil pan to measure the crank and rod bearing clearances.