Zero compression in a 383

[68fourspeed]

Have a '69 Roadrunner 383 I picked up. The car was an auction car and I got it from a classic car dealer. So, the history of the engine is unknown. The headers were unbolted and the starter was missing. I primed the engine, then installed a starter and cranked the engine. Zero compression on all cylinders. Distributor shaft and timing chain/gear all in working order. So, I pulled the heads.. to find out someone had assembled the engine with no head gaskets. I became skeptical and started looking over the 906 heads as I could tell they had some work done to them. Has 1.81/2.14 valves in it. Had no valve seals either. So, I disssembled the heads and found a few issues with a couple of the valves (including an exhaust valbe that was not correct at all) I lapped them in, reassemeble and install. Also installed a new Comp cams double roller chain/gear set. I still have zero compression. I don't believe its an issue with the heads or valves seating but maybe rings? I poured some oil in a couple of the cylinders and get compression for one turn on the filled cylinder. I can hear the oil/air coming out from what sounds like under the camshaft. Any ideas? Would stuck rings cause zero compression on all cylinders??

 

[PRND21]

No gaskets, no seals, maybe no rings.

 

[68fourspeed]

You may be on to something...

 

[BSB67]

Check your gauge

 

[Ranger16]

If someone put that thing together with no head gaskets, there is no telling what other bone headed things where done to it. Sounds to me like it was just slapped back together to "look" intact in order to unload it. The lack of a starter may have even been intentional.

 

[68fourspeed]

True, I should probably do a complete teardown and see what I have.

 

[Xp29h]

I was going to suggest a complete tear down. I was close to the same with my old 383. I had compression and it ran but barely! It’s on a stand now! After complete tear down, it was all messed up. But had gaskets!
Good luck!

 

[HT413]

No head gaskets and no seals = that engine is just a model meant to rip you off. Don’t even think about firing it. I agree with ranger, starter was intentional.

You’ve been had. Time to either seek recourse or just build a motor.

When you build it, everything needs to be measured and inspected. Have the block, crank, caps, rods, pistons etc inspected by a machinist.

He threw that thing together with parts he had around the shop to sell it.

 

[rlem1977]

Shadey-assed folks out there rippin' off hard working people trying to have fun in a already over-priced hobby. Hope the rubber banana didn't go in too far so your still able to walk.

 

[dvw]

Drain the oil. Pull a spark plug. Pour oil in the plug hole. Does it run right out of the cylinder into the pan? Yes? No rings.
Doug

 

[WP29440SE]

there would be no question it would have to be thoroughly torn down and put back together starting from scratch knowing there wasn't even a head gasket. stop throwing Band-Aids at it and do the surgery, no brainer

 

[fratzog lover]

One thing for sure. I would determine who it was in the transaction that deceived me and they would get at least a call if not a visit to explain. Watch him squirm. That is just rotten.

 

[khryslerkid]

One thing for sure. I would determine who it was in the transaction that deceived me and they would get at least a call if not a visit to explain. Watch him squirm. That is just rotten.

OP stated it was an auction vehicle before the dealer got it.

You can put an air hose in a cylinder and you'll hear the air going into the crankcase, probably out the valve cover openings too. With the heads off, you'll be able to rattle the pistons in the bores if there's no rings.

Might as well pull the whole thing down and start from scratch. Make sure the block is worth rebuilding to start with.

I'm not sure what kind of deal you might have made there but maybe some adjustments could be made. Take pics...

 

[miller]

Make sure the block is worth rebuilding to start with.

I wouldn't doubt, the block is already maxed out, oversized bores.

 

[wyrmrider]

and undersized pistons?

 

[HT413]

Shame you got ripped like that. Hope it was a good deal. Most car guys are decent people, that guy needs a couple of teeth windowed.

 

[WileE]

You got no choice. Completely disassemble and start with the block to check if even that's good.

 

[68fourspeed]

Thanks for the responses. She's sitting on a stand now, I swapped in another 383 two barrel I had for the time being so I can still drive it for the summer. The engine pulled is numbers matching to the car (and it's a standard bore) No worries on my end, I traded a slant six Duster for this numbers matching RR. I knew it was a roll of the dice on the engine. I wasn't trying to "bandaid" anything for the record. The history of the engine is completely unknown, so I was simply trying to get it fired to see what I had. I don't just completely tear down engines for the hell of it... but maybe some people do. This situation could have also went the other way and I had it up and running in a few days.

 

[HT413]

Sounds like a sweet deal, calculated risk. Good man.

 

[khryslerkid]

Any chance of some pics?