Page 1 of 1

Ford 233 issues

Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 9:30 pm
by Captrichc
So i have a dead cylinder, and a second cylinder with low compression. Both on the same side of the engine. On top of that, loose distributor cap that i cant get tight even with replacing, and on top of that 3 cylinders not firing. It has been a *** of a week. Dont know where to start.

Re: Ford 233 issues

Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 10:04 pm
by Big D
I would start with a compression test followed by a leak-down test. This will tell you if you're dealing with an upper or lower end problem. If the low cylinders are adjacent, it may be as simple as a head gasket. Post the cylinder numbers and the results, it may provide some clues. When you say "dead" and "cylinders not firing", how did you reach those conclusions?

Are you sure you have the correct distributor cap? OEM or aftermarket? Given it's a Ford and the vintage, I'm thinking aftermarket?

Cylinders not firing can be due to several things but if you have a problem with your distributor cap, you can't rule that out as the cause until you fix that problem.

Re: Ford 233 issues

Posted: Tue May 21, 2019 6:58 am
by Captrichc
I did a dry compression test.
1. 115
2. 115
3. 110
4. 115
5. 070
6. 115
7. 115
8. 000

I will try a leak down test on cylinder 8 to see if i get anything different.

As far as cylinders not firing is 1,8,4. And this is strickly by lifting the wires off of the distributor cap. They are arching but when lifted then are not changing the motor performance. Since these are in line of rotation makes me think the distributor is acting up. Also i will check the gap of the new plugs maybe they are too wide on those cylinders. I expect nothing on 8 but the other 2 i dont understand...

Mallory ignition and distributor. Im sure i have the right cap. The number is stamped on the side of the distributor. But i also cant see the distributor part number to see cost of a new one.

Everything was perfect 3 weeks ago when i reset the timing etc.

Re: Ford 233 issues

Posted: Tue May 21, 2019 7:11 pm
by Captrichc
Spoke to a good friend who is an old school mechanic. He says that it could be the timing chain is skipping a tooth. Which in turn could have bent a valve stem. So we are checking to see if its a valve or rings. Will keep you all posted.

Re: Ford 233 issues

Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 4:19 pm
by Captrichc
Captrichc wrote: Tue May 21, 2019 7:11 pm Spoke to a good friend who is an old school mechanic. He says that it could be the timing chain is skipping a tooth. Which in turn could have bent a valve stem. So we are checking to see if its a valve or rings. Will keep you all posted.
Ruled out timing chain. We had water in the fuel. Rectified that. Was able to get 60 psi when we took the rocker arm off cylinder 8. Put them back and 0. Squirted some MMO into cylinder and got 30psi. Hopefully might get cylinder back. I will keep posting progress

Re: Ford 233 issues

Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 7:13 pm
by mikeandanne
Captrichc wrote: Fri May 24, 2019 4:19 pm
Captrichc wrote: Tue May 21, 2019 7:11 pm Spoke to a good friend who is an old school mechanic. He says that it could be the timing chain is skipping a tooth. Which in turn could have bent a valve stem. So we are checking to see if its a valve or rings. Will keep you all posted.
Ruled out timing chain. We had water in the fuel. Rectified that. Was able to get 60 psi when we took the rocker arm off cylinder 8. Put them back and 0. Squirted some MMO into cylinder and got 30psi. Hopefully might get cylinder back. I will keep posting progress
Things don't sound good to me. Good smooth engine, a timing adjust and then one dead and one very bad cylinder. Sounds like you may be pulling the heads at a minimum. If you had the rockers off both the intake and exhaust then the valves should have been closed, you cannot do a compression test like that, there would be no way for air to get in to be compressed unless its a leak-down then the piston has to be at tdc for the cylinder you are testing with both valves shut.

Re: Ford 233 issues

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 7:47 pm
by Captrichc
Pulling the heads to have them checked and rebuilt this weekend. New gaskets and i might pull the intake and change those gaskets as well.

Re: Ford 233 issues

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 6:31 am
by prowlersfish
Captrichc wrote: Thu Jun 13, 2019 7:47 pm Pulling the heads to have them checked and rebuilt this weekend. New gaskets and i might pull the intake and change those gaskets as well.
Intake needs to come off to pull the heads anyway .

Re: Ford 233 issues

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2019 3:20 pm
by Captrichc
prowlersfish wrote: Fri Jun 14, 2019 6:31 am
Captrichc wrote: Thu Jun 13, 2019 7:47 pm Pulling the heads to have them checked and rebuilt this weekend. New gaskets and i might pull the intake and change those gaskets as well.
Intake needs to come off to pull the heads anyway .
Hummmm....really.... didnt look like it from the top. Might have the intake cleaned as well then if i have to take it off.