thoughts?

[82_F100_300Six]

#1 cyl = zero compression

rocker arms are moving up and down, I started it with the valve cover off.
Its not makin any noise, runs quiet and smoke free, pretty good mpg on five cylinders.
fixing to take the head off and see whats up, quick question does 1982 have solid or hyd lifters?

[85e150six4mtod]

Hydraulics. Zero... good luck.

[82_F100_300Six]

I got the head off, the #1 exhaust valve is all split up and cauliflowered. I'll get some pics tomorrow in some good uv light. I worked 12 hours today came home and did that, was lucky enough to get all my crap put away right at dark.

[Sycostang67]

Thats weird, what does the piston surface look like?

[82_F100_300Six]

the bottom end, pistons, deck surface look fine

[Sycostang67]

Thats messed up. I wonder what could have caused that. I know the number 1 cylinder runs a little hotter than the others. You should post this in the 300 forum and see if this has happened to anyone else.

[Conanski]

That is wild!!!

[ibleedblue1385]

WOW thats....unusual.

[ctubutis]

I work with a guy who used to build engines for a living in a prior life (he even went to a
trade school to learn how to do it) and I asked him to look at your pics and explain what
would cause that. He responded with:

=====BEGIN_CUT_N_PASTE=====
Chris,
Running unleaded gas in a LEAN, not enough fuel in the air fule mixture, can cause this.
It makes the combustion to run very HOT, and once the valve seat wears to the point of
leakage the combustion starts leaking past the valve burning these cracks into it.
Having the timing too advanced contributes as well due to pre-ignition. Another issue is
he could have had either the valve adjustment too tight causing the valve not to seat, or
the lifter could have been gummed up causing the valve not to seat as well. You can tell
it was running lean by looking at the spark plugs, very white.

Spark plugs should look light brown, very light-white is lean, very dark (or lots of black
carbon buildup is rich, dark black-oily is from bad rings or guides.

Confused enough?
=====END-CUT-N-PASTE=====

-ct

[Sycostang67]

That makes sense, the cylinders at the front and back of the 300 tend to run lean due to poor fuel distribution from the intake. To top it off all the heated coolant is passing by that 1st cylinder on it's way out, a problem I have heard the chevy straight six guys talk about as well. I'm guessing that fixing that wont be as easy as replacing the valve.

[Bern_F150_4x4]

What did the intake gasket look like for the #1? I've seen a gasket leak do that to an in-line 4.