72 Econoline 150 -- need engine advice.

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Aug 26, 1999 | 08:41 PM

Kent Wales

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72 Econoline 150 -- need engine advice.

My good old camper van, with a 302, quit on the way to work today. Mechanic says that the timing had jumped and it could have possibly bent some valves, but won't know until the timing chain is replaced. He also said that compression in all of the cylinders is 70lbs. He is recommending a new engine because a top end rebuild might be needed and if that is the case then I should probably get a bottom end. The engine has 120,000 orig. The van has been well taken care of, 3rd owner I am. Should I expect many more miles with compression like that? What do you think is it time to replace the engine or should I just get the timing chain done and pray?

Aug 27, 1999 | 06:25 AM

jowilker

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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina

72 Econoline 150 -- need engine advice.

Kent how well do you know this guy, and did he replace the chain to get the valves to operate to allow the compression test to act like normal condiditions.

John

Aug 27, 1999 | 08:04 AM

Jeff

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72 Econoline 150 -- need engine advice.

Kent,
I have a galaxy with 351W which the timing chain slipped a few teeth. It bent three valves and so there were three cyclinders with zero compression. The others had 150 - 160 lbs. This engine has approximately 120K miles too.

My guess is that you have 220K miles on that 302 or someone has not maintained it properly. With that low of compression, you might as well rebuild the whole engine. Before doing this I would test it myself because 70 lbs. with that mileage does not make sense. If it ran well without burning oil before, maybe the reading was not accurate.

Aug 27, 1999 | 08:07 AM

Phillip Guidry

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72 Econoline 150 -- need engine advice.

You beat me to it!That's what I thought when I read the post.I don't recall any 302's bending valves just cause the chain jumped a notch are two.If the chain broke,then yes.I'd change the chain and not look back.
Phillip

Aug 27, 1999 | 08:43 AM

ray

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72 Econoline 150 -- need engine advice.

I've had two 302s with timing chain failure and neither one bothered any valves. I agree with the earlier posts about "compression". 100K miles is the life of a non roller timing chain in a small block Ford. If that vehicle had been maintained as you spoke and was running well before chain failure I would have the chain replaced and see what happens. If you do not trust the mechanic, and I would have doubts on someone who told me I had 70 psi compression, find another mechanic. It is not a big job to replace the chain on that vehicle. I would replace water pump while I was changing the chain. FWIW,
ray