hi
Here is the story ...hope someone can help me out on this one. I have 92 E-150 5.0 . Bought the van with piston #8 bad no compression at all other cylinders had 120# of compression ...So i did replace the bad piston honed the cylinder new rings and all even changed all the bearings mains and rods. With the engine still in the van ....Got everything put back together van wont start ... spark is good i do get fuel even tried the starting fluid nothing ...#1 at tdc rotor pointing to #1 plug wire even tried 180 off to make sure ..still nothing ...next thing i check compression and all i get is 60# on all cylinders even on the side that i havent even take the head off ...So is it possible that the timing chain skipped a toth or two or whatever while i was changing the main and rod bearings ...crank was basicly hanging on the chain and tranny while i was moving it to get all the bearings changed...Im lost at this point and dont see any other possiblility why compression would drop so much on all cylinders except timing chain being off ....i guess the valves open to quick before compression builds up and cylinders get to the top ...does that make sense?

any help is really apreciated ...just want some opinions before i start takieng the front of the engine apart

thanks

dom

 

It is possible that your problem is caused by a slipped timing chain as you suggest. I had exactly the same problem on a Dodge truck a few years ago.

 

have you pulled the valve cover and watched the valves while you turn it by hand to see if they are opening and closing in respect to the piston hitting tdc. this may at least give you a general idea of whats going on with it

 

Well i have pulled the timing chain cover of ..looks like the marks do allign however there is a lot of slack on that chain i can move the crank 10-15 degrees before the cam sprocket starts moving it almost looks like its off a tooth but im not sure ...ill try to realign the old chain first check the compression and if its good i will replace the timing chain witha new one


dom

 

reajusted the timing chain ..van started right up with whole front of the engine disasembled ...checked the compression and its little over a 100# on both sides im pretty sure it will be even better with a new chain this old one is really stretched cant really tell what how good it runs till i put new chain and everything back together but at leat there is a progress right now i know i have a huge vacum leak with that front cover being gone so it can only get better...does anyone know what should be the compression reading on 302 V-8? around 130?

thanks

dom