Hi Carl:
You describe symptoms of two different problems here:
1. weak spark - this could cause plug fouling but would itself not be
caused by the other problems you mention such as bad compression etc.
How's your coil? I have a Lucas sport coil that I like. It produces a
fat, blue spark when I hold a plug lead near the head. Also check
points/condenser, rotor, cap, coil high-tension lead and swap out the
plug wires.
2. you may have a couple of burned valves in #6 and #2 cylinders. I
was getting the same symptoms of frequent plug fouling in #6 cylinder
for about a year before the intake valve finally burned, compression
went down to 15 lbs. and a noticeable miss was felt. Is compression
lower in #6 and #2? Bad rings could cause low compression readings
across the board, loss of power and oil consumption but probably not a
miss in #6 and #2 unless those rings are *really* bad and the plugs
are way fouled. But then the car would probably smoke a lot. Does it?
I'd guess you can probably get away with just doing the head for now
and leave the rebuild until winter.
Jim
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: yellow spark & miserable compression
Author: libertyc <libertyc@erols.com> at smtpcc1
Date: 7/24/96 12:06 AM
Hello Group -
What color should the spark be by testing it with an extra spark plug and
holding it near the block? Mine is almost yellow/white with just a bit
of blue near the tip. I ask because I've never gotten the TR6 to run
right. It seems to be running on just 4 or 5 cylinders. I can take the
lead off numbers 6 and 2 and hear no difference in rpm or smoothness.
Now keep in mind that my compression is rotten across the board (95-100),
and my plugs are oily, (indicating rings, guides or valves bad?).
(I probably should have gone for a rebuild before doing the body work and
paint job, but I had a bout with shipwright's disease this spring!)
Carl Huppert
75 TR6
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