[TR] Spitfire Engine Woes

[Greg Lemon]

Thanks for all the replies on the Spitfire motor, I took a quick look today, 
pulling the head was not on the agenda, I just wanted to see if I could help 
with the diagnosis.

The valves are not stuck and seem to be working fine, no signs of oil in the 
coolant or vice versa, the car starts and runs pretty well for running on 
two cylinders (we didn't run it long, I just wanted to hear it).  I thought 
he had a compression tester, but turned out he had borrowed one from the 
local FLAPS, so no repeat compression test, but definitely little or no 
compression on 1 & 2, I stuck my finger in/by the spark plug hole while he 
cranked it with the ignition disconnected and although I could feel air 
moving I would describe it more like a breeze from the pistons than anything 
like appreciable compression on 1 & 2.

So my conclusion is--off with your head--I went through the basic steps with 
the guy, but he was kind of on the borderline of feeling up to it, will see 
if I can get someone that lives a little closer than me to him to supervise 
and think it would all get done in a couple weekends (depending on the speed 
of the machine shop.)

Greg Lemon