Now that the original thread has grown to 4 pages I figured it was best just to start a new one. The following was from a PM discussion I had with SlantSixDan but I figured I'd post it for all so everyone can chime in.

Yesterday I had a full day off so headed to my folks' place at 11am--the plan was to get the car started and take it for a LONG drive, eventually ending in my own garage and not my parents'. The first thing I do when I open the hood is check the plugs. #1 is oily as usual, #2 fine, #3 carbony, #4 fine, #5 fine, #6 somewhat oily. I clean them all off, pop them back in and try to start her up. Nothing. Again and again, nothing. I clean between the points, check the rotor, the cap, all the wire connections and try again. It tries and tries but won't fire up. I did notice stuff spraying out the carb--not sure what that means. I took the air filter off so I could keep an eye on the carb from the driver's seat.

I check the plugs again--the ones that were oily before are oily again, of course. And the others seem to be getting carbony. I clean them again, doesn't help. Pull them out again, oily again. Over the course of these attempt the engine started "running" maybe 4 times, during which is was very clunky and slow and died quickly or as soon as I lifted the pedal. I pretty much gave up on trying to get the engine running, figuring the only thing that's going to really make it run is fixing the internal engine problems. So I've been putting rubbing compound on the exterior for the past hour (this was yesterday afternoon) in an effort to clean up the paint. I'm here, so might as well do SOMETHING to the car.

As luck would have it, while I was working on the car, the guy who does lawnmowing and landscaping for my parents shows up. He's rather mechanically inclined and experienced with old American cars. He took a look at things and basically came to the same conclusion I did, and said he'll try to see if a friend of his who's a mechanic experienced with old cars can come take a look at it.

Until that happens, I guess I'll have to keep myself busy with simply cleaning up the car, because it's looking like what happened on Tuesday, when it actually ran and drove, was a complete fluke. Of course, maybe you're going to say "told ya so" and that the STP is clogging things up and making it hard to start. I think that could be part of it, but that all the oil getting into the cylinders is of course a bigger problem here. I thought about maybe changing the oil, but I don't think that's going to do a whole lot.

As for the rotor and distributor cap, during my ownership I'm pretty sure they haven't been replaced (SSD asked about this). There does seem to be a light carbony blackness at the tip of the rotor (more of a light stain than something you can feel), but the cap looks just fine to me (i.e. clean, no moisture, metal contacts inside are clean).

So I'm just going to play it by ear. I'll see what mechanic possibilities come up, and while I'm waiting on that, I'll keep reading and researching (those books will arrive next week). What I'd really like is for someone with experience to not only work on the internal engine issues, but to also give me an opportunity to help or at least watch while they do it. Unrealistic, I know, but I'm not going to be able to even think about doing the necessary repairs myself for awhile, so I'll see who Mr. Landscaper can dig up.

--Phil

Sounds like either a timing issue, sticky valves, or a carb. problem.

Any chance the ballast resistor is faulty yet still able to work some times?

I dunno??????

Heh..well dont go buying big parts and having them shipped. Im in Waterbury and have ALOT of /6 crap. I have a 73 head with less then 100 K on it too if i remember right. As well as just about any other part..just got to dig them out of the garage.

Have you done a compresion test on it? Maybe shot rings.

Sounds like the guy really messed up the valve lash and bent the pushrods..i have alot of them too.