57 Ford Custom 223 cid need tech advice

F

Firechief

New member
Advice needed!!!
I bought a 1957 Ford Custom with a 223 cid engine. I drove it for two days, and then, after cruising over some big potholes on the Interstate, it died for me when I drove off to fill gas.
I got some help, and we found out there was no compression. I brought the car home, and ordered a new headgasket. When I got the head off, it looked like the headgasket was blown. I changed it, and got it together, it had spark and fuel but no compression, so no start. I then put on new pistonrings, thinking this would be the reason, but still no compression and no start up. Then I got the head machined, and a valvejob, and put it back together. Still no compression and no start. Thinking it would be the timing chain that maybe had jumped some teeth, I ordered a new one. When taking off the timingchain cover, I checked the timing chain, and found out that it was correct as the shopmanual instructs. The strange thing now, is that piston 1 and 6 is on top, but the distributor is pointing at nr 6, and also the valves are closed on nr 6. Should it not be nr 1 that was to fire, not nr 6? What am I missing here? The car seems very original, but could the camshaft be newer, and maybe demand another set up for the timing chain?


I'm really can't figure it out, and appriciate all input that can help me get the old lady back on the road again.
 
You need to establish correct CYL NO.1 position with a piston stop to begin to time the engine correctly. The correct damper ring position has to be verified.

Then perform your compression test and leak-down if no or low compression.
 
Firechief said:
... The strange thing now, is that piston 1 and 6 is on top, but the distributor is pointing at nr 6, and also the valves are closed on nr 6. Should it not be nr 1 that was to fire, not nr 6? ...
Click to expand...
I'm not familiar with the 223 at all but... depending on the firing order, and your description, both cyl 1 and cyl 6 are at TDC at the same time. One of them on the compression stroke and the other on the exhaust stroke.

Sounds to me like the timing chain / crank & cam alignment is opposite of what it should be & would be the reason for no compression.

.
 
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Hi,
If you determine the timing chain has jumped time, be careful when installing a new chain and sprockets as the OEM sprockets do not go dot to dot on the OEM style sprockets. The timing chain has gold links that place the dots straight out to gold links. Ask me how I know that! Maybe some replacement sprockets do indeed go dot to dot but not the OEM, as I know the replacement chain I used did not have gold links! Steve
 
While doing all this did you ever check to see if the rockers moved up and down while you rotated the engine? I'm assuming you used a compression gauge in the spark plug holes so you had to spin the engine to get a compression check. The engine will have compression regardless if it is time but if the valves aren't going up and down you have a broken cam.
 
Hello Firechief, I would suggest that you get someone
to help you who has some mechanical skills.
A blown head gasket is NOT going to be the cause of
having NO compression in ALL cylinders.

You state that the engine quit running after you hit
some big potholes. That sure Did NOT cause your
head gasket to blow out or your rings to all take a dump.




.
 
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Thanks for all input. I'll have another go at it today, bringing in a mechanic. I've adjusted the valves, so it seems that the camshaft is intact, but also it seems like the camshaft is 180 degrees wrong. Hopefully we will determine what the case is today.
 
Hello again Firechief

Just a note to say that when you do a compression test again,
put a large screw driver down the carb so it holds the butterfly
open so it can get plenty of fresh air into each cylinder
so you can get an accurate compression reading...




.
 
I'm sure the 223 has its own crank, cam timing chain alignment procedure so look in a service manual for the year of the engine.
Confirm which year engine you have, it may have been swapped sometime in the last 60+ years.

The alignment may not be what you expect... for example here's a Y-block chain alignment illustration.
.
 

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