New Engine starts then doesn't

after spending some time in the light with the Riley Head on the bench, I think I am going to take it to the machine shop that willed the head straight for me last month. I am going to have then remove some cast iron material from cylinder combustion areas #1 and #4. #1 is very tight where the exhaust valve comes up from the engine block. I can easily see where it caught and hung. #4 is not as bad but is still very close in the relief area.
 
If you remove material from the combustion chamber it will affect the commpresion ratio,not much but it will. In the past I was advised to "balance all cyl. to equal by ccing.
 
MN Stumpejumper thanks for the advice.

I think that when I work with the machine shop I will ask then to remove simialr amounts of material from each combustion chamber. The OHV head is a 7:1 CR today so I have a little to give. but the goal is to make this engine run correctly.
 
The Riley Head was removed in late October and taken to the shop for some porting in the combustion chambers. When I got the head back it was amazing. Installed in December and then family committments make the old truck wait until this week.
 
Today is a day that ended well so far. I started the day with replacing the fuel in-line fuel pump with another in-line fuel pump I found in my spare parts. After installing it backwards and then reinstalling it correctly I was ready to start this new engine. Gas flowing, fire extinguisher on standby and I push the starter, and the engine turns over but not starting.

I took a long breath and remembers what many good Model guys have told me, gas, spark and air is what the engine needs to run. I pull the distibutor cap to check the timing and discovered the distributor was not seated in the head cauing the rotor to not spin. The Distributor was reseated properly, and the engine retimed (just to be sure).

I crawl back into the cab and press the starter, the engine rotates and starts. The dog runs into the house as my wife and son run to the door with smiles on their face.

I climb out of the cab with an even bigger smile to make some little adjustments as the engine runs.

16 months after the old 4 Banger was pulled the rebuilt Riley Two Port OHV engine roars to life.

It ran for about half an hour staying cool on the temperature guage with good oil pressure before I truned it off.

The truck has been put to bed for the night to cool down.

In the morning I will retorque the head to 55# again and restart the engine and maybe go for a drive around the block.
 
Big thanks to all on this forum who have given me advice and support to bring this 1930 Closed Cab truk back to life. I will post some pics tomorrow when it wakes up.
 
So many times a problem is posted, answers are suggested and that is all there is. When it follows this path nothing is learned. When the solution is posted in this kind of detail we all learn a little more. I know that feeling when you have been working a problem and all the pieces come together and it works. Not much better.
Good Luck
 
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