[cscottfergus]

Thanks for the responses.

I need to shake the cobwebs out of my head since it has been 20 years since the rebuild.
Has had these problems as long as I can remember so probably not related to sitting up

I need to move all the kids toys and pull it out of the garage.

I will check oil pressure, timing and cranking pressure soon.

Useage:

This is a street car that sees maybe 200 miles/year use and is not a daily driver anymore.

I would like to drive it more often once I get it sorted out.

Oil has been changed 10w40, I think and is not thinned out due to gas, has happened before though with backfire and blown power valve in carb. car was not driven after this happened.

When I run this car I end up smelling like car exhaust fumes pretty quickly this is a strong smell that stays with you unless you take a shower. ( running rich, I believe)

It leaves black soot marks on concrete(ground) where exhaust pipes exit back on car if it has been sitting idling for a while.

Started regulary to maintain running

rebuild: The engine was professionally machined and then reassembled by the friend of a friend about 20 years ago (no idea of his skill level but he was experienced with Pontiacs and engine assembly). At that time had q jet and factory intake and distributor. The distributor was replaced because it was worn out. I do not now why mechanic recommended that distributor. He is an experienced BUICK GN tuner. The intake and carb were put on because they were offered to me for 75$ and that was cheaper than a rebuilt q jet at the time. I still have old parts. engine has never really been tuned or sorted out.I have never changed jets in carb

Cam: the specs I quoted were off a blue rough 5 by 7 sheet of paper from Crower and match that paper it has a hand written date of 11-9-87 on it. I double checked numbers and card matched my post

The 11:1 ratio was from memory and possibly erroneous. I think it came from information that I have seen that stated factory cr of 10.75 to one for these engines and assuming higher cr with head milling.

I am now looking at the machine shop invoice with my own hand written notes after interviewing machine shop owner.

TRW forged pistons 0.30 over , flat top, part L2262 F-30, no idea if zero decked but that does seem to ring a bell so to speak., sealed power molly rings.

have a hand written note about cr 9.94:1 in 406 ci with 72cc heads , does not account for 0.012 mill on head..

hand written note on cam specs on invoice 60242 .422 intake .466 exhaust dur at 0.50 220 and 229 deg, this differs from blue cam card

cloyes true roller double timing chain

lifters: speed pro ht 951 hi rev anti pump up lifters near 0 lash

stainless proline intake valves 1.77 dia S2638, stainles exhaust valves 2.11 dia u2638
valve springs 108 lbs at 1.656, coil bind at 1.050, travel 0.606

stock rods with arp bolts

more about distrib and coil : mallory unilite 3758001 part no mech advance, mallory coil 29217

tuning: was tuned by mechanic but has been a while and I have changed timing. Timing, has been a while but from memory I set it to maximize vacuum and avoid pinging. I will check it and report back.

Radiator is factory radiator recored about 20 years ago.

well I'm off to go check out those pressures, etc.