Long shot here. Pull a valve cover and verify that the inner springs are installed. Given the history where the previous owner passed before things were finished, maybe he did a cam break in with inner springs removed (common practice), and never had a chance to get back to it.
BTW, what are the specs on the fuel system? I know you already checked the fuel, but mechanical pumps can sometimes have a diaphragm leak, giving poor performance that is short of a total fail. Other brainstorm is maybe a plugged filter or pickup sock, or maybe cracked soft hose on the suction side that is allowing air to suck in.
__________________
"...ridge reamer and ring compressor? Do they have tools like that?"
|