Starting issues

[mikem]

A little background: For the last 20 years, I have mainly been driving my M37 around the neighborhood to keep batteries charged etc. It's not street legal, so lately I have been working on getting it legal. This past weekend, I reconnected the gas line from gas tank and filled it with gas for the first time in over 20 years. Previously, I have been running it using a 5 gallon gas can from the passenger floor. Everything went well and I have been driving/starting it every day since Sunday to see if I would get any crud in carb or fuel filter. Yesterday, my son drove it and he said it sputtered some and wouldn't idle. When I got home, sure enough it wasn't idling well, but I adjusted it and it seemed fine. I drove it around (evening) for a good half hour and truck ran as it usually has for the last 20 years. Didn't notice anything funny at all. Today (July 3rd), my boys went out to start it and truck wouldn't start. They sent me a video and it kind of sounded like started wasn't engaging. When I got home, I check it out and noticed that the car was turning over after all (looking at the fan rotate when starting), BUT, it sounded more like an engine does when you R performing a compression check. I first checked for spark and fuel which I had. I didn't verify the timing yet, so I need to check that out, but I did a compression check on all the cylinders and every cylinder except #2 was dead. #2 cylinder only registered 60psi at that! I suspect I have stuck valves but am stumped how this could have happened literally overnight. Very strange. Tomorrow I am plan on verifying timing and pulling off the valve covers to see if the valves are moving and need adjusting. Before I dig any further, does anyone have suggestions or theories as to what happened? I find it hard to believe varnish/gas could have cause the valves to stick, but only thing I have done lately is hooked up the gas tank. Engine was rebuilt back in 2000 and has very low miles on it. Appreciate any advice, thoughts etc. Thank you for ur time.

MikeM

[mikem]

Follow up: I went outside late last night tapped on the side of the head with a plastic hammer and was able able to get the vehicle started. Sounded flooded, running rough and it wouldn't idle. I had to push the pedal all the way down to keep it running and it never could rev up too high. Pretty sure I have sticking valves. I'll probably go back to the remote gas can and perhaps take off the side covers to see what the valvetrain looks like and go from there. Also thinking of running sea foam in the gas can to see if I can get it to clear up. After I turn off the motor and did do a compression check on #1 and it still didn't register any compression, however, putting my finger over it did have some pressure coming out unlike the last time I did it. The plugs are also black (but the plugs have always shown signs of rich mixture for many years) BTW: My engine is stock military 230. I have the civilian 230 fuel pump, electronic ignition and one wire alternator.

Thanks

MikeM

[mikem]

Foow up: I switched back to using external tank. I ran it a few times, but wasn't able to loosen the stuck valves. I took carb apart to clean it, but it was fine. No varnish in it. I pulled the valve covers off and cylinders 1,4 and 6 had stuck exhaust valves. Valve train was clean, no sludge.. On cylinder 1 I was able to pry up on the valve, but it wouldn't free up. I squirted sea foam through the spark plug holes towards the valves. Doubt it will work, but we'll see. Trying not to take the head off if I don't have to. Wondering if it would be better to take off manifolds and squirt sea foam, oil etc,. Open to suggestions
Thanks
MikeM

[Cal_Gary]

Sorry for the late response Mike. You've got a lot to look into-stuck valves can be common due to inactivity; dirt in the carb can also keep the engine from starting. I've not used Seafoam in my M37 but swear by it in cleaning out the carb in my snow blower, and mower.
Good luck-let us know what you find.
Gary

[mike_m]

Thanks Gary. Found a guy in my area that specializes in ford flathead, but he has done dodge's as well. I might go to him or other

[Cal_Gary]

OK let us know what you find.
Thanks!
Gary