Technical issue with 1958 chevy 283 (I hope she's not worn out)

If he had to do that to get it to run, it's the timing chain that jumped. That would account for the low compression and vacuum. Sounds like time to tear into it.

 

Only need to pull distributor cap and roll crank shaft by hand forward then back all the while watching the rotor for a delay between the two rotations. Also should be making a knocking sound up front if it did jump.

 

I have checked the condition of motors buy using an air compressor to check for cylinder leaks...Just listen to where the air is leaking from.....Make an air chuck out of an old sparkplug....

 

I had a 67 Impala with a 283 when I was a kid back in the mid 70s. It couldn't be timed by the marks on the dampener. I was told it probably spun on the rubber mount of the dampener and the original timing marks were no usable. I always timed by ear and that always worked.

 

I told my buddy to right away. It wasn’t thin and didn’t smell like gas surprisingly

 

I did this. I’d seemed pretty tight.

 

To me a leak down test would be more beneficial that just a compression test.