pinto problems

[peternann]

Any ideas / help please...we've got a 2.0 ltr escort,recon'd bottom end ,recon'd big valve head ,new 2x45 webbers ,new pacemakers /exhaust,new ''fast street'' cam. i built the motor myself . the cam timing is as good as the standard belt/cog will allow and the tappet clearance is spot on. the problem is no 1 and 2 cyl have 160 compression and 3 and 4 have 60...ive had the head re-tested-O.K,no sign of gasket failure , cyl bores not scored.i thought it may be a dodgie cam , gave tappets extra clearance...no differance.im out of ideas, the motor dosnt ''breath'' from oil filler, the catch can is dry,the oil is clean,the coolant dosnt bubble..oh ...at idle/ low load she occasionlly backfires through the rear carb

[brenx]

It'll either be a ring pack issue, a valve issue or even a cam issue. Those engines tend to chew the rockers. Best to work your way through the easy stuff and you may eventually need to pull the engine out to go over it.

I've bought an engine that ran ok but comp tested a little off. Pulled it apart to find a broken ring which would have been done during installation.

[T3man]

You say you've had the head re-tested and no sign of gasket failure. But if you have that little compression on adjacent cylinders it points directly to head gasket failure to me.