Thanks, I guess I will start by removing the intake manifold first and see if anything is obvious and then proceed with removing the head but I am leaving it for later I am going to finish the brakes and clutch first before tackling the engine.

Same thing happened to me about a year and a half ago. Was driving me crazy why I couldn't get it running properly. Well, here's why........ Damn ring!

I've since installed a completely new head.

All you guys are running the carbs way to rich, that's why all the carbon build up. If you use the wrong spark plug heat, and then try to read on the spark plug if the mixture is right, you'r actually reading wrong.

Same thing happened to me about a year and a half ago. Was driving me crazy why I couldn't get it running properly. Well, here's why........ Damn ring!

I've since installed a completely new head.

Interesting, good to see no contact with the piston

is that part pressed in and just fell off or something broke letting it lose?

I believe the valve seats are pressed in...

I believe the valve seats are pressed in...

yes, reading the FSM there is an interference fit between the seat and the head

Ran a compression test on my car today and got 0 in cyl. #3.

Did a search on this site and found this thread. So I pulled the valve cover and found the exact pic westpak posted in the beginning of the thread!!. My engine hasn't been running in 5 years so it is probably just a sticky valve. I was able to gently pry down the valve spring to get everythig back into position and after a few minutes the spring pushed the valve back to where it is suppose to be. If I crank the motor over slowly I can watch the valvespring compress and after the lobe is back pointing straight up in 2 minutes the valve is back up. Hope you have as good luck as I did westpak....

Did you regain the compression in #3?

good question because mine didn't come back, I am still pending removal of head, just have not felt like working on the car in this summer heat

I haven't redone the compression test, if I turn it over mutiple times it knocks the little seat on top of the valve back off. It's still sticky from something. I am pulling the motor this fall to detail the engine bay and then I will pull the head off to clean all of the valve stems and inspect to be sure. PO swore this motor purred last time he ran it 5 years ago, assured me he would buy it back if it had any major issues. So at this point I'm confident it's not a major issue.We'll see this winter....

well had not had much to update since I found this issue.

With the summer heat I had not done anything so with the cooler weather today I started back on it. Removed the carbs, intake manifold and headers.

So now of course you get in the quandary of what else to do or what to upgrade while I am in there, it never ends.

Well, I found my problem. Very dark gooey sticky substance covering everything. I would guess the oil hasn't been changed since the 70's. I have pulled the springs off two of the valves and had to use carb cleaner and wd-40 to free the valves to come thru the guides. No scoring or any damage so far, hoping all I need is a good cleaning after teardown. So far ,so good.....