REFLECTOR: Engine troubles

[Geoff Gerhardt]

Some of you might remember a few weeks ago, after taking my first taxi I
did a full run up and found my static was low.  After doing some
troubleshooting, I found a couple issues - an intake leak and a faulty
electronic ignition box.  My Light Speed ignition box is off to Klaus at
Light Speed Engineering to be fixed.

During the process of checking the timing/ignition, I noticed that when I
was trying to find #1 TDC by putting my thumb over the spark plug hole to
check when it was on a compression stroke, I was not feeling much pressure.
 So, I recently did a compression check.  The numbers were dismal. All were
low: #1 - 10/80, #2 - 20/80, #3 - 24/80, #4 - 10/80.  All were leaking
copiously past the intake valve.  Exhaust valves sounded tight, some
leakage could be heard past the rings.  I took the intake pipe off #1 and
put my fingers behind the valve and could feel the air rushing past.  Not
sure why its so bad.  Looks like the guy who sold it to me (an A&P and
Velocity owner) is either a terrible A&P or dishonest.

Can someone tell me my options?  My preference would be to rebuild it
myself (I've rebuilt many engines, most recently a Porsche 911 - pretty
similar!), so I'd look forward to it.  The drawback of that is time.  I
could probably tear it down in day, but I suspect sending stuff out for
inspection and acquiring all the necessary parts might take awhile.  What
are my options for the cylinders?  Send the out for rebuild?  New?  How
much $ are we talking?

The other option would be to send it to a rebuilder - definitely be more
expensive, but do they have relatively quick turn around times?

Geoff
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