Once again I write about the non starting engine. This defies the basic laws of thermodynamics and physics. Compressed gasoline vapor and spark should result in an explosion. Hopefully controlled. I have all except explosion. My concern now is with as much as this motor has been turned over without starting (121000 mile motor), compression becomes erratic. The service manual says that if adding oil increases compression then bad rings. But thats after started and warm. Does anyone have any experience with this phenomenon? Ken #1065 -------------------------------------------------------------------- I wish I were closer to you. I never met a Studebaker engine I couldn't get running in a hour or so if everything was in working order. To recap: If you have fuel and compression and apply a good spark at the correct time it will run. If you've got compression and the rotor is pointing to the correct cylinder at TDC ON THE COMPRESSION STROKE and you've got spark and gas the dam thing WILL run. ( unless you welded up the exhaust) Suck, squeeze, pop and phooey, nothing could be more basic than a good old non computer controlled 4 stroke with a carburetor. -- John Poulos -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ken, the compression readings should be all the same within 10-15 pounds. Cold, adding oil should show if the oil bypasses the rings again cold.remove all plugs first, then disconect coil wire from distributer.if its warm it will read higher on compression gage but you should get a steady reading when cold.no variations from no. 1 to no. 8 of more than 10-15 pounds. you may have a blown head gasket , even without loseing water, Roland -------------------------------------------------------------------- Did you do a little dance when she fired ? I still don't see how you had fire at the plugs with a bad condenser that kept it from running. I've seen folks install the condenser lead so that it shorted to ground killing the spark or and internally shorted condenser doing the same. In those cases you would not have a spark and the plus though. The good news it it's running, so just chalk it up to the Avanti demon. -- John Poulos --------------------------------------------------------------------