65 327 issue

If it were mine, I'd be focused on getting the carb cleaned up, and at the same time blowing back the line to the tank, and adding a new fuel filter. You've got cylinder pressures within 10% of one another on an engine that's been running good for 20+ years, which suddenly turned crappy. I would put a kit in the carb, paying close attention to blowing passages clear after your cleaning process. Once that's done you can decide if you want to chase a possible low compression issue. Just my opinion, and everyone's got one.

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Originally Posted by corv65

1965 327 ran fine for 20 years; started it a month ago; ran like crap.

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66 289 in a 66 Mustang ran as a daily driver until the late 90's. Ran what was called "gasahol" in the late 80's for a couple of years then back to regular gas. Ran fine until one night in about 98 coming home from work. Died on the interstate off ramp, restated but wouldn't stay running and smelled strongly of fuel. The front bowl of the 650 double pumper was spewing raw fuel all over the place. Got it off on the side of the road and pulled off the carb, always carried a decent loaded tool box in the trunk. The remains of the rubber "O" ring that seals the needle and seat assembly was in the bottom of the bowl, replaced it and headed home. About a week later the rear bowl did the same thing in the parking lot at work.
So you do what you want, but if you've been running regular gas with ethanol you've GOT crud in the fuel system, been there, done that.

I'd agree with the possibility of a bad tank of gas except for the comment that the idle air adjuster does nothing on one side. Any time I had one that didn't show a lean fall off choking down, and a rich fall off increasing it indicated a cruddy carb. Ethanol has only made the situation worse.

Hope you'll come back and close the loop on what you find, and how you get it movin' down the road again.

"Changed electronic ignition, ballast resistor" most HEI or electronic ignitions require a full 12 volts if you are running it through a ballast resistor you do not have 12 volts and it would run like crap.

Also----was his carb throttle plates open wide or closed during the compression tests???

And why does anyone not do the oil thingie when getting a low reading on compression guage??????? leak down test would then be appropriate