Head gasket?

Here are a couple of symptoms that I have, and would like to know if anyone thinkgs it points to a blown head gasket.

Jeep was shuttering or missing slightly for 3-4 weeks when driving, mainly in 2nd and 3rd.

The plug on cylinder 4 had a little oil around the threads.

Now it won't start up. Turns over fine, but no start.

Fuel line working fine.

Carburetor seems fine.

I have msd ignition and new coil, plugs, wires, rotor, cap, points, condensor.

Was running great for about a year before it started missing.

Just readjusted timing, and that was about 5 past tdc.

New solex carb.

checked the compression about 2 years ago, but no longer have access to compression gauge to check now.

Plan on getting comression gauge and then checking, and going ahead and ordering new head gasket.

 

First I would ask, do you really have spark? Did you pull the plug wire and can actually see spark jump when you crank the engine? Second I would make sure I have fuel. Pour a little fuel down the carb, or look down the carb throat and see that the accelerator pump is squirting fuel into the carb bore when you move the throttle.

Most won't-start conditions come from loss of spark or loss of fuel. It's very seldom that a problem like a bad head gasket will cause a sudden no-start condition.

 

Have you confirmed that you are getting spark at the plugs? That nr 4 having oil around threads could have been caused by failed plug i.e. cracked insulator etc.

 

Haven't checked the spark at the plugs...Meant to, but had problem with flat tire and the ever so obvious left threaded lugs on the driver side that ended up with a tow and broken lug bolts. Now it is rolling again, but haven't made it out to wire something to turn it over from the engine compartment so that I can trace spark through the system. Will prob. take care of tomorrow, and will post what I find asap.

 

You probably would not degrade from "a little shuddering" to "wont start" overnight due to a head gasket.

Some symptoms of head gasket problems are lots of white smoke out the exhaust that smells like antifreeze. Dissappearing antifreeze or over puking of the radiator, water in oil, oil in cooling system.

Tom