Posted by Craig Selvey on April 18, 1998 at 14:27:26:
In Reply to: Engine problem posted by Thomas Cooper on April 18, 1998 at 10:33:33:
: I have a 70 Maverick with a 200 six cylinder. It only has 40,000 miles on it. Lately it has started missing/dragging(?) when I accelerate, usually going uphill. It seems to be getting worse each day. Any suggestions? Also, I seem to be losing oil at about a rate of a quart a month, even though the car doesn't smoke at all. Is this a characteristic of Mavericks, or is something really wrong here?
: Love my Maverick!!!
Here's my guess.
Does the car smoke when you first fire it up. Just a puff of ble smoke. Look and see. My guess is that even though the engine has low miles, over 28 years the valve seals have dried up. Oil will especially drain into the cylinders if it sits for a while, then you start it up and, poof....smoke! It will also tend to use oil as it runs. What this does is foul out you plugs and it will start "missing". Check all your spark plugs, and see if any are fouled. If they are, either clean or replace them. this should clear up the missing...temporarily. Right way to fix it.....puill the head, have a complete valve and head job done. New guides and seals, hardened seats so you can burn unleaded gas. Put the head back on and away you go. While you have the head off, check for scoring of the piston cylinder walls.
My car was doing the above and I re-did the head as described....no more problems.