.
I accept the blame. I probably over-revved it going 65 MPH. It
sounded so happy at that speed! And I had it to 65 on the way
home when I bought it, so that would explain the trouble at the
smog shop. Bent valves. I suppose one valve on #1 was bent just
enough to close at cranking speed for a good compression test,
but not at running speed.
I have no idea about RPMs; the tach did not work.
We took it on a 1000 mile trip last weekend. On the way home,
it suddenly developed a slight ticking noise, and ran a bit rougher,
and would not idle at all. And it made a puffing sound thru the
carburetor. I just pulled the valve cover and found the expected
"taco'ed" push rod.
Lesson learned.
On the trip, we actually learned all we needed. Old #35 is too small.
So now I am actively shopping for a 40 foot flat nose -- probably a
BB TC2000. It even has a name already: Millicent -- after a lady we
met at BM who has such a bus and gave us a tour. 35 feet of usable space!
So there is no problem. We paid $250,- for it. (I can use the MSD hot
rod ignition parts on some other vehicle.)
Thanks to all for the input. The death certificate will show that Old
#35 died happy, singing like a freight train and hauling four
partying Kinetic Sculpture Racers and pulling a trailer and just
living it up.