Ok. So I must've got lucky. With the following in mind (below), the
"clack clack" I heard may simply have been a push rod or two seating.

Today, I did a compression test. #1 cylinder: 0 PSI. Couldn't even
feel a puff of air out of the plug hole. All other cylinders ~ 120
PSI. The plugs were black. Normally they aren't. Re-checked rockers
and pushrods on #1 cylinder head. Put a little oil into cylinder #1.
Checked compression. 0 PSI. Installed new plugs. Engine fired up
normally, ran much better, blew smoke for a while then exhaust cleared
up. It now runs same as before. (normal) I figure....

- Most recent noise I heard when engine ran rough may have been
alternator; I'd noticed the battery light at dash was no longer coming
on. The D+ connector at alternator had failed. Maybe this caused the
(brushes??) to behave in a different manner?? I repaired it of course.
- cylinders were fouled with fuel, this fouled spark plugs hence poor
running. New (clean) plugs helped engine start.
- reseating push rods helped but clean plugs really helped engine start
- lifters on cylinder #1 were completely bled down

Other than that, I have no idea why #1 went down to 0 PSI then engine
started and ran as it normally did. I was surprised to see 0 PSI at #1
cylinder. #2 was the one I was concerned with.

Slightly confused but happy and optimistic that I didn't toast this
engine as a usable core.

Neil.

On 5/19/17, Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> So before removing the driver side rocker arm assembly, I noticed that
> a valve spring at cylinder #2 appeared overly compressed. After
> reseating the push rods and installing the rocker arm assembly, that
> valve spring appeared to be less compressed. After quite a few boughts
> of cranking I got the engine to run, but at lower RPM engine is rough,
> it dies at idle, and there is a new unfamiliar noise at cylinder #2.
>

> On 5/16/17, Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> After checking head nut torque, i re installed the rocker arms (i was
>> careful to ensure push rods were seated to liftrs), cranked the engine,
>> and
>> as it fired for a split second, i heard a "clack clack".

--
Neil n

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