Help. Car taking a nosedive on power...

[pgriffith]

Originally posted by Pewter2K1:
anyone know what i should be reading for a "proper" compression?

Not sure exactly, but a good way to tell is to test all the cyl.'s and they should all be really close to each other. If one is way low then you know you have a problem.

[98Camaro3.8]

Readings should all be above 100 psi, and the lowest one should be within 70% of the highest one.

The following are examples of the possible measurements:

* When the compression measurement is normal, the compression builds up quickly and evenly to the specified compression on each cylinder.
* When the compression is low on the first stroke and tends to build up on the following strokes, but does not reach the normal compression, or if the compression improves considerably with the addition of three squirts of oil, the piston rings may be the cause.
* When the compression is low on the first stroke and does not build up in the following strokes, or the addition of oil does not affect the compression, the valves may be the cause.
* When the compression is low on two adjacent cylinders, or coolant is present in the crankcase, the head gasket may be the cause.

[phantomzer0]

didn't you say you run a cut-out? myabe im wrong, but dont you mount the cut-out before the cat, maeaning it wouldnt matter if your cat is bad or not since you arent using it anyways?

[Pewter2K1]

you can... but i didnt... didnt want to risk anything...
besides after i install the new parts, the cutout will be gone.....

[articacid]

the majority of people here dont mount them before the cat, i would but they dont.

it comes in handy if you have a stock exhuast and you just want to open it up.