I'm thinking it may be the valves, but if so I'm not sure on how to fix them or how to be certain. It recently stopped running so I put it up in the garage since I don't need to drive around much. I replaced the spark plugs, and put some new wires going to the injectors since they were old and cracking. Just before it died it was running poorly. It would take forever to start up and when it was going it would die at idle and if i took it on the highway it would only get up to about 60mph and couldn't go any faster. After I changed the wires and plugs I tried starting it again and no luck. Compression is good on all cylinders but when I pulled the plugs again they were completely gross looking. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
John

AIM: mixedthemess
i'm always on.
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1973 145 Lola

Dark wet gunk on fresh plugs is a little worrisome, but it could be gas-soaked carbon. If they smell strongly of gas, you may have a leaky injector or cold start injector, so then pull the rail and cold start injector and put into bottles and run the pump to see if you got leaks. There should be no or <1 per each couple of seconds dripping. You can check spray as well with ignition on and open the throttle, clicking the throttle switch.
If bad running warm, likely cause is coolant temp sensor at front of head or connection thereto. Cold engine needs rich mix. I can't recall if disconnecting that wire makes it rich or lean.
If not gas, rings.

Disconnecting the wire makes it go full rich.

But I'd still want to see good spark before suspecting the fuel injection or mechanical defects in the engine itself. Even if the Crane is working right, the coil may be on its way out, or who knows what.

Not saying it isn't the injection, but first things first.

I pulled the rail and checked the injectors. They are firing fine but nothing from the cold start. I'm sure that's not a good thing but I didn't think it would keep the car from starting entirely. Also while I was cranking it trying to make it start again it back fired. If that is a clue to anything I don't know.
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1973 145 Lola

Could be many things, but valves do not usually degrade quickly.

The first place I'd check would be under the distributor cap. Are the points gapped correctly? Have the rotor and cap contacts turned into green slime?

It has a crane ignition. The contacts are all good too. Would those things not being good explain why the plugs were covered with ick when I pulled em?
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1973 145 Lola

Okay, never mind the points then... although the cap and rotor still need replacement just as often with the Crane.

What kind of ick is on the plugs? Black sooty stuff?

Nah its black gooey stuff and the engine hasnt even fired up.
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1973 145 Lola

Check and see if you have spark at all, with the help of an assistant.

Remove a spark plug, reconnect the wire, and hold it so the threaded part makes good contact with an exposed bolt on the motor. Hold it with a dry rag, so it doesn't zap you. Have your trusty assistant crank the motor -- you should see a nice spark at the plug electrode.

Please report back the results of the spark test, and we'll see what to do from there.

It does have spark. Last time I checked it was spraying well i'll have to pull the rail again and check.
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1973 145 Lola