Spark plugs: 7 tan, 1 black

[vettestr]

Hey all, Still keeping fingers crossed it is an easy fix for you, I think we are all pulling for ya. Mac and Rick brought up a couple points I wanted to table for discussion. We are in agreement not that that means much cause it is the input of others in agreement or not that show different ways to explain or look at the problem. Not to mention the fact I am making this up as I go so a sanity check is definitely a good thing...LOL .
1st Mac=
The oiled cylinder will or can give different and misleading #'s if it is a ring issue on the compression test or until the oil is pushed by the rings as it dries out a bit. A bad V. guide will not care and will show up on the compression test so just another puzzle piece. The leak down will allow you to hear where or by what component the air is going past. This probably tells you more than the just numbers can.
Rick L = More good stuff that made me think from other directions. My point on the vac gauge is not the just # he will get on idle other than if near zero but as numbers to compare. I asked Chuck to get an idle reading and another at a stable 2500 RPM. At idle and around 2.5K the needle movement is the key info. If it is vibrating/unstable at idle it shows V. guide condition, vac leak and to some degree cyl. condition. At 2500 stable RPM it will show a major vac leak but can compare to movement of needle at idle and if it is low reading here it is not a cam function but a system check.