->> When I started it, it spun over very quickly as if it had no compression
->> whatsoever.  Needed nearly wide open throttle to even start.  No idle, no
->> power.  Hmm.
->> Since the engine had been using oil, I just dropped in a good used one.
->Same

->Piston rings? Any signs of blow by? Did you do a compression test before
->taking the motor out?

It had been using oil, but only one cylinder seemed to be the problem.  In
any event, there was no noticeable oil smoke during it's last minutes.
Didn't  bother with a compression test, just replaced the thing.

About the only thing I didn't look for was a sheared key on the crank timing
gear.  There just isn't much in a basic long block that can fail and leave
those symptoms.  I'll never know, and the engine is long gone to the
junkyard.

-c-

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