[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by RufusTheDufus

When these engines die is it a slow death with lots of warning signs or something a little more sudden? The body is in pretty good shape. We were hoping to use it for camping trips to the southwest driving from Maine. (5,000 mile+ trips with lots of highway driving.) I guess that's not such a good idea without an overhaul.

IMO you do not have a serious problem yet and providing you dont over stress the rings it will be fine for a few more camping trips yet
Highway trips will be fine as long as you keep the rpms down.

Its already dying a slow and graceful death as the compression figures are close to one another.
Now you know its going to die it will give you a year or 2 to line up an engine rebuilder.
The engine kits for these are cheaper than some gassers.

I guess the next signs will be increased blow by ,oil usage and harder starting in the cold.

Another way of monitoring your engines condition will be to do a comp every few months or so