Just for fun I did a compression test on my 72 350. Here's the results: rounded up/down to nearest 5. BTW its the cars original engine and has needed only minor maintenance over the past 36 years. Still has plenty of get up and go.

Cylinder 1: 140 3: 145 5: 130 7: 145
Cylinder 2: 145 4: 135 6: 140 8: 140

Does anyone know what the factory comp should be on a 350 L34? From what I'm seeing all the cylinders are reasonably close to each other with the exception of the 5 port. Is this normal wear for 119000 miles? Would it be an indicator of worn rings? I should mention that there's NO smoke out of this engine when it starts or while it's running. It's been one of those dream engines that the energizer bunny would be in stiff competition with.

This engine will be in the car until I get my 455 rebuilt and installed.

 

If I can remember correctly, my 72 350 checked out around 115-130 psi back in the early 80's before I built it up. After the build, I believe with around 9.2:1 CR and a SSI 214/224 cam it checked out to around 155psi. Prior the the build the engine was sound and did not burn oil or smoke and had under 100,000 miles on it. If you do the test again, do a SeaFoam treatment to clean up the rings and combustion chamber(read the can), then check again, if the same add a teaspoon of oil to a cylinder and if compression increases, you have excessively worn rings. I just did my 70 L74 last week in preparation for a cam swap next year. Factory CR is around 9.7:1 for the high compression L74 and the cylinder pressure is 165-180psi with the stock cam. The L74 350 has a noticeable increase in torque compared to the 72 stock or built up 350. Your results look very good. Got to love these high nickel blocks...