It could be the timing chain/sprockets marks are not lined up correctly or the valves are not adjusted correctly.
It is a 1976 Chevy 350
theres four things a motor has gotta have to run regaurdless of anything anyone says..........air . fuel, spark, and compression you gotta have all four or you ain't gonna get it running
The smaller combustion chambers would increase the compression ratio a little, and the smaller valves would lower the torque curve a little, but also reduce the peak horsepower available.
it can be lost of Compression in the Motor....
When you run a compression test, you are really looking for a cylinder that is way out of line with the others. 40, or 50 lbs lower than the rest, would indicate trouble. As for a number, well there is a lot that contributes to the actual answer. On my race engines, I come in as high as 180, to 200lbs. A motor with 80,000 miles, and 8:1 compression, would be lucky to put up 100lbs.
That would be a destroked motor, and would result in a 285.
Depends alot on the year, and how many miles on the motor. Anywhere from 80lbs, and up. What you are really looking for, is a difference. One cylinder 25, or 30 lbs lower. This would indicate a dead cylinder.
Not sure, i would say oil pump or cam bearings
Does it have fuel/spark/compression?
Bad are burnt intake or exhaust valve. Pistion rings broken, Burned pistion. Blown head gasket. That is all that would cause no compression are a loss of compression.
A guess would be 5-600lbs
The engine would not run. The engine would lack compression.
Anywhere from, say 80, to 180lbs. What you are looking for, really, is a difference. One that is 30, to 40 lbs., lower. A good small block, with half life left, should come in around 120. A new motor, 150, a high compression race motor, 160, to 180. Anything below, say 80, may require attention, soon.