I did get a look at the intake manifold and it is clear.

The exhaust manifold however...

I might end up taking it off, why not, took damn near everything else apart.

I'd pull the head but I have a feeling that I wouldn't find anything out of the ordinary.

Maybe I'm just getting cynical.

I considered that.

But wouldn't there be some evidence of that backpressure through the intake?

Well I suppose it could get sucked into the other cylinders.

And how could the exhaust valve not open? I can see the cam pushing the lifter. If the lifter collapses?

Hmmm....

I wouldn't give up on it.

I drove an interference engine with a failing belt for a few miles.

Yeah I got super lucky, I think it just skipped a couple teeth.

But I would pop a belt and pulley on, maybe not for $400 though, what the ?

I have a 240 and a 740 and I love them both but for different reasons.

My 240 is my old girl, slow to accel, slow to turn and it slows me down too. My blood pressure drops, I enjoy the view a bit more. People turn and look and remember back to when their hippie-wannabe parents drove them around in ...

I would go ahead and replace your engine speed sensor, mine looked fine but when I pulled it I could see that the insulation was cracked and the sensor was a mess.

If you don't mind buying a compression tester I would do that next, it is the only major item that hasn't been checked.

If you do ...

I've been working on this problem for quite some time now with no luck.

My wife was driving when all of a sudden the engine started running rough.
She drove it 40 miles home and said it was very underpowered.

The dipstick smelled of gas so I drained the oil and it had a bit of gas in it.

I ...

I just recently purchased the car I've been trying to find for years... a gray 1989 240 wagon in near perfect shape with a MANUAL transmission!

This car has been very well maintained with a complete set of service records and the A/C even blows cold!

So I'm about to take it on a road trip next ...