Chrysler Repair: 2.2 knocks and rocks, valve components, valve train

Question
 Just acquired an 87 aries with the 2.2. It starts but rocks violently on it's mounts while emitting a loud valve knock. Pull the wire off of no.2 cyl. and it makes no difference, the other 3 do. Put in new plug, no difference. When extracted, it was sooty black, but has a lot of hot spark shooting off. Lacks enough power to pull itself around but will idle roughly. What could cause no.2 to not fire? Valve or components?

Answer
Hi Mark,
I would suggest taking off the valve cover and looking at the valve components for the no.2 cylinder compared to the other three. Or you could first do a compression test on it: warm up the engine, remove all the plugs, test each cylinder using the starter motor. Should be 100 psi +/- 25. If no. 2 is way low, then put a teaspoon of oil in the hole and retest. If it improves markedly the rings are shot. Then I would take off the valve cover and see if there is something wrong with the valve train for that cylinder, and if not, then remove the head and examine valves and piston. The rocking also suggests that the engine mount(s) are worn out.
Roland