Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1953 kaiser automatic, e mail address, vacuum leak

Question
Hello Dick:

for some reasion I keep loosing your answer.
the P C saye click on the link below I do but nothing happans I keep it up finly it goes away.

I went under the kaiser to have a look see about un hooking the driveshaft all I could see to unhook it was the spring clips at the ends of the U joint and I am afraid I'll loose the rollers  out of it.
maby I should drain the transmission?
also when I unhook the transmission from the engine what will happen?  will the fluid run out then?
I hope I can retreve your answer.
Thanks
Bill

Answer
It is strange that you cannot receive my answers.  I think it is important that you read my first answer, because I'm afraid you are going in the wrong direction with this car.  

I'll try sending it to you again, and if you still can't receive it, include your e-mail address in your next question and I'll send it to you directly.

Here it is again:

OOps!   I'll dig back in my archives and insert the first part of the
reply below.

>>>Answer -
The compression test shows that your engine is really in pretty decent condition.  These are not high compression engines - and your cylinders are well within normal limits and variation - 103 +/- 7 PSI is actually quite good for this engine.

Before you go to the trouble of overhauling the engine, give it a good tune-up, and set the timing, dwell, and mixture for optimum running.  Set the timing so that you just barely hear pinging on acceleration in top gear at 30 MPH with light to moderate acceleration.  The pinging should stop when you give it more gas, if it does not, check your vacuum advance unit for a vacuum leak.  If you still think it is really too sluggish, check the valve timing, it is possible that your timing chain is stretched beyond spec, depending on how many miles on it.  If it has less than about 150,000, I wouldn't worry about the timing chain.

These are very heavy cars, with a quite small engine for the weight - they never were quick to accelerate - even the supercharged 54's were pretty
slow.   My advice is to enjoy the car for its comfort and beautiful lines,
and don't expect it to keep up with modern traffic - it wasn't designed to do that.

The rear main seal leaking is true of almost all of these cars - it
doesn't hurt a thing except the looks of your garage floor.   Even a
complete rebuild is not guaranteed to stop all the leaks - especially the rear main seal - they are famous for leaking!

I personally enjoy rebuilding engines, so go ahead if it will bring you pleasure, but don't expect much in the way of performance improvement.

Good Luck

Dick.