Triumph Repair: 1970 Triumph Spitfire, head gasket, compression tester

Question
I fixed the problem with the Ignition coil, but now another situation has come up.  The head gasket was bad and the oil coming out was as thin as water.  I installed a new head gasket but now the car will not start.  When the car was bad fluid wise, it started up with no hesitation.  Now the car has new oil and new gaskets and it does not start.  The compression is from 40 to 80 on the compression tester when before it was in the 100's and running normal.  One day ok and then next nothing.  She sounds like she wants to turn over but struggles.  Could the rings really be bad all of the sudden and with all 4 pistons?  Why is my compression so low?

Answer
Hi Kevin,
It sounds like you have a bad diaphragm in the fuel pump. You need to change that thin oil and correct the fuel pump and put a little oil in each spark plug hole and spin the engine with the starter a little. Then do a compression test (throttle open)and if it came back up you should be able to start the engine ok.
Howard