[mr0077]

Say, Rick L and Vettster reminded me of another symptom that could be useful...
Vettster, I thought a bad valve guide would NOT show in a compression or leakdown test since it is on the carb/atmospheric side of the valve seat. How would the compression check show a bad guide?

And speaking of bad guides, if that is the problem, often a bad intake guide will show with a cloud (light or heavy, depending on how bad it is) of blue smoke on trailing throttle...get the sun behind you, get up to speed, let off gas in gear and let engine slow down the car, look in mirror (or have passenger look) for smoke cloud. BUT, this condition will cause oily residue in the pipes, which ceslaw said he doesn't have.