Engine Trouble : 1958 Type 2 Pickup

Dear Forum Members:

While driving I snapped the fan-belt on my 36 horse motor (1958 Type 2Pickup). In order to save a huge towing bill, I drove my truck home with no generator or cooling system. I only drove 2 miles, but the engine was definitely smoking by the time I turned the motor off. I did replace the belt the next day and the engine fired up just fine.

However, my truck is now missing (i.e., bogging) between 1st and 2nd gear and 2nd and 3rd gear, etc. Also, my truck has a bad exhaust leak and back fires.

I am taking the car to my mechanic, but my mechanic is not a specialist on air-cooled motors.

Should I ask my mechanic to test the engine compression before he works on the exhaust and tune-up procedures? How can I troubleshoot this engine issue with my mechanic ?

Please help.

Thanks,

try taking off ur valve gasket covers and checking your valves. they probably need to be adjusted. turn the motor until one valve is all the way closed and the valve that is not compressed should have some clearance. check it with a feeler gauge and the gap should be around .005 i think. but it sounds like your valves are not opening and closing at the correct time. when it heats up the metal expands and could have un adjusted it self.