First, my apologies -- I forgot there was a rec.aviation.marketplace
for such things. (At least I'm not selling Viagra or stock tips!) The
plane only flew 100 hours in twenty years, that's why the top. The
engine runs great, uses less than a quart between changes, and has
absolutely zero metal in the screen. I have flown it 175 hours since I
bought it. When my A&P IA did the first annual he did the compression
check three times, tried another tester on the plane and then tested a
different plane with both testers--to make sure the results were
accurate--78s and a 79! He said they were the highest numbers he'd
seen on a Continental. I think the key is that it is flown regularly,
and leaned in flight and for taxi. (MA3 carb with mixture control.)

This is the 5th plane I've owned. All have always scored well on the
compression tests during annuals, including two other Continentals. I
try to never let a plane sit more than four days without flying it--the
more the better, (for me and for the plane).

- Brett