440 ordeal continued

You say that there is no compression after running for 1 second, did you determine this by doing a compression check or is it just real easy to turn it over by hand. Try this, adjust your valves to 0 lash then back the rocker adjusters off 1/2 turn, make sure that the lifter pistons are up against the cir clip that keep them retained inside the lifter assembly before this. One good reason that it may be running for only 1 second is that the ballast resistor is crapped out, this condition is very common.

Terry