Engine exploration...., Is this engine any good? Options

[bostonmeche]

Hi all,
Well after pulling the engine several weeks ago and asking retarded questions about push rod tubes, and oil geysers, I done n pulled the cylinder head off of #3 and #4. Having done this I was finally able to learn some things.

1. My cylinders are 96mm in dia and 76mm stroke, (I get 2.2L) Yeah! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

2. My engine doesn't look like the prestine engines I see on all the Discovery Channel TV shows like Rides and Overhaulin. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

So my questions to those who know.

1) Is it normal to have all this black cryosote (sp?) looking stuff all over the pistons and valves?

2) Should I just put this thing back together and quietly walk away and call the engine toast? or should I clean all the crude off and try and put it back together?

3) My compression numbers are:
Cyl #1 100
Cyl #2 85
Cyl #3 100
Cyl #4 75


4) Is this engine worth fix'n??

[bostonmeche]

I appreciate all the input.

I am just trying to keep this engine from gooing oil all over the ground and since the engine is out, perhaps pick up some extra lost hp.

What is the cheapest way to put the engine back together and still get some hp back. Could I just hone the cylinders and put in new piston rings? I will definitely buy the Tom Wilson book. Perhaps that will answer a lot of my why and what if questions. The Haynes manual is good for seperating things and putting them back together but does not really explain the trade offs of making certain decisions.

This engine is only supposed to stick around until I have the funds, time, and experience to do a -6 cyl. I don't want to spend a bunch of money on this engine only to sell it to someone for 1/4 of the price. The flip side is that I don't want to grenade the engine because I think there are people out there that would probably be willing to buy some or all of it. Every $1 saved is a $1 spent on the 6 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif)