thanks to all that replied. I'm just now getting to reply as my notifications didnt alert me.That's the big one. How much money do you have to spend right now? I'm sure that piston can be repaired. I know it would cost about the same as a new piston, but that one is already broken in with the engine, and is going to seal fine with no block machine work. Pull the valve out of the head and check the seat with your fingernail. Run your fingernail around the valve seat. If it catches anywhere, it's most likely going to need a professional valve job. If not, then it can most likely be lapped in just fine with valve grinding compound; which is basically just to match a new valve to an old seat.
Kurt
the dowels just push it/knock in and seat ?Yes, you can use a 12 point socket on a hex bolt. The head dowels can be re used so long as they aren't too corroded. They should fit snug. Not sure about the intake gasket.
Kurt
the dowels just push it/knock in and seat ?
i wonder if my car's changes in how it drove from time to time had anything to do with a possible gradually worn , loose spring or something that started out as slight enough to cause changes in how the car drove but not bad enough to not cause anything too bad until receently the week of thanksgiving and to your point of what you just said? Ohh maybe it was me putting in the laquer thinner in the no. 2 sp hole in trying to see about decoking that cylinder as part of diagnosing an improper seating valve. Also this guy told me about the trany fluid/premium gas mixture to try and tried that alsoI'm a bit curious here. The cylinder in question has a clean surface relative to the others. Also, the coloring on the valves for that cylinder are also different. This was a catastrophic failure that happened suddenly. How would it account for the significant difference in the deposits?