Blown Head Gasket ?

[pursang]

I'm looking for advice in trying to determine what my next step should be in fixing my Toyota 4AC. The problems started while driving down the highway the engine started pinging and progressively got worse, just as I was able to pull over the engine lost power, died and as I stopped the rad cap spiggot blew right off the top tank. after a tow home I tried starting it with no luck, did a compression test. Cylinder # (1) 115lbs. # (2) 85lbs. # (3) 38lbs. # (4) 46lbs. the low numbers on cylinders 3 and 4 had me thinking there was head gasket leaking between cylinders 3 and 4, but looking at the pictures of the gasket I see no obvious signs if cross cylinder leaking, would throwing a new head gasket on bring this little beast back to life ? this is a low budget project but I'd like to keep it running if I can. here are some pics. advice would be greatly appreciated.
Pistons look decent for 193.000 miles.


Both top and bottom sides of the head gasket.

[new echo owner]

I would suggest clean all the surfaces off and check every inches of it with a straight edge for warpage. Then clean of all the carbon and check for hairline cracks. Depend on how low of budget you have, may want to think about having the head pressure tested.

The picts are good; however, the areas that you are suspecting don't look like it had affected the coolant passages close-by, so it can't explain why the radiator spiggot got blown off.

N.E.O.

[pursang]

I did a quick check with a straight edge turns out the head is warped. you've come to same conclusion as me concerning the condition of the head gasket, I was hoping to find an easy fix with a bad head gasket, but now I'm guessing it's valves or piston rings $$$$ this car is a winter beater so it's not getting much attention money wise. but if anyone has an idea why the rad cap spiggot blew off I'd really like to hear about it, how does a sudden abrupt pressure happen like that ?

[4agetercel]

wanna buy a 4AC??? 158000klms still have the e-tests for it, clean runner

[pursang]

Thanks for the offer but this old beast is no longer worth sinking money into. now I'm just deciding what to do with it.

[4agetercel]

You sure? super cheap i just want it gone and youd be back up an running, plus i dont want it to sit too long to the point of uselessness, its also depending how far away you live? but if no then thats cool

[pursang]

I'm way out in B.C. I just picked up sweet 1990 Corolla for $ 1300 so the old 84 is getting the boot

[4agetercel]

yeah i hear a then, did you get a gts at least?

[pursang]

no it's just a regular 4FAE four door sedan with an auto. but only 155.000km from the second owner, have the original bill of sale and loads of service receipts, plus four extra wheels with new snow tires on them

[4agetercel]

sounds like a decent find, whats the body like?

[pursang]

yeah I'm still amazed I found a 90 with such low milage, usually people wait till they have 300.000 + before getting rid of them, it has one small dent in the front fender, otherwise zero rust, looks like a garaged car. I'll have to take some pics. I haven't even washed it yet.

[4agetercel]

nice sounds like a solid car

[pursang]

Thanks. hope these are not too huge.

[4agetercel]

wow thats in nice shap, well you shouldnt have too much trouble selling the 86' tons of people out in BC like these cars

[pursang]

yeah and only 1300 skins (: well if something happens real quick I may change my plans for the parts, I've only got the alternator, distributor, starter and wiper motor for sale on castanet, Kijiji, Used Okanagan and Craigslist but no emails yet, a guy with a crane truck is coming this thursday to haul the old beast away, the fenders, doors, hood and trunk lid are all rusted through, I'm keeping the buckets for my 81 Toy Pickup, I guess the 5spd and diff are worth something even with 300.000+km on them. and the engine of course needs a rebuild.