Alright so my engine was 180 out. I had compression prior to fixing it. turns out the intake valve was hitting the piston, not by much but enough. here is one of the pistons.

NOTE: all the pistons look similar to this one.



and here are the valves,



Its hard to see but you can make out the marks on the valves from the piston. At this point I have no compression in cylinders one and two, and a little bit in the rest. Would the small amount of damage on the valve cause this much loss of compression? The valves don't appear to be bent but I am only looking at it and feeling it. They all close correctly so I'm at a loss right now. If the valves are causing the problem I'm going to get a used head from the junk yard. But if anyone has any ideas on the sudden loss of compression I would love to hear it.

I know this is the 2nd time I've posted this but I didn't get a reply previously

Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction

 

The compression drop, is most likely due to the valve being open on the compression stroke. I suggest putting the short block at TdC on number one and starting fresh and turning it over by hand to feel for it, before you put it back in the car.

 

I have it at TdC and I put the head back on. Thats when i had the loss of compression. When it was 180 out I had compression. Do you think I could put the head back on and put it all back together and see if I get compression?

 

no you have bent valves. this is not like nuclear weapons close is not enough.

 

Alright. Thanks rogerz. That's what I needed to know.