info on wont start?

So just picked up the truck for 500$ with suppposodly a blown head gasket. But it wont run... I should at least kind run? I got it home and gave a quick check... its getting good spark and fuel. . . Cranking it it sounds to have compression. Kid I bought the truck from said it blew a coolant bypass tube on him and overheated then never ran again... any suggestions before I Yank the head off?

but a cheap compression tester from harbor freight or princess auto, play around and learn!

agreed, wet and dry compression test it.

yeah, thats on the list for today.. got a buddie back at the house thats gonna check it out today while im at work

checked the compression... showin an average of about 35psi in all 4 holes... what should it be? imma pull the head first thing saturday morning and have it planed and replace the head gasket and oil/coolant change of corse.. see where that lands me.

should be a minimum of 120 on all 4 pistons. compression THAT low would indicate that
#1, you didn't leave the throttle plate wide open for the testing
#2, timing is VERRRRY off
#3, bent valves or very bad valve seats all the way around
#4, MAJOR HG leak.

I'd try adjusting the timing first, then retesting. After that, Mr. Head needs to come off and get looked at.

yeah man thats what im thinking... timings gotta be off.. #1 cyl is wet for sure, indicating head gasket though. . . . the thing that gets me is that the guy i bought it from says the heater wasnt working back the begining of winter, it ended up getting a water pump and a timing belt while the mechanic had it torn apart,he drove a couple 3 months daily ... then here acouple weeks ago he said it over heated on him and shut down. wouldnt re start....
timing seems plausable at this point, but if it was drove daily like he said, it wasnt with 35psi in the holes thats for damn sure.

working all day i dont really have the motivation to fix this at night so it has to wait till saturday. especially sense its not my daily yet. hahah

but also,was told this motor is a non-interferance motor??? meaning if ya throw a timing belt it doesnt mean major failure like many other engines?

well.... turnd out to be a MAJOR head gasket leak. got the head off and it was warped as fuhhh... so put it on the planer and milled/planed it... nice and flat now. shit runs great!

glad to hear man. nice find for 500. post some pics, were all pic whores. lol

next-- gonna start gettin it bagged.