The engine is fine...
 

OK...So I know I'm gonna catch a little crap from this, but here goes anyways.

My burnt piston/unseated rings, were actually the first oil pressure relief spring cover had backed out of the threads a little. Which, when coupled with a 30mm pump, means a lot of pressured oil flying out onto my headers.

I tightened it up, and voila! No leak.

As for the loss in power, I had a loose plug wire, that just wouldn't snap down on the cap like it was supposed to.

I only noticed this upon pulling the wires off one at a time (trailer park compression test), to find out which cylinder was "trashed".

So, I'm an idiot sometimes...sue me.

At least I planned for the worst. These things aren't always kind to those who hope for the best.

Maybe this thread can be a tribute to mine and others' mis-diagnosed, anger-derived, stress-related experiences.

ROFLMAO...at myself.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/yawn.gif
Phew!
Dude, how happy are you? Makes you wanna laugh a little, OK, maybe a lot! You had me a little worried ya know - same parts, same combo.......
I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing WITH you, because I've BTDT many, many timeshttp://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/happy.gif .
Miles of happy motoring await.........

Pretty happy man! Now I can put my new gearbox in this weekend, in a couple of hours, and go!!!

Sometimes, you just get lucky.
L. McC;)