Trying to decide what to do (pics)

[weider1717]

I haven't dug into things yet trying to decide what path to take but pulled the passenger side valve cover just to see how much coolant gunk is in there not pretty.

I'm honestly thinking about just pulling the engine and rebuilding it top to bottom what if I pull the intake and thats not the problem then proceed onto pull the heads and rework them put it all back and not long after have engine issues from this?

also I now understand why my compression readings were all 180lbs I bet coolant was in the cylinders and caused it to read high? Just a thought. I may pull all the plugs turn it over a few times and see which cylinders if any pumps any coolant out from the spark plug holes.

What I would like to do is pull it and just rebuild it and hopefully be done for years and years to come. Can anyone recommend a good rebuild kit and possibly some ideas to be thinking of while I start to tear into this engine as far as some things I will probably want to upgrade internally while I'm there anyway?

I already know to go with a double roller timing chain. Anything else? If possible I will keep the standard bore and heads and I have heard not to do a 3 angle valve job and not too keen on porting and dremeling my heads kinda picky with the truck but if theres some things that may help with performance and longevity of the engine that you guys are aware of having done rebuilds and more engine work than me just let me know.

I have also read things like go with has tang rings over sealed power etc not sure why but if theres things like this that are good advice in a rebuild thats the info I would appreciate!