Help!!

[2001z24]

Ok here is the story, I have a 2001 z24 automatic just put another quad 4 in it with 70k miles on it the last one slun a rod bearing!
Coming back from the beach i heard this clicking noise coming from the engine compartment. I let up off the throttle and it quit, when i got back on the throttle it started again. i paid it no attention and was just goin to limp it home. well about 30-45 seconds later the rpm's started going down and loosing power so i shifted it down to 3rd to get the rpm's back up but it did nothing when i shifted to 2nd it took about 5 seconds for it to catch. then i went back to after about another 5 seconds it went back to loosing power so i started to pull off the road and when i did it cut off and now it will not crank it will turn over all day long but wont catch.
I did a compression test on it and the middle cylinder's are dead the driver side is like 65 psi. and the pass. side is like 105 psi. I looked at the timing chain and i don't think it jumped timing it not broke. but i think the reason for the compression is the head gasket.

Any ideas. everyone i ask dose not know anything about these cars!!

[Classicrocjunkie]

Could be a HG or if the motor was sitting for a long ass time without rotatation the rings could have rusted to the cylinder wall and now are completely shot.

Both are possible. But if something was clunking, I would rule more in favor of the rings being fried. Tear her apart and let us know.

[2001z24]

well see the engine swap had alread been done for about one month or so, so if there was a problem with the motor sitting for a while don't u think it would have showed up in the first couple of days?? and (it was a noticable click real fast but when u let off the throttle it stopped and came back and get back on the throttle and it would come back....