Mild Introduction and My Mk1 Bomb.

Hey all,
I'm new to the forum and figured that I'd be polite and introduce myself before blabbering on.
I hail from Toowoomba, QLD, and am currently studying an Advanced Diploma of Mechanical Engineering at Skillstech in Brisbane.
My fleet consists of:
Bertha, a '76 LWB F100 with a almost-stock 351, C6 auto and 4.11 geared limited slip 9",
Betsy, the '81 WB ute with a mildish 308, TH400, and 3.55 geared limited slip 10-bolt diff,
The unnamed 2-ton '42 Chev truck that I've been meaning to drag out of a paddock and hot rod,
And last, littlest but not least, Esther, a '72 Mk1 Escort with an almost-stock, flogged out, oil burning 1600, four speed and factory diff.
I don't know if it's been done before, but I've just bought a 1990 Ford Courier ute that I'm planning on disemboweling and slotting the 2.2L four pot, five speed and diff into Esther.
I went to have a look at the ute this afternoon armed with a tape measure, and the engine's not too tall or long, but the brake booster assembly may have to be ditched for a pedal box.
The 'box should squeeze into the trans tunnel and the diff should fit with a few minor-ish modifications, according to thread.
I'll get Truckline in Toowoomba to modify the courier tailshaft to suit, then just need to get the necessary blue plates and I'll be on my way.
Because everyone loves pictures:
Bertha:


Betsy:




The Poor Ol' Chevy:


And Esther:


 
This is the first non-stock engine upgrade that I've ever taken on, and any advice is greatly appreciated!

Welcome Trentie. Hope you enjoy the site.  

Welcome Trentie. I am also from toowoomba. I have seen your mk1 parked on Herries street near blockbuster there, lookes pretty nice.

Anyways, just another welcome,
Brandon.

Trent, get rid of that horrible purple thing and spend some money the old truck before it's beyond repair. Look forward to hearing more about the Escort project.

The one where that red mx5 sat for years? Or the one next to the butcher?

Brandon.

Ohh okay truee. Didn't know that :/

Anyways, might see you around.

Brandon.

So I dragged this wee beastie back to my place last weekend:
 

 
The body's fairly well rooted, the tray's solid but missing bits, starts, stops, shifts and steers quite well, but the poor old thing wasn't running right.

Cylinder four wasn't pulling its weight.
At all.

Plenty of fuel, air and spark, but the compression was down severely.
I immediately thought 'rings', but usually rings (especially in these tough li'l f*ckers) all wear down evenly, so I was thinking it was either a burnt-out valve or a hole in the piston.

I crossed my fingers, hoped that it wasn't a lightweight piston, and pulled the head off.
 

 
So the bores are squeaky clean (no scoring or glazing and a tiny lip at the top) and the tops of the pistons, bowls and valves are covered in carbon, but I did find this:
 

 
Ah-huh! The culprit!
 
The plan is to clean the bowls, valves and pistons (as best as I can without tearing the engine down) and throw it back together, although I am very, very tempted to tear the entire engine down to its undies, clean everything (the oil's black as black and smells burnt), and throw it back together nice and clean and fresh-ish (I think they're called a re-run engine).
 
Anyone know where to get valves for these things?
 

Nice bench,
Should've used the F truck to move the bench......The old Kingswood wouldve struggled....lol !!