It is a great thing when someone has the right tools and knowledge.....

For those who have been following the string of of my newly purchased 122S wagon with a valve noise at idle, I'm proud to report that we may finally have identified the source.

After breaking down the engine and letting my local mach shop go over it with the correct tools my original suspicion was confirmed. Way too much slop in the # 1 cylinder. Turns out that the engine is a standard B20B, never bored out. Original pistons but # 1 was worn out .270 from the top of the upper ring through the bottom of the travel in the bore. Side to side! The skirt on #1 was cracked and would have eventually let go. The wrist pin was .012 out of round and loose doesn't describe it.

Randy at the mach-shop has declared this a new record..... He re-calibrated his micrometer twice because he couldn't believe that the piston was performing at all and hadn't come apart.

The good news is that I can go over to an oversized .030. Still need a little crank cleanup, cam, lifters & exhaust. Head appears to be fine.

Well, it sounds like i have a winter project on my hands, i'll work on pictures now that i know what i have.

Thanks for all the great advise and help. appreciate it, Bill