Head is off. I had to turn it into a project, removed hood, battery, air box, heater hoses, radiator hoses, throttle body warming hoses to get to the 2 bolts left in the manifold. Turns out the cylinder under the manifold is the differential lock actuator. There is no way to get the starter motor out of this car without removing the engine or transmission, I hope it never goes out.
Nothing obvious like a hole in the piston. Head gasket was not too bad, may have had a slight leak between 1 and 2. Those head bolts were easier to remove. Lots of deposits in the dead cylinder(#1). Ring ridges not too bad for 196K. One exhaust valve is a different color. Could be a sticky valve.
... Upon further inspection one valve is seated lower, about 1/2 mm that the others.. the brown one on cylinder #1, must be burnt or the seat sunk....
Im thinking it's not much more work to take the pistons out...