Nissan Repair: Compression in 89 nissan p/u engine, compression gauge, hi tim

Question
Dinger,
So I lost all compression in my 89 nissan p/u 2.0 4 cylinder.  I took it to a shop thinking it was my timing chain.  Timing chain was fine.  We checked the distributor cap and it looked pointless because if theres no compression theres going to be no spark; am I completely wrong on this?  Is there any other alternatives to why my truck won't get compression, or am I pretty much going to have to tear it down and rebuild the whole thing until I find what the problem is?
I've never experienced a lack of compression to teh point that it won't start it just turns and turns but won't kick over.  please advise.
thanks,
Tim Porter

Answer
Hi Tim,

If you have checked each cylinder with a compression gauge and there is no compression at all, then it's the lower end. You'll need at least a short block. If there is no compression there still will be spark, just no combustion.

I am confused maybe about what you mean by compression. Do you mean it just quit running or did you actually gauge each cylinder? If it just quit running we have a whole lot more to talk about, but if you gauged the cylinders for a compression reading and there isn't any, then you'll need to rebuild it or get a short block. Let me know as soon as possible.