Toyota Repair: 4runner(lackin power??, toyota 4runner, head gasket

Question
hey man, i have a toyota 4runner (1994) its a 3.0 3vz-e motor. mt family bought this almost new and ran it for 148,000 miles, i bough it from my parents and had the motor rebuilt.here's the catch..i had it rebuilt and it has always been gutless! the place i had rebuilt it said the valves needed 2b adjusted.. but they never got around to it b4 the warranty ran out,(go figured). i live across the u.s now and it runs ok, not great mileage like it used to get,and super gutless.. i took it to a shop cyz i believe that the head gasket is either out or going out, it has a hard time starting if it sits more than a day, and has steam coming out of the exhaust. it never over heats but i cant figure what else it can be cuz it also needs antifreeeze about once every week or two.. i sent it 2get the head gasket fixed,and the guys said it might not even be worth fixing,, they think the motor is shot..but it only has like 20,000 miles on the rebuilt motor! they also thing its lackin compression, so i said to adjust the valves.he doesnt think thats whats wrong with it??? arent the vavles what determine compression?? i need dire help i love this car and refuse to get rid of it! please try to answer my questions...i need the help..thanks a ton casey m

Answer
If there is steam coming from the exhaust it means that the headgaskets are probably leaking internally, adjusting valves is time consuming and most likely not the problem unless the valves are burned and leaking but I have no way of knowing that since what they are telling you seems vague, "the motor is shot" is not a very professional explanation so I would suggest that you get another opinion from another repair shop.