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The spark plug is over the valves... not the piston.

So how do I know when the #1 piston it up to TDC?

Found this on another site:

You can estimate TDC by removing the #1 plug and cranking the engine in the direction of normal rotation with your finger over the plug hole until you feel the compression building; Use a length of small rod or similar to stop the rotation when the piston has risen to TDC andthen check your timing mark.

The timing marks must be on the balancer. You may need to wire brush it and rub it with chalk to see them. I never saw mine until I was running a wire cup in my die grinder over the balancer and they magically appeared.

Yeah possibly stuck valves have me with ZERO compression on #1. The ballancer is pretty cruddy lookin, I will clean it and look for them. Thanks!

Ordered a gasket, going out to pull the head now, hoping not to have to lap the valves tho.

Also I found those timing marks and checked and the timing was dead on the money. Four pistons with ZERO compression has got to be a head gasket or stuck valves and either one will require me removing the head...yay....

No. Wait a minute. IF stuck valve only then only remove valve cover on side of block. Mite have to remove manifolds.

But FIRST get a spark plug and knock the guts out of it. Attach a rubber hose. Use lung power to blow into the cylinder at TDC and listen for WHERE the air is escaping from (can also used compress air at low volumn of say 50 psi).

If it is only a stuck valve u should be able to free it up thru the tappet galley or worst case heat the valve guide thru the ports in side of the block.

I will also be able to free them by taking the head off too tho right? I had just come in to see what order to untorque the bolts and saw this. Looks like a real PITA to get at them from the galley.

I will give the galley a try first but it looks like a pain!