Well the head looked pretty good but I lapped it flat and put back together with a new head gasket. My compression gage turned out to be dead so not sure if there was a problem. The old gage still showed low but a new one showed 125. So time for a new water pump and hoping all is good.
I read a few pages into the forum, but still would appreciate the wisdom before tearing into the motor. Bought and old TJ25ELCEB, 89 motor that the PO verified ran well. I should have done more research before starting it and may have killed the water pump. Had the prop in a trash can filled...