Ok. Gonna side track a minute about unbalanced waterpump for a moment- how did this pattern get here?
Anyone notice the low flow side of the engine is all lower compression and the high flow side is higher? I promise you, when this engine gets disassembled all four on the passenger side will have cracked up precups and steam pockets that are worse. Thank goodness that cylinder 8 had rings on the loose side of things when it was built, or it would have seized on one of the several times this engine was driven for miles at 220-225f. 100% this is rings that lost temper from heated cylinders shrunk inwards and transferring the heat. Dollar to a donut says #2 got scratched from debris or has a stuck ring.
I would totally do the atf wash down cylinders followed by seafoam, then decarbon with water on this engine. Then after that go ahead with the engine restore can. It might not all help a lot but if it doesn’t, you know when it is done there is no answer other than tear down.
As to helping the hard starts- speed of engine cranking is gonna help, so is fuel quality.
On the speed- powermaster starter, big cables- like 1/0. And run a ground cable to the starter. TOP POST optima or odyssey agm batteries. Get Leroy’s solenoid on the relay with a dash switch, otherwise one of the electronics folks here maybe walk you through what resistors to max out glow time. I wouldn’t do a tune just to add the time imo, and you have no business trying for more pwer with this engine until it is rebuilt or replaced. And since your cylinders are now egg shaped, this block needs sleeves, so replacement is cheaper unless you horse trade with the machinist later.
As to the fuel part of things- don’t use starting fluid until you are within a month of replacement-that will be the death of this engine. But when the compression gets worse and the faster crank speed and extra glow time isn’t enough anymore- you can cut in 5% gasoline to the fuel. It will have less power and less mpg, but will start a little easier. If you live where “winter blend” fuel is used, this is your trick to correct that- but understand you need to find non methonal/ethonal fuel for doing it and gelling could be an issue- so prepare for those possibilities in the future. This is a bit on the ‘chicken little’ side of things, but I prefer folks know ahead of time what to expect.
Remember colder mornings means harder starting so get this dialed in now, and plan on using your block heater come winter might be needed.
bench test those glow plugs snd remember the anti seize on the threads before installing.
