Engine - 1998 Suzuki 1590cc 16 valve (originally from a Suzuki Esteem, now in a Geo Tracker)

When I tried to take my Tracker out the other day, it started, but made a ruckus, so I shut it off. Now it's stuck at TDC and won't turn at all.
I suspected a leaky head gasket for a while because of a small amount of white smoke on startup if it had been sitting, but I didn't think it was a major leak.

When I probed the cylinders, I found that cylinder 4 was not only full of coolant, but the piston was sitting significantly lower than its mate in cylinder 1.

Obviously, I need a new head gasket; but as for the piston sitting so low... the only thing I can think of is a connecting rod, but I haven't been able to fully remove the oil pan yet to take a look (the front diff. is in the way). I didn't see any metal shavings in the oil or pan, so I'm hoping it was a hardware failure and didn't actually damage the rod or cylinder. I had a hardware failure on a rod on my older 8 valve motor (from over advanced timing), but the rod actually went through the block on that one. (I have a picture, but it's low quality and on my other computer which is not on the internet). I ended up replacing that motor with a 16 valve OBD-II motor/wiring, and now I think I broke the same part (the hardware, not the block)

Does anybody have any experience with this or something similar? Would I be able to find hardware that's a little more robust than the OE stuff?

Just my guess - the leaking head gasket allowed the #4 hole to fill with coolant, you cranked the engine, it hydrolocked on #4 and bent the rod, which is now wedged against the bore preventing the crank from turning.

Just my guess - the leaking head gasket allowed the #4 hole to fill with coolant, you cranked the engine, it hydrolocked on #4 and bent the rod, which is now wedged against the bore preventing the crank from turning.

i agree

Oh that's right... it would bend before anything actually broke. So even if I found broken hardware, I'd still need to replace the rod.
 :'( Rods are such a pain to get to.

i have a few sets of them

How much do you want for one?

one rod. $25 plus shipping

A few years back my samurai devoloped a knock and having a shortage of funds I had no choice but to drive it really easy until I could get some cash. We figured out that it was piston number 3 and that the wrist pin was bad.

I drove it lightly for about 10 months and one day on the way to work I noticed that I could hear the knock at 80km/h with the radio on. THe passenger commented on never having heard it at that speed. About 1/2 a minute later we heard a pop and the motor started to loose power. I dropped a gear and drove to work. 2AM getting done work and I go out and try to start it. It cranked over for about 30 seconds and fired up....bang, bang, bang....and so on.

I drove home in second gear at about 40km/h, the friend that was following me said that every time I shifted sparks came out of the exhaults (I didn't run a muffler back then). Got home and almost made it in the driveway...next morning it would not turn over. Took the motor apart and I had lost piston #3 and it was driven right up into the cylinder...the rod had made this channel into the side of the block.