The bores are nikasil coated, the only option if damaged is to fit darton liners, that does mean you can also fit forged pistons and up the boost a little!
While your in there, fit the upgraded oil pump and the improved valve springs, these give a level of protection against an accidental over rev and “buzzing” the engine
Those words have cost me so, so much over the years!
Hopefully this isn’t as bad as it’s looking Hornet, fingers crossed the fix is something silly/cheap/quick. One real positive of the 2ZZ though is there’s loads of options out there for short block replacements if needed, even if it’s a temp solution to just get the car on the road whilst you research a proper plan for your original engine.
I think there is a complete engine for sale on seloc, been on there ages, so he might take a silly offer 
What options are you aware of Fonzey - I have found a couple of reconditioned engines, and a couple of lower mileage ‘used’ ones, but not sure that’s the route I want to take (the used ones)
There is marking on my bores (pics below) so I am pretty sure I am going to need a new block minimum, and I know the valve seats are pitted… so head work as well…
Darton liners then, don’t bother with a new block.
There were some new short blocks around a few years ago, but I’m sure they are all gone now.
Yeah I wasn’t talking anything specific, just more about the fact these engines are common as muck and used examples come up fairly regularly for not a lot of cash (relatively speaking), but like you I’d want either something new or a rebuild of existing block if appropriate for a longer term solution.
As ade says, I’d personally fit the Darton sleeves. You know your engine, you’re taking action to fix a problem with it and at the same time make it stronger. I know it wasn’t what you had in mind right now, but if you can take it as an opportunity to improve something rather than spend a load of cash to replace it with something unknown then I’d personally go down that route. Either option is a lot of work, so may as well take the opportunity to turn it into something positive if you can?
Really sorry to hear about this though, have to say 
EDITED TO ADD: I’ve just been doing some reading about sleeved 2ZZ blocks and I’m actually a bit worried! If you have them done right, they sound great, but there’s a lot of horror stories going around about sleeves dropping if not installed perfectly…
Speak to Tom at Datum Motorsport. Done LOTS of 2ZZ engines for race and road use
Just rebuilt one for me that I had in my white exige that broke the timing chain (Spare now for the yellow peril)
Only let someone who knows what they are doing fit them, I know there are a few companies that specialise in doing it.
right - investigating all of my options… as its at Hangar 111, Scholar are an option of course…
Thanks Matt… it is a bit shit to be honest…
head coming off tomorrow - so I will know what’s going on - but I’ve been looking at those pics again - the marks look the same on both pics - but different enough that its not a picture of the same mark - interested if any of you guys see the same… if that is the case - surely a crack in liner wouldn’t be identical ?
Also - is that the liner or the ‘water jacket’ - if you look at a 2zz with head off, the channels for water look like where those marks are… of course I am clutching at straws here… but interested what others see…
(edited to say, pics on previous page)
They are not liners they are nikasil coated ally bores, if you need new pistons and the bores are damaged you have to put liners in or get a new block, that simple.
I reckon it is a head or head gasket issue.
Thanks Ade - yes mean the nikasil coated bores.
One other photo I have shows a coolant drip on one of the valves - surely if there was a crack in the nikasil, coolant would not go ‘upwards’ ?
Head didn’t come off today - race car got priority - another few days of waiting to find out what’s going on
Ah man, the suspense must be killing you?
Yeah… have to say it is…
Head is off - scoring and scratches to cylinder 1 - so something going on there - piston ring maybe ? H111 will look on Monday
Head going to Scholar for pressure test - really hope its not cracked…
Progress mate, at least you’re on the way to an answer.
Indeed - just worried the head might be cracked as we still don’t know how coolant was getting in…