Maybe that is what happened w/my original (2.2) engine. I have yet to take it apart. I bought it this past May and I noticed that it a new head in it and the Rampage had 160,000 mi on it. The engine did seemed noisy (tired), perhaps the rods. I am only a shade tree mechanic at best, and have yet to work on the inners of a block. Maybe it is time for me to do that.

Did you mill the head when you replaced the head gasket on it?