Hey everyone,

so bare with me here. I am just looking for answers on some possible issues with my truck. I have been really busy and have had no time to do anything but this weekend I am finally going to tear into my engine and check things out. So here is the back story.... Bought a clean 88 pickup 22RE with 148k! its really sweet and I love it. First week I had it changed the oil, looked fine but there was stuff blocking the oil drain plug and i had to stick a screwdriver in it to let the oil out. So yes theres something in my pan, probably 99.9% TC guides. Weird thing is I dont hear any chain slap though. Started noticing my coolant level was dropping a little everyday, and during this period I was driving 10 miles max just to work and back. One day truck came really really close to overheating before I was able to turn it off. Topped off with distilled later and drove home fine. Oil still looked fine throughout this time. One day on my way home the truck kind of sputtered in first and thern revved back up and it was fine made it home, no issues. I checked my oil the next day and it was chocolate milky. Not terrible looking but there is definitely oil/water/coolant mixing. My radiator looks fine though. So I have not done a comp. test or block test and just figured ok the headgasket blew and decided since I love the truck I will do the HG and TC and start on it this weekend........... BUT i just thought to myself is it possible the chain just wore through the cover and thats what is making the oil milky and causing the coolant to drop? I Will pop the valve cover and check for grooves but I'm just wondering. I ordered an oem engine gasket set, new cover and TC set but am just thinking it would be nice if I didnt have to do the headgasket and just the TC. So if when I pop the VC and there are grooves is it highly likely that that is what caused the milky oil ? to confirm the headgasket is good should i do a comp test and block test? I am new to all of this and just starting to learn so I apologize for dumb questions, I have read and searched stuff online as well.