nate wrote:

I have a 8 cylinder 350 (I think GM..it's in a boat)

Engine back fires and sputters. Engine does not leak oil that I know of.
(or at least not very much)Compression test revealed 0 compression in 1
cylinder and all others were ok. Based off these symptoms, Is it likely
that I will have to do work on the engine block or will the problem be
likely in the Head (gaskets or other)



A hole in a cylinder top? A bad valve? Stuck open? A broken ring?

Not likely a bad gasket, but you will need one anyway. Yank the head.

Terry K