1996 Chevy Cavalier Nurse in Trouble!. Damaged head?

Engine Mechanical problem
1996 Chevy Cavalier 4 cyl Manual 210000 miles

My 96 cavalier was running beautifully, and then starting it up one day there was severe misfiring. Shakes, noise, noticeable loss of power.

I bring it to the mechanic who thinks a tune up with new spark plugs and wires will do the trick as the car had high miles on it, and the original wires still.

Does that (and a full oil / filter / fluid job too) and the car is still misfiring.

Tells me it's the coils.

I drive the car home that night (misfiring like how when I brought it there, driving, but now with the check engine light on) and the next morning I drive it back down to them for the coils to be replaced.

Car stays overnight with them.

Next day I get a call that they replaced the coils and the car was still misfiring.

So, the cars at the mechanics for about 2 weeks, my end results:
- the did a leak down test and a compression test and tell me I have a problem in the head, either a bent valve or a stuck lifter. The assure me the foot of the motor is fine.
- 2 cylinders were firing at 175, 2 cylinders were misfiring at 50
- they assure me that there are no other problems beyond the head. And it's most likely the bent valve

The never took the top off to look in the motor (grease still fully intact, bolts rusted on in place) - yet told me they took the top off to make sure it wasn't a busted rocker arm.

THE KICKER: So I go to pick my car up, unable to afford their costs to fix the valve (1500), and my car won't start. They push my car out of the garage on foot, hook up jumper cables to another car, and still can't get it to start. Then with the jumper cables running between the cars, the mechanic uses a screwdriver under the hood on 2 bolts simulating the starter, and the car finally starts up.

I get in the car to drive it home, the misfire has become 10x's more horrible, and I almost swear the car is going to blow on me any second. A mad amount of smoke comes out of the exhaust, and I take the 7 minute drive back to my house. 5 minutes into the drive the smoke has gone away, and the misfiring is a little better, but still horrible (didn't feel like it was going to blow anymore, just simple breakdown into pieces now).

As soon as I get the car home, I turn it off, and go to start it again, and nothing.

I call them back on the phone, and the mechanic once again assures me that the reason my car won't start is because of the bent valve, and that a bent valve has gotta be the problem, and the only thing wrong with my car (and in fixing the valve, I would need a new gasket kit)

A buddy of mine who knows cars fairly well comes by, and states that it doesn't make sense that the valve issue makes the car not even try to turn over. You put the key in the ignition, to sound, not a sputter, not a flicker. Even when we ran jumper cable between our 2 cars!. All the lights worked, and the door dinging sound, and the radio though. - But NOTHING, not even an attempt at a turn-over sound. That's when my buddy also pointed out the grease on the top too the head, and the rusted bolts, and assured me not a soul had looked in there.

So that's my story. I'm a broke nursing student, starting my next term in 3 weeks with suddenly no transportation, and while I may know the human body, my knowledge on cars is limited. What the heck just happened with me?

I bring my car to the mechanics to get fixed and it comes back worse (and dead!) - Is this normal for a bent valve?. Something isn't sitting right, and I'm not sure what to do (aside from invest in a bus pass now!)

Thank you for your time. Sorry this post was so long, and all responses will be greatly appreciated =)