Knock and smoke

I have to disagree with the statement "dead is dead, and how doesn't matter". Sure, it won't fix this engine, but you should at least try to figure out what happened to prevent making a similar mistake on your next build. If you learn that the piston to valve clearance was no good on this build, then you know to check it next time. Or if you learn water was getting in the cylinder, the question should be "Why?" That would be the "learn" in the phrase live and learn. Just my 2 cents.