That's part of the reason I'm irked about the situation, I had owned the car for three years and only been able to put five thousand miles on it due to paperwork issues. I finally get the car on the road and after the first week it drops a valve. I'm not some punk out here bouncing off the rev limiter and shifting from 4th to 2nd, I'm a competent racer who understands the mechanics of the vehicle, Always heel-toe, and had never missed a shift.
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I wish I could have told you to get the retainers changed out. It would have saved all this trouble and cost. I also wish you had contact as Honda who could have helped you out.

 

How in the world does hydrolocking blow an engine?

 

It depends on how many overnight parts from Japan you still have installed on it.

 

Water doesn't compress much, so typically a hydrolock damaged motor is done on 'restarting' where the piston is slammed into water typically breaking a rod, bearing or the piston head itself.

 

You're going to have to crack it open and assess the damage to get a reasonable answer on this. Anyone buying it is going to want to know what's wrong with it. " I dunno" is not very reassuring from a buyer's perspective and you can count on a LOT less money that way.

A properly functioning, low mileage motor can be had for about $3000. A motor with block only damage, maybe $1500. A motor with block and head damage, less.