Car is doing funny stuff?

[Brolewigi]

I just picked up my 90' 240 Fastback. I am quite close to dropping my SR20DET into the chasis. I would like to drive the car around and get a feel for it before I put the new engine in. I would just like to determne the problems with the engine now so I can rebuild it and sell it and get some money back. Now, the car is an automatic and I am swapping the transmissions. Here is the question(s):

1. The car has a ticking in it, I have been told that it has a blown head gasket. However, I am getting good compression in all of the cyinders. It almost sounds like valve lash. White metallically smelling smoke blows out the exhaust.
.I went to go and warm up the car to drive it around (Because it was snowing) and after a half hour the car is still cold.

3. The key is stuck in the ignition, I have tried the button and nothing.

4. Whenever I put the car into reverse, it almost automaticly stalls, same with drive. Now I have never had an automatic before so am I doing something wrong? When i put the car into Nuetral the car goes forward. I'm confused???

But soon I will have the new motor and it will all be okay.

ETD (Estimated time of Drift)-Six weeks.