The valves are two-piece steel, from my understanding..... so, not the greatest parts in the world to begin with.

Yank the head, see what ya find, and let us know. Pics would be good too.....

 

A few spots in the lifter gallery are open to the cam for oil return, so no oil will pool there. There are 2 or 3 spots like that per side.

 

And the answer is.....
I hang my head in shame, as I just caused myself a ton of work.
Pulled the right bank cylinder head...(had to torch the exhaust manifold bolts off due to rust) and there it was... a nut sitting on top of the piston. It must have gotten into the intake port on the cylinder head with the intake off and worked right through the valve. I'm surprised it fit!! (9/16 wrench side with washer attatched) Looks to be no major damage. DOOOOOHH!!! Will have to replace valve, and all gaskets, and oil pan gasket as it tore this time.

 

Tore at the timing cover corners? RTV at the tear site will patch that right up. Been doing that for years, it holds very well.

glad you found it. makes sense after what you posted when you think about it.

 

I'm glad at least I found something...was thinking this truck was the devil!!!
I sealed the corners the previous time, that's why it tore. Since I'm in this deep, I will clean the piston tops of carbon, possible lap in valves, with new seals. Just give it a good cleaning. (No profit on this job!!!!) By the way...the nut is from the timing cover lower drivers side, where the trans cooler lines have a support bracket, two studs and two nuts.

 

How in hades did it migrate that far up the engine?

At least it was an easy (relatively speaking) problem.....

 

It must have fell into the head when I was doing the cam swap into the intake port for cylinder #4. I can't believe it got through the valve!!!

 

Got some good lift on that cam eh?

 

Yup, it tried to lift the cylinder head right off!!!

 

I'll wager you used the cowling as a tray...

I do that all the time. It's dumb and I know I'll pay for it one of these days.