Flying through a Valve adjustment, and discovered why car was running BAD!!!! Options

[Noodles]

OK first off I'm a complete noobie. Have had my teener for about 2 months now so I'm learning everything as I go.

Today I tore off my valve covers because car started running very badly. Had a big miss and lost almost all power. Was adjusting valves starting at 1 and working my way around, had a few that were in need of adjusting then I got to number 4 and found this.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1028.photobucket.com-14688-1346548525.1.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1028.photobucket.com-14688-1346548525.2.jpg)

The nut was sitting in the bottom and the washer is just missing. Ran a magnet around and just no luck finding it. Dont know if its in the bottom end or what.

I got some new washers and tightened it down but now it pushes the rocker down to far once its good and tight, (I think thats what its called, like I said I'm very very new) and I cant get a feeler gauge in to adjust the valves, Its pushed way down below the spring and very tight. I can move the far right one but the one on the left wont budge whatsoever.

Any help and advice would be much appreciated. Am I going to have to tear this all apart and redo it or am I just missing something easy?

[rhcb914]

I would take that assembly out and see why you lost the nut. Did the stud pull out from the head and then the nut lost tension? I've never had one of them back out for no reason.

If all checks out then pull out the push rods and snake a magnet down to try and find the nut and washer. Pull out the screen at the bottom of the motor sometime things end up in there. I would highly recommend not starting it until you find the critters or you will end up with an expensive teaching moment.

When you are ready to reassemble the rocker assembly:

First, back out the both adjustment screws way out so there is no tension on either one. Second make sure the pushrods are both fully seated in the lifter and the rocker when you tighten down the nuts. Once you have the nuts torqued correctly then you need to re-do the valve adjustments.

Good luck!