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?

[Dave_Darling]

If that cylinder is at TDC, there should be some slack on both arms. Make sure you're at TDC for that cylinder.

The pushrod could have fallen out of the "cup" in the lifter, and be stuck on the lip of the cup. You can fix that with a good bit of messing with the pushrod; I have poked an L-shaped Allen wrench partway down the tube to act as a fulcrum to push the inner end of the pushrod up into the cup.

--DD

[rick 918-S]

If that cylinder is at TDC, there should be some slack on both arms. Make sure you're at TDC for that cylinder.

The pushrod could have fallen out of the "cup" in the lifter, and be stuck on the lip of the cup. You can fix that with a good bit of messing with the pushrod; I have poked an L-shaped Allen wrench partway down the tube to act as a fulcrum to push the inner end of the pushrod up into the cup.

--DD

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Push rod is likely out of the cup. Also back the adjusters off.

Also, The washer would have to travel down the push rod tubeto get back to the crank case. I would think it would take a while for this to happen. How long did you run the engine when it started to mis-fire?

It's more likely that the last guy in there failed to install the washer. This could be why the nut came off. Use the correct washers. They are thin wavey spring washers. I have purchased these at the hardware store. (not the home depot)