LT1 Hydraulic roller lifter came apart. Insides vanished

[jetsetw31]

Wrap your heads around this one guys. The no. 8 cylinder exhaust lifter seemed to collapse. Open it up, remove it and i find the push rod is fine, the cup is there, but the retaining clip and the inner spring are gone. i figured it went down the oil drain back hole since it was the last lifter in the valley. I don't even see any shrapnel. I combed the lifter valley with a magnet. Nothing. Any thoughts guys?

 

[GuysMonteSS]

Might be a good idea to pull the engine and have a close look and find those parts before they do damage,if they havent already.
Guy

 

[jetsetw31]

Yeah I was figuring on that. The car was running fine then it started that annoying tapping. My first move is to drop the oil pan. I have a sense that the missing parts are there because it was right next to a lifter valley drain back hole that is a straight line to the oilpan. If i don't see them in the pan, then it all comes apart til I find them. Not looking forward to that. Thanks for the reply Guy.
T