so do u think i should go ahead and pull the head? ?I actually have another head, spare, that i could use. Can the head be pulled with the motor in the car?
1) Can you answer the questions I asked a post ago re what led to this? If you say "I accidentally shifted into 2nd at 75MPH" or "I hit the nitrous button and heard a bang and then it started running like crap..." etc it may help to confirm what are currently only suspicions.
2) Did you measure the valve height and compare it to other valves in the closed-state as I suggested? If so, what did you find?
I'd hate to counsel doing a ton of work when there are still one or two things to be done to rule in, or out, a bent or otherwise damaged valve.
Before pulling the head, I'd at least put the follower back in and see what the play is like and, if it seems reasonable, see how the car runs.
Do you have a source of compressed air? If so, you might think about borrowing or buying a spark plug adapter, setting the regulator to, say, 30 psi or something and and applying air pressure to the cylinder in question through its spark plug hole. Make sure the good valve and follower are on the base circle of the cam so that valve is closed. If you hear air rushing out the exhaust or intake, you'll know that the related valve is baffed and the head is coming off.
And yes, the head(s) can be removed with the engine in the car.