Pulled the head off.

Great find today.... i guess a nut fell into the intake......... i don't recall any nuts falling unless it was in the carb when i pulled it off the other truck

looks like the washer/nut that holds the top of your air cleaner on...brolly went down the carb

damn that sux bro

At least you found the problem.

I could be wrong, and it wouldn't be the first time. . .but it looks like a valve cover holddown grommet.

Barely.

What are your plans at this point?

rebuild

Looks like it might be you, because you are at the place to replace pistons.

The KIA Sportage motor is either a SOHC FI 2 liter (FE) with a stock 8.6 compression ratio, or a fire-breathing dragon (FS) motor with a 9.2 compression ratio and DOHC.

Both engines use an 86 mm bore, just like the 2.2 B-trucks.

So by that logic, you could use the FS, high compression pistons in the 2.2 motor. And get the benefits of a higher compression engine.

And since it looks like you are already going to have to replace one piston, and all of your rings anyway, now might be a good time to drop in the extra horsepower.

Something to consider.

Tweaker: r the connecting rods ,wrist pins,etc direct swaps as well? Thanks.bj

Turns out the valves would hit the tops of the pistons unless you were to do some creative carving with a dremel into the piston crowns.

The Kia uses the same shortblock as the b 2.0 . . .FE. . .whether it is a DOHC or a SOHC sitting on top of it.

So the rods are probably the same as the Mazda FE / F2 . . . and the rest of it.