Tappet lock nuts, not the usual tool question lol

[steve walsh]

Hi guys ive recently bought my gpx mivec and already the gearbox has died but good news is i have a new 1 and TC on the way, She was real teppety when i picked her up but which 1 isnt lol. Anyways the bad news ive stripped off the rocker covers to find 4 of the locknuts missing and i cant see them anywhere around the cam shafts and theres no visible damage to any of the components. Next step is im removing the oil sump as it needs resealed anyway, whats the chances of them having made their way down into the sump??? and is there any chance they could be sitting on top of a piston???

please help before i take the heads off incase theres no need to, compression was 190 across all 6 so its good:)

[Uncle B]

There's a good chance they're in the sump alright