'92 G9 broken push rod

[Motorman 007]

Hey Guys,
My G9 is used by my son as a "daily driver" to get back and forth to work at his summer job on an island. I arrived on Friday to "hey Dad the cart won't start". Those of you with kids will know where this is headed....

Anyway, after turning it over and the loud exhaust popping coming out the carb, I knew I had some kind of the valve issue. Removed the valve cover and the exhaust valve push rod was off, bent and broken. I have all of the pieces. My concern is that when I look down at where the "lifter" or "tappet" would be, the intake side doesn't look like the exhaust side. When I rotate the engine by hand, it appears that the intake tappet is moving up and down. The exhaust side doesn't look the same (I don't see the little oil hole in it) and it is mushroomed. Am I just looking at a tappet/lifter or something more significant? Assume pulling the engine is my best option???
Thanks!

[Motorman 007]

Nobody?

[rwt101]

I would pull the engine. It is possible that the valve hit the piston. That way you can pull the head and check it. It is also possible that there are some pieces in the bottom of the engine.
Bob T