Exhaust Valve Stem Caps

OK,
So for the past few months I had been on a quest for an exhaust valve stem cap for one of the valves on my Ford 302 engine. Now you may think (as I did) that 1000's of them are still floating around out there, but as it turns out the answer is "NO They're Not!"

It started back in July when I was changing the cam on my Ford 302 in my Bronco. No big deal, but the new engine has the old style heads with caps on the backs of the valves. During the process of resetting the valves, I dropped one of the caps into a black hole (i.e I have no idea where it went). I thought it was no big deal, I have another set in the basement, but to my surprise, they had no caps. OK then I will just go to the Advance Auto and get one...yeah right. Then I just assembled the engine without it. The engine ran, and I continued the rocker arm adjustment process. I could not get the vacuum gauge needle to stop fluttering, and the engine seemed to have a miss.
My little cap missing from the exhaust valve was certainly the culprit. I went on a quest! With 70 Ford truck manual in hand, complete with parts numbers and a diagram! I went to my local Quality Plus Ford Dealer... My first mistake is went there in my work clothes... a shirt and tie. So here comes this clean cut, middle aged, professional guy with a greasy 35 year old shop manual in his hands, up to the parts counter at the dealer.
"Uh you guys have one of these?"
"Nope"
"Why not?"
"Computers only go back to 1980"
"So before 1980, what did you do?"
"Books"
"I have the part number right here, from your own Ford Shop Manual!"
"Can't help you sir"
"Can't or Won't?"
OK then...I go to a machine shop where they specialize in racing engines for Ford.
Some greasy fathead looks at me as if I was first human he ever saw.
"You guys have one of these I can buy?" showing him the cap. "I will buy the whole valve if I need to?"
"Nope"
Looking around at over 300 pairs of heads in various stages of assembly, and other parts everywhere.
"None? Not even an old one? I really need this part, I am sure you know how important this cap is"
"Yup"
pause
"Go to a junkyard and get one"
Now I have lived in the Pittsburgh area for 5 years now, and I am not in the know when it comes to parts and cars. My old stomping grounds back in Souderton, PA I knew everybody. Not here.
So I call my old friend Nick Markey back in Souderton. He is like a pit bull with a task. He calls me back in less than 24 hours and says he found one. I call his friend Doug Myers at a performace shop in Zeiglersville, PA and for 5 bucks I get two of them!
So I put the new cap on reset the valves and there is no longer the fluttering in the vacuum gauge. I still have that miss.
My next mini project is to adjust the carb and get a new vacuum advance for the Mallory distributor.
Oh the joy of owning an old vehicle!