'87 4kq: oil system question/emergency?

[Andrew Buc]

My mechanic, who makes house calls, came by today while I was at work. He left
a note saying he'd had the cam cover off and not found the foil. This leaves me
wondering where I go from here.

One lister emailed me that the foil would likely be ground up by the oil pump,
the bits of it would lodge in the oil filter, and that would be that. That
certainly seems plausible, but I'm also having a vision of it, somewhere in the
engine, doing an imitation of a leaf pinned to a storm-sewer grating by the flow
of water, and cutting off oil to a bearing or some such. Anyone care to lay odds
on which is more likely to happen? I suppose I can either have the engine torn
down (obviously expensive), or take my chances. If I go the latter route, can I
figure I'm home free if nothing happens after a certain amount of time? Thanks!