Please help! disabled gen2 24 valve w/ very odd symptoms, need truck back soon!

[JMumbauer]

This is my first post so bear with me. Sunday night, coming home late, the truck made one very audible "thump" that shook the entire truck and caused the engine to go completely dead. Happened while cruising at maybe 1800 RPM in 5th gear (approximately) and will not start. After initially pulling over, the engine cranks fine like there is even compression so the camshaft is still in sync, but there are no external signs of damage.

Had the truck towed and last night I pulled the timing cover expecting to find the worst, but everything appears to be fine; all gears appear to be in excellent condition and there are no foreign pieces of anything to be found.

Before I started to disassemble I might add that I loosened one fuel line from my injection pump and had a friend crank the engine. There was the typical pulsation of fuel from around the fitting that one would expect. I also checked to see that the turbocharger appears to be fine and spins freely and that valve actuation from cranking the engine also appears to be normal (just by peaking in through the oil fill hole). Also the lift pump cycles as it should as the key is turned on and off and as the engine is cranked. Yes, the fuel tank is just about completely full.

This puts me clear out of ideas and I hate to tear into the truck any farther with no idea of what could be wrong. My suspicions still lie with fuel delivery, but I am not very diesel savvy and would great appreciate any input. Thanks in advance.

Jake Mumbauer
1999 2500 Ram 24 Valve Cummins 5spd 4WD, 243,000 miles completely stock