When I had the head off last week, all the precups were fine-still tight + flush with the head. **remembering something here--one cup was cracked real bad-so i replaced it with one off another head-a non turbo one. They were identical with the exception of material-the td's arent magnetic. I'm not sure what cylinder it went in though. I looked VERY close side to side with TD's vs. NA's-exactly the same. Clutching at straws here...
I managed to hit 10 psi boost on my test ride-so my stash probably would have blown thru the port + hung up under the valve.

It starts easy+ idles fine-except with a minor shake. while glow plugs wouldn't make a difference-they are all new+ working.
Yes-the fuel line was changed.
The intake manifold is a gasser-the ex manifold is an unknown brand aftermarket one-that I had to do plenty of welding + flattening of surfaces-so both have had my hands all over them-neither plugged.
The cam is in perfect shape-and the lash is correct.
So today i'm gonna try to blow air in the cylinder with the valves open to see it it comes out easy. After that gonna try to put my old NA IP on-just out of lack of other things to try.
I really appreciate all the ideas guys-thanks!
I would not swap IP to the NA until everything else is exhausted. I doubt a Giles pump checked twice by him can be the issue. Is #2 not firing at all? That just seems impossible! If #2 is indeed not combusting the fuel, its glow plug should be soaking wet. Have you pulled #2 glow plug to inspect after running it?
DING-DING-DING!!!! WE HAVE A WINNER! It wasnt my stash stuck in a port--it was a sock.

I still had the hose hooked up from the leakdown test so i pulled the vavle cover to check lobe position-i bumped it over to open a valve-put full air press to it-plenty of wind out the exhaust--turned over to intake+put the air too it--phfffttt-BOOOP_PFFFFFFTTTT!. I pull off the rubber boot to the inktake + start fishing around with a coat hanger-+ out comes a sock! I know at some point i had one over the end of the intake to keep crap out! I had plenty hanging out so i would see it and NOT ever get it sucked in--guess that plan didnt go so well--huh? This F***ing sock cost me about $800!
Again--thanks for all the help! Max-I guess that karma for giving you the hub cap clips was a good thing!
a ****ing sock?
That's got to be the worst luck possible right there..
Glad you got iy figured out
When I had the head off last week, all the precups were fine-still tight + flush with the head. **remembering something here--one cup was cracked real bad-so i replaced it with one off another head-a non turbo one. They were identical with the exception of material-the td's arent magnetic. I'm not sure what cylinder it went in though. I looked VERY close side to side with TD's vs. NA's-exactly the same. Clutching at straws here...
I managed to hit 10 psi boost on my test ride-so my stash probably would have blown thru the port + hung up under the valve. 
It starts easy+ idles fine-except with a minor shake. while glow plugs wouldn't make a difference-they are all new+ working.
Yes-the fuel line was changed.
The intake manifold is a gasser-the ex manifold is an unknown brand aftermarket one-that I had to do plenty of welding + flattening of surfaces-so both have had my hands all over them-neither plugged.
The cam is in perfect shape-and the lash is correct.
So today i'm gonna try to blow air in the cylinder with the valves open to see it it comes out easy. After that gonna try to put my old NA IP on-just out of lack of other things to try.
I really appreciate all the ideas guys-thanks!
well, then one head was rebuilt with steel pre-cups..
inconel is non-magnetic IIRC..
glad you got it running.. if i were you, i would BURN that sock..
I would encase the sock in plastic and hang it off the jockey box door. When people ask what is with that? You can tell them that is the most expensive sock you own, 800 each or 1600 a pair.
It will go up on the "wall of shame" with broken dragbike pistons-bent race car parts etc.

Just got back from a test ride-it feels a world better running on 4. Gotta turn down the smoke a little bit though....
There is no way to describe how hard I laughed after reading this... Karma indeed because I was kind of being a smart ass when I originally posted about your "stash" being in the intake runner..

Glad you got to the bottom of it anyhow.. And for some positive thinking, imagine how much that sock would have cost had it got sucked in there a bit further! You should see what the yellow pages does when sucked in to a runaway 671 Detroit...
Brings a whole new meaning to "Stick a sock in it buddy!"
Was the sock between the turbo and the inlet manifold? Shame you didn't find the sock after you tore the engine apart the second time.
Are you in control of the other sock, or had you lost that one on some earlier car experimentation?
There is no way to describe how hard I laughed after reading this... Karma indeed because I was kind of being a smart ass when I originally posted about your "stash" being in the intake runner..
Glad you got to the bottom of it anyhow.. And for some positive thinking, imagine how much that sock would have cost had it got sucked in there a bit further! You should see what the yellow pages does when sucked in to a runaway 671 Detroit...
i imagine the blower housing explodes?
There is no way to describe how hard I laughed after reading this... Karma indeed because I was kind of being a smart ass when I originally posted about your "stash" being in the intake runner..
Glad you got to the bottom of it anyhow.. And for some positive thinking, imagine how much that sock would have cost had it got sucked in there a bit further! You should see what the yellow pages does when sucked in to a runaway 671 Detroit...
i imagine the blower housing explodes?
You mean turbo housing? If the sock was at the inlet of the turbo, it would have affected all cylinders equally, not just #2. That's why I think the sock was at the output side of the turbo.
In small letters on the the sock one can read .. Belongs to Mr. Murphy...