Head Gasket or something else?

Hi there

I was driving Friday night fine in my 1993 Ford F150. Suddenly drop in speed and loud valve noise, as though out of oil. looked at oil gage and it was on empty. White smoke coming out of tail pipe. I Stopped and added oil. Oil gage now said just above empty. Hard to start but I got it going. Still valve noise and white smoke. got it home going slowly. Tried to start again and it started easy but noise and smoke still there.
Next Morning: Tried to start and it wouldn't start. Many times I tried and just turned over. I Stupidly in my impatience had it towed to pep boys (because only thing open on weekend) who are some of the worst mechanics on the planet. 70 for tow and 75 to misdiagnose the problem (I now see or at least suspect strongly). They said it was a bad fuel pump. Wanted to charge me over 500 dollars. I said no I'll pick it up. still had to pay them 158 dollars. I got it towed home.
So that's the story. Now it seems to me that white smoke and valve noise have nothing whatsoever to do with the fuel pump. I even switched to the rear tank which should have a different pump and nothing changed. so I think pep losers were just plain wrong. I suspect head gasket or something along those lines. Maybe the reason it didnt start the next morning was because it lost compression overnight. Is that a possibility and also does anybody know if the fuel pump would have any of those symptoms, the white smoke, slow speed and valave noise? I think not. Anyway I just wanted to get feedback about what it could possibly be - all responses appreciated. I've now spent 225 dollars for the pep boy fiasco and a new AAA membership and little has been accomplished.:banghead:.

thanks a lot,
Will

Blown head gasket
cracked head

was there a creamy white stuff around the oil filler? if there was it's the head gasket. the white stuff is produced by water and oil mixing.

When you say the oil gauge was on empty, and after you added oil, it read just above empty, are you talking about the dipstick, or the oil pressure gauge on the dash?? If it ran out of oil, you may have done damage to the pump, among other things. The noises you are hearing are the lifters rattling because they lost their prime when it ran out of oil, and probably some bearing damage too. If the oil pressure is low enuff, the lifters may not pump back up, and this may be why it wont start now, the valves arent opening like they should. Sounds like you probably have more serious problems than just a blown head gasket.