You're getting great information (and I'm taking notes guys, thanks!) but if you want to pursue a repair under warranty I wouldn't disassemble any further. Push rods don't bend for no reason and many other things would fail before a pushrod failed because of
oil starvation. Seems that there is either a geometry, clearence or assembly issue...all things the warranty provider will want to identify. As I am building a 351W based engine I am watching this thread closely...please keep us updated!!