I'm the guy who bent a pushrod when installing the Keith Craft AFR185's.
All I can figure is one of two possibilities. Operator error or defective pushrods. A friend and I quadruple checked everything before putting the intake back on, so I'm pretty sure it was a bad rod. I ordered the heavier duty pushrods (the Magnums, I believe) and had no problems after that.
In other words, the AFR185's went on with no clearance problems at all.
My engine is a 2002 FMS 392, if that helps any.
By the way, the increase in HP & torque is VERY noticable. It was money well spent.