Pushrod damage or more...? 289 mild

[Texasdoc]

Originally Posted by Three Peaks

Overly heavy springs for the purpose could also cause some of the rod problems you are having. Did you check if your springs are suitable for the purpose? Proper seat pressure, no spring bind when loaded, installed properly?

This.

Most (a lot anyway) aftermarket heads seems to have springs for rollers, not tappets. Roller springs are generally too heavy for flat tappets. If you have two springs per valve (inner and outer), take the inner spring out for the break in procedure.

Even if you did everything right, you can wipe a cam lobe with ease.

[DD (CA)]

With massaged porting and screw in studs. So, the aftermarket Al head idea doesn't fly...

FWIW, Comp and Crower both pretty firm on "break in procedure" after new lifters / old cam, but I've also been reading some pretty astute counter arguments from HAMB, Z28 and hotrods sites.

Also informed me it was worthless to undergo break in now that I've driven it for a bit....

I'm torn a bit. Babied the thing so far, but if the rocker arms get loose again...

[jhv48]

FWIW, my cam was from Crower. But that was a long time ago.