bent pushrods with new roller rockers

[grzewnicki]

Priming with the oil pump via the distributor shaft makes sense.
Thanks

Just spinning the oil pump drive rod will not work, when dist is installed it seals the oil gallery, use a tool like this:

 

[G72Zed]

It sounds like you may have over adjusted (read: collapsed) both lifters plungers and bottomed them out, and then maybe the pushrod end binded on the guide plate when turning it over.

 

[biker]

I had regular stamped rockers and I put these 1.5 ratio full roller rockers. They are speedmaster brand. They are cheap,but looked pretty decent.

One thing I dont see mentioned is the original stamped rockers are self-aligning. If the new roller rockers are self-aligning, using them with guide plates can create a bind. If the guide plates push the rocker sideways to the point where the alignment lip of the rocker ends up on the valve stem tip, that's a huge bind that will bend a pushrod.
So, use guide plates OR self aligning rockers, not both. If you already have that figured out, politely ignore me.

 

[erhan ergin]

This is a good point, however, the roller rockers I have do not have self alignment but one thing I missed is adjust the alignment plates properly as this is not too critical for the stamped rockers with self alignment but it is critical for the roller rockers. The #1 cylinder rockers do not look square and I think that caused the issue. I was watching videos last night and saw how the builder was putting effort aligning the end cylinders.

 

[tom3]

If possible, I'd like to see a side shot of the springs, rockers, guide plates, etc. Wondering how that's set up with the vortec heads.

 

[biker]

This is a good point, however, the roller rockers I have do not have self alignment but one thing I missed is adjust the alignment plates properly as this is not too critical for the stamped rockers with self alignment but it is critical for the roller rockers. The #1 cylinder rockers do not look square and I think that caused the issue. I was watching videos last night and saw how the builder was putting effort aligning the end cylinders.

For sure. Guide plates are not just bolt on and go. The mounting holes are somewhat oblong to allow for some adjustment. I'm using adjustable ones that allow you to independently align the intake and exhaust pushrods. Takes time, but it works out well. Probably not needed on vortec heads since the valves arent weirdly offset.

 

[doug m]

This is a good point, however, the roller rockers I have do not have self alignment but one thing I missed is adjust the alignment plates properly as this is not too critical for the stamped rockers with self alignment but it is critical for the roller rockers. The #1 cylinder rockers do not look square and I think that caused the issue. I was watching videos last night and saw how the builder was putting effort aligning the end cylinders.

your using guide plates with stamped self alignment rockers?

 

[erhan ergin]

Below are some pics just in case I am misrepresenting something by mistake. BTW the engine came with guide plates and stamped rockers I did not put it together. Maybe the stamped rockers are not self aligned.

 

[biker]

You may have to pull the intake, pull the lifters, inspect, repair, carefully mock things up, checknpushrod length, properly set up and adjust lash and I bet it's good to go.

It is difficult to properly set lash with the intake on if you dont have experience with it. Very easy to collapse a plunger and bind things without knowing it. Some lifters will be pumped and easy to feel 0 lash. Some will hav no pressure and you will blow right past 0 lash. That may be where things went wrong.

 

[COPO]

They don’t look like self aligning rockers but can’t see the bottoms to be sure.