Pushrod question

[784X4GUY]

Hey yall,

Ive got a popping sound in my motor...and some people have told me that i might have a bent pushrod cause i just replaced the cam lifters timing chain and forgot to replace the pushrods...yeah yeah i know ima idiot...but do yall think a bent pushrod could be causing the popping sound coming out of the #7 cylinder exhaust port area...ive got headers and because of that pop my header gasket keeps blowing right there...any help would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks, Mike