Bent Pushrod

[engineer_gregh]

Coming back from a show this past Saturday my truck developed a dead skip. I was only a couple of miles from home so I limped it the rest of the way. I figured I had fouled a plug or a spark plug wire had come off. Neither of which happened, I put in new plugs and wires but still had the skip (engine miss). Drove it to my mechanics shop and after some basic troubleshooting he pulled the left valve cover off. The #5 intake valve push rod was bent at a 90 degree angle just under where it should have been under the rocker arm. My engine is a rebuilt 454 with less than a thousand miles. Its running all Comp Cams gear including the pushrods and rocker arms. According to my mechanic big blocks are known for breaking valve springs and bending push rods. I've never heard of this before. There was no other damage and once the push rod was replaced it ran great. Anyone else have this happen on a big block?