Check out this picture...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/killmrryan/BentPushrods.jpg


I was adjusting my rocker arms (new roller rockers). The engine was idling fine, but there was that annoying tap-tap-tap-tap that comes from a rocker arm out of adjustment. So I remove the driver's side valve cover, and do the rocker adjustment (back off until chatter, then turn down one full turn - 1/4 turn at a time) on each rocker arm. The noise decreases, but there is still a tap from the passneger side head area.
I remove the valve cover with the car off and see that there are several very loose rocker arm nuts. So before starting the car I hand tighten them just to where there is no play. The engine has a hard time starting, for some reason, and when I pump the gas it finally starts. But it is running like crap. When I walk over to look in the engine compartment, I notice that neither valve on number 2 is actuating. So natually I kill engine. The above picture is the result.
I've heard of bent pushrods before, but do they normally bend like that? It seems like a really crazy bend!
I used a pushrod from another cylinder, and placed it through both the I & E sides of the guide plate in number two, and luckily, both lifters are still in their bores (so I don't have to remove the manifold, thank god).
So I guess I'm going to get a couple more pushrods and try it again, hoping they don't bend a second time! I just think it was probably overtightening of the number 2 rocker arms, and that should be all that is needed. What do you all think? Should I be concerned?
Keep in mind that I have on new heads and have ran the engine for a couple of hours worth of tuning, etc. and no problems before. Also the engine ran fine with the old heads.

Oh, and yes, the pushrods are hardened for use with guide plates.

Which one is the bent one? J/k it's a good thing you found that before you romped on it!

Haha. So is there anything I have to worry about? Can I just put in two new good pushrods and go?

IMO, you went too far with your preload. When I run a hydraulic cam, I "zero lash" the rockers. Loosen them up until they clack, then tighten them until they stop, and lock them down. Are you running the poly locks? They may make a bit of noise occasionally when set at zero like this, but they won't pump up and cause trouble that way. You can probably put in new push rods and reset all of the lifters and be good to go.

i can beat that..
http://community.webshots.com/photo/59557947/77735998FofvSn

and

http://community.webshots.com/photo/59557947/77735998FofvSn

a couple of years ago, i somehow forgot to tighten down the lock nuts on the #1 rockers after re-checking the adjustment. i actually drove it to work and back everyday fror 3 weeks (15 miles each way) before it started making a ticking noise on the way home from work one night at 3 am. then there was a bang, and it seemd to lose a little power and started vibrating a little bit. i thought i blew it up or something, so i pulled over. it stopped making noise and smoothed out, but was still down on power. oil pressure was good, temp was good, not smoking, so i drove it the last 13 miles home. it actually ran pretty smooth, and had decent power.
once i got, i pulled out the #1 plug and put the compression gauge on it- no pressure. all the rest were in the 160-180 range. pulled valve cover, and see the #1 rockers flopping loose and kind of beat up with the locknuts barely sitting on the stud, and the pushrods wedged in there pretty good. 10 minutes later, the intake is off- love the vortec heads- and i see what is shown in pic #1.
i think the replacement pushrods and rocker arms cost me $130 at the GM dealer, and i learned to always double, then triple check the locknut on roller rockers.
i no longer have the car, but i still have the broken parts, cuz broken parts are cool.