I have a 396 ci big block, 60 over with a relatively mild cam. Here's the problem: Last spring I noticed a ticking sound coming from inside the driver's side valve cover. It got worse and I pulled the valve cover to find that the tip of #5 upper (intake?) pushrod had broken and "caved in" to the hollow portion of the pushrod. I replaced the pushrod and rocker arm and it worked fine for the rest of the summer until October. I again noticed that same sound and pulled the valve cover to find the same thing happened to the same (new) pushrod.

I put the car away for the winter and recently put another pushrod into the motor to get the car running again (the old rocker was not damaged). I only wanted to get the car running and have driven it around 40 miles this year. I think that I hear some ticking starting again and want to get this problem fixed before I drive it any further.

Does anyone know what could be causing this problem? The tip of the pushrod isn't blue, so I think it's getting oil from the lifter. Could it be the spring? Rocker stud? Any help would be great!