Going to work last week, doing about 60 mph, I suddenly felt the engine go off song, then a lot of tapping noise. Limped home and parked it. So here's what I have: 135,000 miles, and about 25,000 miles on a comp 501 w/ Isky springs, full valve job, magnum roller tip rockers, and stock hardened pushrods. The broken pushrod snapped at the weld. Looking at it, it showed enough wear that I think the head got into a restriction at the rocker and maybe a weak weld allowed it to break off. I now have a set of Comp one piece magnum pushrods, and plan to install the full set tomorrow. My question is: do I have a freak incident, or have others had the same thing happen too?

 

Not quite sure what you mean -- I'm not aware of any welds on a stock pushrod? Reardless, broken stock pushrods are fairly common.

 

from this side of the internet...hard to say "why" it broke

improper valve lash (to tight) possibly

carefully examine the RR associated with that PR for galling or blocked oil passage