Replaced a broken valvespring, tried to adjust a rocker with engine not running. Started the engine, everything looked fine, rocker was clucking, like it was loose. Stopped engine. Rocker became extremely loose - to the point you can spin it off the valve easily. Readjusted it. Started engine, stopped - rocker became loose again. Adjusted one more time, started...BAM... bent pushrod (like banana).
Collapsed lifter? Something worse? Time to pull intake?
Thank you in advance!!!

 

is this a stock rocker arm?

 

The retainer spring that holds the lifter together may have popped out and let the lifter come apart. Better look down the hole with a flashlight (if you can) to see what's what. If the lifter body is still in the bore it will still maintain oil pressure but you could make things worse by running it before you know what's wrong.

c

 

Thank you! It's a stock rocker arm, Looking down the hole I can see that lifter looks ok, but it's hard to tell. I just ordered intake gasket and 2 pushrods I'll try to find one lifter tomorrow (gmpartsdirect sells only a set).

 

put the push rod in and push down on the rod with your hands without anything else on it if you can't push it down 1/4 to 1/2 inch it is the lifter if you can it is possible the keepers may not have been in all the way when you started the first time then popped into place when started(probably not but could be)hard to tell from heregood luck