RE: push rod problem?
Just saw this, sorry.
All notes above are good, but I wouldn't pull the cam box off. I'll add only that there is a top and bottom to the push rods on Saito mid block engines. Installed backwards will cause valve train problems.
The upper end has a taper before the half ball, the lower end of the rod has the ball at full diameter. See picture. The upper end is on the right.
Bill.