Question about a scarred up pushrod and ticking noise?

[rb68rr]

My car has been making a ticking noise for the last week or so. I took off the passenger side valve cover and cranked the car. When I put pressure on one of the rockers it was in perfect timing with the tick! It also seemed to be the looses one compared to the others. I then took of the rocker arm assembly and pulled out that pushrod. At the end that sits on the lifter, right where the shaft meets the ball, the shaft is all gnarled up like it's been hitting something! Is it possible for the pushrod to come off of the lifter and do this damage to it, and could this be the source of my noise. If a lifter was stuck would this happen. BTW, the pushrod does not appear to be bent. Also a new cam and lifters was installed about 10,000 miles ago. Thanks, R.B.

 

[rb68rr]

How about it Nick, anybody?

 

[rb68rr]

ttt

 

[rb68rr]

A little help, please?

 

[rb68rr]

ttt

 

[Ormand]

Check that the rocker is fixed in place. Sometimes the little spacers get lost, and the rocker can get out of line with the pushrod and valve. That could booger up the end of the pushrod, and might mess up the tip of the valve, too.