Thanks for the insight. In, fact there was some old fuel in the tank when I first started it a year ago. I was provided some advice to "just run a couple tanks of premium through it". Hmmm ... no doubt the valves may have already been sticky and thus the bent rods. It's looking like I may have to remove the head and give a thorough cleaning before installing the new rods.
My friend just put rope down the holes before popping off the springs and spinning the valves. I think he did it twice, first was on one or two cylinders where the push rods bent. Second time it was after another push rod bent on a different cylinder. The second time he went through and did every valve he hadn't done before. But you're off and running, so no trouble now. Today's fuels are high detergent and will clean it out good.
