Cary;
    Replacing the bent pushrod is straightfoward. Replacing the pushrod tube
is more involved but should be within most VW owners grasp.
    As to why it bent, make sure the lifter is not stuck. Apply pressure
with a long stick and rotate the crankshaft. You should feel the lifter move
up and down. If it doesn't then the lifter stuck in the outward position and
the piston hit the valve, bending the pushrod. Very unlikley.
    More likely the rocker arm or valve siezed. Easy to verify. You might
disassemble the rocker arm and look galling on the shaft. Also check for a
clogged pushrod or rockerarm.
Ken Lewis
86 Transporter Crew Cab
60 356 T-5 Porsche
http://neksiwel.20m.com/
Vanagon tech, pixs, O2 monitor gadget