Alistair Bell  asks: 

>But lo, another mystery... one of the pushrods has been "grooved" about >1
1/2" from one end. It is as if it was done on a lathe, 1/4" long, 1/4"
>deep. I only noticed it after I had all of the pushrods from one side in a
>tub so I don't know wether it was the head or case end.

Sounds like your push rod tube had a sharp edge on one end, maybe nearest the
lifter.  I've seen milder versions on some push rods from an engine I tore
down.  The lifter will do the rotating and the edge could do the cutting.
 Maybe the depth is related to the destruction of the cam lobes, etc?

Roland Wilhelmy
65 EZ Camper (van conversion)