Pull the pushrod out and roll it on a flat surface. You can tell if its bent.Where is the roller for the rocker arm? Check the top of the valve stem carefully that it isnt beat up. Still dont understand about the brass piece. I thought those roller pins were press fit and peaned once in. I myself would buy a good set of rockers that arent going to fall apart. You narrowly missed a catastrophe. I broke a rocker, the lifter jumped out of the hole into the valley and the cam grabbed the push rod and wound it thru the block to the oil pan ruining the lifter bore breaking a piston skirt and cracking the cylinder wall.Count your blessings and buy good parts.