Problems installing new pushrods!

Thanks you everyone for all the feedback. I believe I have a much better understanding of how things work. If you look at the second pick you can see the upper rocker hold down that has been machined by Mike at B3 racing. I had the geometry kit made by Mike now my rocker roller tip is right where it should. I guess I wasn’t correctly understanding the different terminology lifter pre-load, zero lash etc. If the lifter is spongy because it hasn’t pumped up with oil you have to adjust down the rockers an additional .050 thousands of so to account for this on initial start up. The motor has been apart about 6 months. I do have the intake and carburetor off. I’m using OEM mopar hydraulic lifters. When I have worked my way around spinning the crank from cylinder to cylinder tightening the pushrods until they don’t have any play then I can add in the lifter pre-load. This can vary from lifter manufacturer to manufacturer. Once they are set then I’m at zero lash and I turn approx 1/2 turn from there and lock in with nut. I’m using Harland Sharps. Then when the motor is running and everything fully loaded with oil I can recheck.