Pushrod Rub (Intake side of head)

Glad you worked it out. The covers shouldn't put up too much of a fight. I don't think it was mentioned, but did you consider going to a 1.6 rocker? That would have moved the push rod towards the rocker shaft (I think?), probably centering it in the hole through the head. Obviously you used what you bought and it would've been more cost to get a set of 1.6, but you would gain some lift too.