Finally, got my 5.9 Dart to the track. It went well, then it went to hell.

For anyone interested, the solution turned out to be a too-tight valve guide causing the valve to stick when it got hot. Hughes was close by so I took the head over there, they fixed it while I waited -at no charge), and I never had a problem again.

Car went on to run 11.70s many many times with the stock rockers and a slightly longer pushrod.

I sold the car in 2013, and miss it dearly!

Steve