The horse is dead

Let's put this into perspective. Take Hughes out the equation. The OP is beating his chest about years of experience. DECADES of experience. To which I'm not doubting. Nor am I doubting that Dave can be "short". The OP has basically already all but admitted to being sloth about not wanting to take the engine apart to make it right. Anyone who has done any semi-serious small Mopar effort, knows that these parts DO NOT just fall together. The reason for Chevy just falling together is the eons of support for the platform. So to banter about 1.6 Chevy roller rockers just falling in, compared to the Mopar that has to be modified, is apples to oranges. Ignorant almost.
actually.... i put 1.6 rockers on our ashley's 350sbc and had to machine (slot) the pushrod holes for clearance. but it's just one of those things that needed doing. no instructions to say it'd need doing either. i didn't piss and moan at the supplier here in the uk, it just seemed obvious that a non standard part would need checking and/or modifying if needed.
neil.