[Pyrotechnic]

What caused the pushrod to bend? Is the cam lobe and lifter under the bent pushrod still ok? How many miles are on the motor and how well was it cared for?

Putting back together what you have will be cheaper right now, but in order to make it pay off in the long run you need to make sure you aren't putting brand new heads on a ticking time bomb. Now is the time to do your homework and really make sure the short block is 100% correct before you put it back in. Whatever you saved will be lost if the engine has to come back out.

You can get a remanufactured 350 for around $1200. Might be expensive now, but in the long run it pays off because you get a warranty plus the confidence and longevity of a like new engine.