I finally found out why it was so hard to start, and had an intermittent miss:
1) both float ball valves were stuck, and
2) the #1 intake valve is stuck, which resulted in this SEVERELY bent pushrod. Turns out, this is due to running modern unleaded gasahol in an engine built for leaded gasoline. The Lead was the lubricant for the valve guides, so without it, and with the effects of ethanol blended in the gas, the valves stick.

Owner caption April 2011 · Photo 10 of 101