pushrod

85 2.8 V6 ranger pushrod wont seat i removed the valve cover to replace valve steam seals and found a pushrod (not bent) bouncing around and it wont seat it ran fine before except for the smokey exhaust

Truck info: 1999, 3.0, 4x4, manual, 190k miles For a while now, my clutch pedal has been going to the floor and it's gotten increasingly more difficult to go between 1st and reverse. I was thinking that I would start with bleeding the system, removing the transmission, shooting myself, etc...

94 4.0 150k miles manual trans no compression #5, other cyls. good(150 reading) seems to be burnt exh. valve... is it possible that a pushrod or lifter or both are the real culprit? like to ask before i order new heads. also, will a new top end blow out my rings as has been suggested by a shade...