Jay, my latest stainless rockers from T&D are bushed, and as they are for the BBF, have pressurized oil to the trunion from the pushrod through the cup and then on out through the spring oiler ports. I realize the differnce with your SOHC motor valve train situation, but have you talked with re the bushing IF there was a way to get pressurized oil to them? Along those lines did you figure out how to get more ratio given you are going to make your own rockers?
To the OP, bush your block for .904 or .937 lifters, use the bushed style, I've had good success with Isky and bi-annual rebuilds at .900ish lift and just shy of 800lbs. over the nose using a 1.85:1 rocker. Can you run a bigger cam core in an FE? Tha't where I'm going with the 460 based motor I run to get more lift with less rocker ratio. The car sees a Drag Week, a few True Street events and a few thousand street miles a year.