Doesn't increasing the rocker arm ratio make the pushrods closer to the valve cover rail? I have seen used W2 heads on Ebay and on some the valve cover sealing surface has been heavily clearanced where the pushrods travel.
Just the opposite. Increasing rocker arm ratio puts the pushrod cup closer to the shaft or pivot point. When using 3/8" pushrods with 1.5 rockers are tight to the valve cover rail, 1.6 ratio will pull it away from the rail.
Regarding offset lifters with 59 degree blocks, lifters or link bars will fail every time
