I was using the Joe Gibbs break in oil which is a fairly heavy oil. That could be the case, maybe a synthetic oil would have more film pressure.

It seems to me that the spray bar would have to be on the carb side of the valve cover rather than on the top of the valve cover in order to really have a chance of getting the oil into the cups. But that seems a little complicated, it just seems easier to buy roller lifters that oil the pushrods and then get pushrods with holes in each end. That would solve the problem and wouldn't cost much more if anything.