Push Rod Rust
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Push Rod Rust
Hello, I have a 78 that I am getting running after a period of about 20 years of sitting in the side yard of my dad's place. The valve covers rusted straight through. I have found no obvious rust on the valves (i'm sure the seats are destroyed) and the rockers seem fine. The issue lies on the push rods. They have major surface rust and possible rust pits. This is a car that I am kinda forced to sell once I get it fixed up due to the fact that I can't afford the insurance for it. What would be the best/cheapest rout here? Can I get away with taking the push rods out, polishing them, then putting them back? Or is it advisable, because I found rust there, to tear down the entire heads to polish and replace rusty parts? My biggest question here is, if I polish those push rods, can I get 100k miles out of them or is it worthless to try? Also, what is the worst case if i decide to polish and run these rods? I end up with a bent push rod? Because if the guides are already shot, ill need new heads anyway.
Last edited by Parzzival; Sep 15, 2019 at 05:23 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
Price out new pushrods from Summit or similar place, they aren't that much $. With the rust on the pushrods, you might want to pull the intake and have a look at the valley and lifters. If that looks clean, go ahead and start it up to see how it runs. But, if you're going to sell it you don't need anything that's going to last 100K miles.
Edit: I saw a previous post you stated the hood had been left open for years, was the air cleaner on the carb? If not the rust you have found may be the tip of the iceberg. If it was up to me, and I couldn't afford it, I'd sell it as is.
Edit: I saw a previous post you stated the hood had been left open for years, was the air cleaner on the carb? If not the rust you have found may be the tip of the iceberg. If it was up to me, and I couldn't afford it, I'd sell it as is.
Last edited by SH-60B; Sep 15, 2019 at 06:53 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Sitting open, hood up, valve covers rusted thru, rust. Count on water being in the cylinders.
Get out from under this quickly or spend money on an engine rebuild or a crate engine.
Then start to spend money on the interior, drive train, brake system locked up, etc.
And then, it's a 78, not a whole lot of value to recoup all the investment you could be spending.
Get out from under this quickly or spend money on an engine rebuild or a crate engine.
Then start to spend money on the interior, drive train, brake system locked up, etc.
And then, it's a 78, not a whole lot of value to recoup all the investment you could be spending.
Last edited by KenSny; Sep 15, 2019 at 09:48 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
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From: SW Florida.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 330
From: Indy Indiana
yes, 20 years outside with x number of years with the hood up.. pushrods are the least of your worries and it is a big money pit.
from experience.. the entire car will be in such poor condition that you won't get back anything close to what you spend.
look at the market, you will see that poor condition late C3's sell for peanuts.
metal frames, metal floors and metal birdcages are the 1st to go, and the most expensive to fix.
if your valve covers are rusted thru, then it highly probable that all the other metal is toast.
from experience.. the entire car will be in such poor condition that you won't get back anything close to what you spend.
look at the market, you will see that poor condition late C3's sell for peanuts.
metal frames, metal floors and metal birdcages are the 1st to go, and the most expensive to fix.
if your valve covers are rusted thru, then it highly probable that all the other metal is toast.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Price out new pushrods from Summit or similar place, they aren't that much $. With the rust on the pushrods, you might want to pull the intake and have a look at the valley and lifters. If that looks clean, go ahead and start it up to see how it runs. But, if you're going to sell it you don't need anything that's going to last 100K miles.
Edit: I saw a previous post you stated the hood had been left open for years, was the air cleaner on the carb? If not the rust you have found may be the tip of the iceberg. If it was up to me, and I couldn't afford it, I'd sell it as is.
Edit: I saw a previous post you stated the hood had been left open for years, was the air cleaner on the carb? If not the rust you have found may be the tip of the iceberg. If it was up to me, and I couldn't afford it, I'd sell it as is.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Well, push rod rust is indicitive of how much moisture got into the engine.
I seriously doubt if changing the pushrods and puting oil in the cyliders is going to solve your problems.
But, good luck anyway.
I seriously doubt if changing the pushrods and puting oil in the cyliders is going to solve your problems.
But, good luck anyway.
Last edited by KenSny; Sep 15, 2019 at 03:58 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
just pull the pushrods, rockers and spark plugs. oil up cyls and see if it turns. a big screwdriver on starter teeth may move it. Don't spend any money on parts. not until it spins. if it turns on the starter, tap each valve with a hammer. you will know if the valves are stuck or not.if motor spins and 16 valves open and close, you can think about pushrods. i betcha one or a few of us can scare up a few and ship them for price of postage.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,180
Likes: 297
From: Sarasota Florida
I have a 78 that I am getting running after a period of about 20 years of sitting in the side yard of my dad's place.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,809
From: Cool Northern Michigan
You don't know the situation.
No need for snarky, rude comments from A-holes.
If you don't want to help, ignore the post.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Sep 15, 2019 at 06:58 PM.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 17
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I read you loud and clear!! I had to buy a scope for opening the hood (stuck latch) so i'm already planning on running round the engine in every hole I can stick it in. I will keep people posted.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 870
Likes: 204
From: London UK
Nice to see another person on here around my age (I'm 24) i'd definitely post up some pictures of the whole car and close ups of the windshield surround to decide whether it's worth spending a penny on this car, if the valve covers are rusted through I can't imagine what the rest of the engine is like inside...