'69 427 Bent Push Rod
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 302
Likes: 16
'69 427 Bent Push Rod
Sold my 2004 CE Z06 about a year ago.
I just purchased a 427 69 coupe. I changed the oil and filter, gave her a tune up with air filter,new plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor. I Decided to go through the valve train by starting to adjust valve lash because of some valve train chatter. I found the #1 intake push rod bent! and ran ok but didn't know extent of the problem.
So, what should my course of action be. Get a new push rod? How can I be sure the valve is not bent.
Your feed back would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mike
I just purchased a 427 69 coupe. I changed the oil and filter, gave her a tune up with air filter,new plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor. I Decided to go through the valve train by starting to adjust valve lash because of some valve train chatter. I found the #1 intake push rod bent! and ran ok but didn't know extent of the problem.
So, what should my course of action be. Get a new push rod? How can I be sure the valve is not bent.
Your feed back would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mike
Last edited by Z06CE; Mar 17, 2019 at 07:56 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,377
Likes: 6,377
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
The stock pushrod is the weak link when slightly over-rev'ing the engine. Just because the pushrod is bent does not mean there are other serious problems. If the pushrod is not badly bent, it can be straightened across V-Blocks with a dial indicator and a rubber mallet (this method is FAA-approved for straightening aircraft engine pushrods, believe it or not..). Or you can replace it. If this is a near-stock engine with a 5500 rpm redline, and there are no other engine problems or symptoms, I'd straighten it, run the engine, and have fun. 
Don't over-think it...
Don't make the problem worse than it is...
Lars
Don't over-think it...
Don't make the problem worse than it is...
Lars
Last edited by lars; Mar 7, 2019 at 09:57 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 302
Likes: 16
The push rod is bent pretty bad. The rockers are rollers, which is not stock. They have Poly locks. The guy I bought the car from said it had a higher performance cam in it what ever means because I don't know the specs of the cam.
I will take some pics of the bent push rod and the rockers that are on the studs. Maybe someone can identify them.
I will take some pics of the bent push rod and the rockers that are on the studs. Maybe someone can identify them.
Last edited by Z06CE; Mar 8, 2019 at 08:50 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Different cam and roller rockers. On an otherwise stock 427 when you use a higher lift cam you have to change out the stock valve springs as with higher lift, you can get coil bind. Coil bind results in bent pushrods. Check the rest of them very closely. Roll them on a piece of glass. Your wife's glass coffee table works perfectly for this but don't get caught. If it's just the one, fix or replace it but make sure it is only the one pushrod or you probably have a spring bind problem with the aftermarket cam.
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Mar 8, 2019 at 12:00 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Different cam and roller rockers. On an otherwise stock 427 when you use a higher lift cam you have to change out the stock valve springs as with higher lift, you can get coil bind. Coil bind results in bent pushrods. Check the rest of them very closely. Roll them on a piece of glass. Your wife's glass coffee table works perfectly for this but don't get caught. If it's just the one, fix or replace it but make sure it is only the one pushrod or you probably have a spring bind problem with the aftermarket cam.
And it only takes a little bit of bind to bend things..
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
Replacement Cam and you don't know what. you need to know the valve lift. You can get pretty close with a good little steel ruler. Stand up next to a valve and have somebody bump the starter. obviously subtract up from the down measurement go around and check a bunch of them. Intake and exhaust separate. 20 buck digital caliper would be better. What 427? Head casting numbers? Orig o-ring valve seals or umbrellas or positive seals under springs? You also want to get a cheap lever style spring compressor and feel the valve that bent the rod for binding. Is valve bent? Compression test. https://www.ebay.com/itm/OEMTOOLS-25...cAAOSw7thb-KAa
Last edited by derekderek; Mar 8, 2019 at 07:25 AM.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Call Trend in Michigan and get a set of .080 radial wall 3/8" pushrods.....8.280 intake and 9.250 exhaust.......nobody really uses 7/16" anymore and your guide plates are probably 3/8" already......I would also pop for a set of Comp Magnum rocker arms......even though they are a ball/stud design, they are LIGHT YEARS better than GM or rebuilder spec stamped rockers that actually have a 1.7 ratio (Stock can be anywhere from 1.63 to 1.7) and don't deflect when revved over 5000 rpm.
BBC's in the day were classic for breaking rockers and bending pushrods due to crap valve spring, float, and the previously mentioned installed height.
You will have a few bucks into doing this (about $300) but at this point you can be SURE the lash is right and that you have solid components up top.
I like to use polyloks even on stamped rockers as it is so much easier to feel where you are at with the lash on a hydraulic.....
Jebby
BBC's in the day were classic for breaking rockers and bending pushrods due to crap valve spring, float, and the previously mentioned installed height.
You will have a few bucks into doing this (about $300) but at this point you can be SURE the lash is right and that you have solid components up top.
I like to use polyloks even on stamped rockers as it is so much easier to feel where you are at with the lash on a hydraulic.....
Jebby
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Those appear to be two piece pushrods. In laymans terms: crap.
Summit has the one piece rods you need. Just match not only the correct length obviously, but the correct guide plate diameter slot too.
And I wonder if those are 1.7 rockers instead of 1.6 causing binding at the fulcrum?
Summit has the one piece rods you need. Just match not only the correct length obviously, but the correct guide plate diameter slot too.
And I wonder if those are 1.7 rockers instead of 1.6 causing binding at the fulcrum?
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Mar 8, 2019 at 08:40 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 302
Likes: 16
Those appear to be two piece pushrods. In laymans terms: crap.
Summit has the one piece rods you need. Just match not only the correct length obviously, but the correct guide plate diameter slot too.
And I wonder if those are 1.7 rockers instead of 1.6 causing binding at the fulcrum?
Summit has the one piece rods you need. Just match not only the correct length obviously, but the correct guide plate diameter slot too.
And I wonder if those are 1.7 rockers instead of 1.6 causing binding at the fulcrum?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
THAT! I don't know. Just sayin' like in post 8, you need to know what size guide plates somebody put on there, 3/8 or 7/16. Should be 3/8, but measure your guide & pushrod dia.
Those 2 pc rods are a accident waiting to happen. Sometimes they separate. And its not pretty.
Those 2 pc rods are a accident waiting to happen. Sometimes they separate. And its not pretty.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 302
Likes: 16
Those appear to be two piece pushrods. In laymans terms: crap.
Summit has the one piece rods you need. Just match not only the correct length obviously, but the correct guide plate diameter slot too.
And I wonder if those are 1.7 rockers instead of 1.6 causing binding at the fulcrum?
Summit has the one piece rods you need. Just match not only the correct length obviously, but the correct guide plate diameter slot too.
And I wonder if those are 1.7 rockers instead of 1.6 causing binding at the fulcrum?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 341
Any overheating?
Any overheating? As others have mentioned a bent pushrod is a symptom not a cause. Overrevving is one possible cause Miss matched parts and Clearence is another. One that nobody has mentioned so far is overheating if an engine is overheated sometimes a valve can stick in a guide and the pushrod is where the damage occurs
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Ok...so you have the Comp rockers that I mentioned......that is why the pushrod bent because those particular rockers are pretty tough with a thick cross section.....GM rocker would have probably broke right off......
So......you have a crash going on....you need to determine if it is the retainer to boss or spring coil bind.......I personally pop one off the I and the E (use air holder or the rope trick) and start inspecting....you can put a light tension spring on both I and E and use an indicator to check distance to bind and distance to retainer crash. Record these number and compare with the cam lift. Don't know your cam? Take the same indicator and go off the tip of the pushrod while rolling the engine over.....it will move like .300, record the movement and multiply by 1.7.......subtract that number I and E from both the retainer and spring bind number.....you need at least .060
If you do not have clearance.....you will have to find a retainer/spring/locator setup that works......
But buy new one piece pushrods......99% of them are made by Trend no matter what brand name is on the box.
Jebby
So......you have a crash going on....you need to determine if it is the retainer to boss or spring coil bind.......I personally pop one off the I and the E (use air holder or the rope trick) and start inspecting....you can put a light tension spring on both I and E and use an indicator to check distance to bind and distance to retainer crash. Record these number and compare with the cam lift. Don't know your cam? Take the same indicator and go off the tip of the pushrod while rolling the engine over.....it will move like .300, record the movement and multiply by 1.7.......subtract that number I and E from both the retainer and spring bind number.....you need at least .060
If you do not have clearance.....you will have to find a retainer/spring/locator setup that works......
But buy new one piece pushrods......99% of them are made by Trend no matter what brand name is on the box.
Jebby
Last edited by Jebbysan; Mar 8, 2019 at 10:07 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 302
Likes: 16
Ok...so you have the Comp rockers that I mentioned......that is why the pushrod bent because those particular rockers are pretty tough with a thick cross section.....GM rocker would have probably broke right off......
So......you have a crash going on....you need to determine if it is the retainer to boss or spring coil bind.......I personally pop one off the I and the E (use air holder or the rope trick) and start inspecting....you can put a light tension spring on both I and E and use an indicator to check distance to bind and distance to retainer crash. Record these number and compare with the cam lift. Don't know your cam? Take the same indicator and go off the tip of the pushrod while rolling the engine over.....it will move like .300, record the movement and multiply by 1.7.......subtract that number I and E from both the retainer and spring bind number.....you need at least .060
If you do not have clearance.....you will have to find a retainer/spring/locator setup that works......
But buy new one piece pushrods......99% of them are made by Trend no matter what brand name is on the box.
Jebby
So......you have a crash going on....you need to determine if it is the retainer to boss or spring coil bind.......I personally pop one off the I and the E (use air holder or the rope trick) and start inspecting....you can put a light tension spring on both I and E and use an indicator to check distance to bind and distance to retainer crash. Record these number and compare with the cam lift. Don't know your cam? Take the same indicator and go off the tip of the pushrod while rolling the engine over.....it will move like .300, record the movement and multiply by 1.7.......subtract that number I and E from both the retainer and spring bind number.....you need at least .060
If you do not have clearance.....you will have to find a retainer/spring/locator setup that works......
But buy new one piece pushrods......99% of them are made by Trend no matter what brand name is on the box.
Jebby
I'm at work so I can't examine the rods.