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Now I have a broken pushrod

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Old May 9, 2020 | 11:18 AM
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Default Now I have a broken pushrod

I'm just about over it with this hacked together engine. I thought I had my problem narrowed down to a weak spark in the #5 cylinder but when I started the car again to check I got a lot of valve noise, like a really loose rocker. Shut it down, pulled all the plugs and proceeded to check the valve adjustment. #2 exhaust was not showing as much thread above the nut as all the other studs and when I went to loosen that nut it was very tight. I turned the nut what I thought was way too much to loosen and all of a sudden it all released, like it was in a bind. I fish the pushrod out and the ball on the lifter end is broken off. The shop that did the work got me some one piece chromoloy pushrods to replace all 16. Why didn't they use those initially?

When I insert this new pushrod down onto the lifter it extends much farther than it should. I know it's seated on the lifter, I can see it with a flashlight. And they are the same length. I put the rocker over the stud and I can barely tighten the nut down for any threads to show.
I thought maybe the ball was still on the lifter but it is not, hopefully it just went down to the pan.

Now what?

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Old May 9, 2020 | 11:50 AM
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Well If it was a horse they would have it put down.
This whole thing has been a nightmare.
Maybe time to bite-the-bullet and get a crate engine installed and sell off whatever is left.
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Old May 9, 2020 | 11:53 AM
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nope, I'm just stubborn enough
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Old May 9, 2020 | 12:06 PM
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If you crank the engiine over does it go up and down??? the only way it could be sticking up to high is if the lifter came up to far and got jambed in the hole. If its jambed some how then it won't move. If it goes up and down then theres something under it, which I really doubt

Unless your description isnt translating to me and the pushrod looks like its sticking up because of the rocker arm, then it could be the rocker arm stud pulled out of the head and thats why its not threading,,,,,,,,,I had that happen on one of my first builds. Just had the heads done and th eshop didnt replace the stsuds, I had to pull the pressed in ones and thread the holes.

Last edited by Rescue Rogers; May 9, 2020 at 12:07 PM.
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Old May 9, 2020 | 12:14 PM
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maybe lifter pumped up & puked its guts ? Intake off
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Old May 9, 2020 | 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Rescue Rogers
If you crank the engiine over does it go up and down??? the only way it could be sticking up to high is if the lifter came up to far and got jambed in the hole. If its jambed some how then it won't move. If it goes up and down then theres something under it, which I really doubt

Unless your description isnt translating to me and the pushrod looks like its sticking up because of the rocker arm, then it could be the rocker arm stud pulled out of the head and thats why its not threading,,,,,,,,,I had that happen on one of my first builds. Just had the heads done and th eshop didnt replace the stsuds, I had to pull the pressed in ones and thread the holes.
I have not tried to turn it over yet, I will do that and see if the lifter moves. Your understanding is correct, it is not the rocker arm or the stud.
Thanks.
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Old May 9, 2020 | 12:16 PM
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Are you adjusting #2 exhaust with the engine at TDC for cylinder #6?
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...valves.168345/
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Old May 9, 2020 | 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by jackson
maybe lifter pumped up & puked its guts ? Intake off
Yeah, I suspect that's coming.
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Old May 9, 2020 | 12:19 PM
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If #2 exhaust is not sitting on the base circle of the cam you will have the pushrod extending further. See my post above #7 in thread.
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Old May 9, 2020 | 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by MelWff
Are you adjusting #2 exhaust with the engine at TDC for cylinder #6?
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...valves.168345/
No, I am adjusting #2 exhaust intake with #1 at TDC according to the depiction I have.



I just realized it's not the exhaust valve, it's the #2 intake valve with the problem. Sorry. Good thing I don't try to make a living doing this.
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Old May 9, 2020 | 12:27 PM
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To clear up any confusion, it's the second valve back on the #2 cylinder which is the intake and I have the engine set at TDC for cylinder #1.
Thanks, ya'll.
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Old May 9, 2020 | 12:29 PM
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I interpret the point as being .., don't adjust any valve unless-until verified on base
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Old May 9, 2020 | 12:46 PM
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OK, I set the pushrod on the lifter and turned the engine through two full rotations and it didn't move up or down at all.
I suppose the intake is going to have to come off now for sure?

When you're up to your *** in alligators, it's hard to remember your initial objective was to drain the swamp.

And the valves on the driver side were all OK. It was only when I got to the other side when I discovered this.
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Old May 9, 2020 | 12:53 PM
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I bet the lifter is done.
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Old May 9, 2020 | 12:56 PM
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First ... didn't some outfit build this motor for you? If so, you need to be taking pics throughout this and documenting it all.

It didn't move even a tiny bit ... if good, it won't move more than about 1/3 of an inch ... even if lobe is wiped I'd expect it to move some ... unless lifter in stuck UP in bore.
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Old May 9, 2020 | 01:29 PM
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It didn't move a bit. Guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow.
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Old May 9, 2020 | 05:12 PM
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OK, the lifter is stuck up. The question is how stuck?
Try pushing it down. Some times you can dribble a little solvent around the lifter and it will break down the crud that is causing it to stick.
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To Now I have a broken pushrod

Old May 9, 2020 | 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Sayfoo
OK, the lifter is stuck up. The question is how stuck?
Try pushing it down. Some times you can dribble a little solvent around the lifter and it will break down the crud that is causing it to stick.
I can't imagine it has crud around it already, it's a new cam and lifters. However, I will certainly try that before I dismantle it.
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Old May 9, 2020 | 09:25 PM
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That lifter is damaged and is probably "toast" from the pushrod failure....or vice versa. Hopefully a magnet will pull it out of there.

I would surmise that the shop who did the work did not do "their best". Show them the results. Hopefully there will be no damage to the cam, and they will pay for the lifter (or set of lifters).
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Old May 9, 2020 | 10:35 PM
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Another CF C3 member went thru this quite recently ...https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1601166945 long sad thread... if it's a wiped cam lobe, the lifter's face will be smeared as well ... do NOT Blindly try to Force-****** the lifter Up & Out of bore ... because the edges of a smeared lifter face Can score and $ damage $ the bore. Take your time & tread lightly.

Last edited by jackson; May 9, 2020 at 10:55 PM.
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