Pushrod ?
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Graham, Wa.
Pushrod ?
So I finally got around to resealing the intake manifold on my 390 this past weekend and when was checking the pushrods I could see a noticable wiggle in about 1/3 of them when rolling them on a true surface. I assume that any wiggle at all is not a good thing? Do these fatigue over time or should I be looking for another issue someplace else? Any info is appreciated.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,501
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From: Axtell, TX
There is a specific torque pattern and sequence when installing or uninstalling the rocker shafts. Failure to follow this leads to a bent shaft and bent pushrods. To my knowledge they dont fatigue or fail over time. There are different sizes of pushrods. .060" increments so it's too small a difference to really be able to tell them apart with the naked eye. So I would say either your rocker shafts are bent or you have an incorrect pushrod size.
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From: Graham, Wa.
I've just got to make this motor run for another year or so till I can afford my 446 build. Ran good even with the bent rods, probably just going to put in new ones and leave it with that. Do these have the same length rods for all or different ones for intake and exhaust? I am looking for a 12" caliper to check them out.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,501
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From: Axtell, TX
Yeah, all the same length. If you put in new pushrods and it bends them again then you probly need some new rocker shafts. Good time to go to adjustable or roller's especially if you're going to build a stroker later.
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From: Graham, Wa.
OK, so here is what I found out.
I got a hold of a 12" caliper and measure each of the pushrods and all of them are right at, or real close to 9.595" long. About half of them have a slight wiggle to them when you put them on a true surface. Calling the local NAPA and looking at Summit and Jegs, it does not appear that that length is "readily" available any longer. My choices at this point are to just put them back in for another year of occasional driving till I can do my build, or go to a 9.56 or a 9.62, which appear to be available lots of places.
As I am not a big "internal engine" guy, I am hoping that someone with more experience here can let me know if I should really worry about it at this point or just run it. It ran great before I took of the intake manifold to reseal it.
Thanks in advance for any info here.
I got a hold of a 12" caliper and measure each of the pushrods and all of them are right at, or real close to 9.595" long. About half of them have a slight wiggle to them when you put them on a true surface. Calling the local NAPA and looking at Summit and Jegs, it does not appear that that length is "readily" available any longer. My choices at this point are to just put them back in for another year of occasional driving till I can do my build, or go to a 9.56 or a 9.62, which appear to be available lots of places.
As I am not a big "internal engine" guy, I am hoping that someone with more experience here can let me know if I should really worry about it at this point or just run it. It ran great before I took of the intake manifold to reseal it.
Thanks in advance for any info here.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,584
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From: Chesapeake, Va.
I suggest that you replace the pushrods with new or straight as running the bent ones is flirting with disaster. If you can't find new at the parts stores go to any decent automotive machine shop and they often have a few hundred used but good pushrods.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Middle Tn.
OK, so here is what I found out.
I got a hold of a 12" caliper and measure each of the pushrods and all of them are right at, or real close to 9.595" long. About half of them have a slight wiggle to them when you put them on a true surface. Calling the local NAPA and looking at Summit and Jegs, it does not appear that that length is "readily" available any longer. My choices at this point are to just put them back in for another year of occasional driving till I can do my build, or go to a 9.56 or a 9.62, which appear to be available lots of places.
As I am not a big "internal engine" guy, I am hoping that someone with more experience here can let me know if I should really worry about it at this point or just run it. It ran great before I took of the intake manifold to reseal it.
Thanks in advance for any info here.
I got a hold of a 12" caliper and measure each of the pushrods and all of them are right at, or real close to 9.595" long. About half of them have a slight wiggle to them when you put them on a true surface. Calling the local NAPA and looking at Summit and Jegs, it does not appear that that length is "readily" available any longer. My choices at this point are to just put them back in for another year of occasional driving till I can do my build, or go to a 9.56 or a 9.62, which appear to be available lots of places.
As I am not a big "internal engine" guy, I am hoping that someone with more experience here can let me know if I should really worry about it at this point or just run it. It ran great before I took of the intake manifold to reseal it.
Thanks in advance for any info here.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Graham, Wa.
Based on info I found on this site, it appears that there was a 9.59 that was .030 under and it was somewhat common. My 9.595 listed above should not have had the extra 5 on the end. Still can't seem to find many parts stores that have it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 1
From: Axtell, TX
yeah when I went to autozone for some new ones, they didnt even know there were different sizes or what size the only ones they had were. "We dont have a caliper that size so I dunno.." It can be frustrating; somebody used to know the part # for all the different sizes, but there's not as many people on here as there used to be. Try FordFE.com lots of knowledgeable guys there.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,056
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From: Union, Washington
yeah when I went to autozone for some new ones, they didnt even know there were different sizes or what size the only ones they had were. "We dont have a caliper that size so I dunno.." It can be frustrating somebody used to know the part # for all the different sizes, but there's not as many people on here as there used to be. Try FordFE.com lots of knowledgeable guys there.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 1
From: Axtell, TX
Oh how I miss the good old days! I've stopped using the chain stores all together because of this. I found a local performance shop for my business. I dont care if they have to order it or not, at least it will be right, and the old guys up there know as much or more than me.
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