Fuel pump pushrod normally tough to get in?

[ws23rt]

you will never be able to drill a small hole in the rod...you don't realize how hard the metal the tip of the rod is made from...you will not have a drill bit sharp enough

I agree  In fact I agree so much as to recommend you don't even try.

[Chargerguy74]

Way cool!  I had no clue this was your niche!  

I knew I was waiting for it. You didn't disappoint, ws23rt.   Now I'm wondering if it'll operate okay. Too much at risk taking the chance I think.

[Dino]

Do you think you can get the rod moving by turning the engine by hand?

[Chargerguy74]

Yeah, I turned it over by hand and the rod pushed out a little ways, that was my starting point. I was hoping it would be enough.

[ws23rt]

I was just going to say that. Turn the engine over to push the rod out to it's farthest point. Then find the best way to grab the rod  and be use care with easy twisting and pulling. BTW I would consider this rod as being toast so give no mind to protecting it. You should not expect to use this rod again. ---Bad rod --

[Dino]

I doubt the rod moves enough to move it in and out a bunch of times and get anywhere.  I'd still lube the rod and try though..  Damn, I think I just lured Skip to this thread.   

[Chargerguy74]

I am really thinking about an electric pump right now. 550ish hp expected and a 120gph carter mechanical? I spent all day bending up a 3/8 fuel line from pump to carb too. Well not all day, but I spent 10 hours on the engine today. Lots of little stuff. Pics when I get home.

ws23rt, this rod is dead to me.

[Chargerguy74]

What do you guys recommend for a fuel pump pushrod? I'm gonna order a couple tomorrow if I can't find any locally.

[ws23rt]

I don't have any particular recommendation.  The rod you got from wherever should have been just fine. All I can think of is that it was bent.

If it was my question I would go with what Brian (A383Wing) would recommend.

[Chargerguy74]

The one I had was this one.

http://www.manciniracing.com/stfupupub426.html

[Chargerguy74]

Ws23rt, do you think it would be pointless to blast co2 at the rod to help it cool and contract a bit? Would the contraction be negligible? I really don't know how cold it would get.

[ws23rt]

Ws23rt, do you think it would be pointless to blast co2 at the rod to help it cool and contract a bit? Would the contraction be negligible? I really don't know how cold it would get.

Yes the contraction would be negligible. The cooling would need to migrate up into the point of restriction and the time it would take would add cooling to the bore at the same approximate rate. It would be chasing a fast moving window of opportunity and the best contraction of the rod to be expected would be about one half of the value I talked about earlier.

If you could get a good grip in some way on the end of the rod. (vicegrips?) and add a slide hammer of sorts to the vicegrips that may ease it out. Twisting the rod in the bore as you pull.

[Chargerguy74]

Looks like the timing cover will be coming off, one more time. Oh well. I'm thinking of trying a comp 4626A pushrod, 0.434" diameter. It's length is 3.22".

[Chargerguy74]

It was a productive day otherwise. The fuel line does not touch the block anywhere.

[birdsandbees]

Do you not have a good pair of needle nose vise grips? I would think you could get them clamped on the end of that and then a big screw driver between the pliers and the block to pop it out. I'd be trying every trick known to man before I was dismantling the engine.

[Chargerguy74]

I tried pliers with a much slimmer profile. There's just not enough room to open them wide enough.

[birdsandbees]

Yah.. you'd have to do some external grinding to shape them enough to get them in there. Do you have a set of brake spring pliers?? Might get them in or something similar to get a hold on it. Like I said I'd be trying everything and anything vs tearing the front off the engine.

[Chargerguy74]

I tried a pair of really long snap ring pliers. There's nothing I can think of that has a slimmer profile. I wish I took a pic of them.

[Daytona R/T SE]

OK, This might sound stupid...

It's been a decade or more since I've had an engine opened up...

But...

If you turn the engine...

Won't the camshaft push the rod outward ? 

[ws23rt]

I think the cam has already pushed the rod out as far as it can.

[cdr]

if i remember correct, you could use a long skinny screw driver through the distributor hole & push on the rod a little, maybe a welding rod.

i just looked at my old 383 & you should be able to move the rod a good amount.

[A383Wing]

I got my new pump rods from eBay years ago...NAPA, Schucks, or anyone has all the same rods....here are the pliers I suggested ...called Hose Gripper Pliers Set....

[A383Wing]

UPDATE: Went back out and re-measured all 3 of my new pump rods with different micrometers, all 3 measure .4345" in the center of the rod.

I used my 2 digital ones this time to measure....evidently I cannot add numbers correctly using the old style micrometer

sorry, my bad

[Chargerguy74]

if i remember correct, you could use a long skinny screw driver through the distributor hole & push on the rod a little, maybe a welding rod.

i just looked at my old 383 & you should be able to move the rod a good amount.

Is this possible with the cam in?

[Chargerguy74]

I got my new pump rods from eBay years ago...NAPA, Schucks, or anyone has all the same rods....here are the pliers I suggested ...called Hose Gripper Pliers Set....

Those look like they would work. Thanks for posting pics! Now to find some. Looks like Princess Auto has a pair of 13" double jointed ones, but that's it.

No prob on the measurements, I'm actually glad your measurements were off the first time.