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Technical 235 chevy pushrod question

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by wheeltramp brian, Jan 27, 2026 at 5:07 PM.

  1. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 3,389

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

    I've got a customer's car here with a two thirty five and diagnosed it with a dead cylinder. Pulled the valve cover off and found a broken push rod. No big deal I thought,go to my stash and grab another, but wait,They are different sizes. The One that I took out of the engine is ten and five eighths , and the others from my stash are 10 and a 1/2. Kind of weird as they don't list anything at 10 and a 1/2 in my book or my manual. Automatics have even longer ones at 11 and a quarter. Should I just put it back together with the shorter push rod and adjust it as this motor's old and worn anyways? 20260127_150046.jpg 20260127_150054.jpg 20260127_150348.jpg
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  2. Doublepumper
    Joined: Jun 26, 2016
    Posts: 1,854

    Doublepumper
    Member
    from OR-WA, USA

    Possibly 10.444"? Found this on the interwebs... The 10.444" pushrods are typically ***ociated with the Chevrolet 235 engine used in models from 1954 to 1962.
     
  3. Hotwyr
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 187

    Hotwyr
    Member

    I believe the ones I used on both my 235 and 261 were Melling MPR32. That's for a solid lifter cam. Sorry, I'm not able to get a measurement right now.
     
  4. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 3,389

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

    I ordered one That will be here tomorrow morning from O'reilly's. And the lady said, it was 1044". That's pretty close to 10 and a 1/2, but the ones I took out are definitely 10 and 5/8, and they look a little different on the cup and on the ball end. 20260127_155532.jpg 20260127_155911.jpg
     
  5. Doublepumper
    Joined: Jun 26, 2016
    Posts: 1,854

    Doublepumper
    Member
    from OR-WA, USA

    Correct way to measure them is using a small ball bearing in the cup end, measure the total rod length, then subtract the diameter of the ball.
     
  6. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 3,389

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

  7. jaracer
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,072

    jaracer
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Before I stuck another pushrod in the engine, I'd want to know why the original one broke.
     
  8. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 3,389

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

    Who knows,Fatigue? valve got stuck? I did Try to push down on the valve and I couldn't move it so I sprayed it down with penetrating oil and used a pry bar until I could get it to move up-and-down nicely. I imagine it was stuck from the push rod being broken and run so long. About last year, another car came in with a 235 that had a bent one, and I hammered it straight, and it's been running as a daily driver ever since. So, who knows really
     
    Algoma56 likes this.
  9. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 3,389

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

    Received the one from the parts store this morning and it is the correct length. It fits the pivot on the rocker nicely. But the bottom end where the lifter goes in is a little smaller, but is 20260128_083904.jpg the same shape. So I'm sure it will be fine. I'll be tossing it in in a little while and see what happens.
     
    Algoma56 and Johnny Gee like this.
  10. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 3,389

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

    Install the remaining 2 push rods and fired it up.And it seemed to run pretty good , but noticed there was no oil getting to the rockers , even after a couple minutes. Turns out I could see oil leaking at the rocker stands, because nobody had installed the nuts to hold them down to the head! After i Installed the nuts and checked the other rocker stand bolts I had to readjust all the valves, and now there is oil coming out of every rocker nicely and is nice and smooth. Please disregard any hokey stuff in the engine Bay, including that **** fuel filter as the customer thinks it's great even though I told them it's junk. 20260128_121838.jpg
     
  11. Rusty Heaps
    Joined: May 19, 2011
    Posts: 1,008

    Rusty Heaps
    Member

    IMG_1684.jpeg That fuel filter is a leaking disaster waiting to happen. I hope he has good insurance. Been there, tossed that! Thankfully no fire.
     
  12. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 3,389

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

    I tell everybody that comes in with one of those, and most of the time they change them, this guy says he likes the way it looks with the Chrome.
     
  13. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 38,115

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    those fuel filters are responsible for many car fires. vibration loosens them and fuel sprays on the hot engine.... and fire....
     
  14. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 3,389

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

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