HELP! 351W bent push rod problems

My best buddy called me today and he started out saying "something happened and I don't know what to do." I thought it was something serious and then he told me that his latest purchase of a 1972 Ford LTD with a 351W had a bend push rod. It is a low miles original car and was sitting for a few years in a garage before he bought it. When he got it it had a light tap but he figured it just needed to be run for a bit. It got worse and had no power then he decided to start troubleshooting. He pulled a valve cover off and loose rocker arm. He saw bent push rod. He removed the rocker arm to pull out the push rod and it was stuck in the hole due to being bend so bad.

What could cause this and what should be the plan of attack? He is a auto tech by trade but doesn't mess with things older than a few years old till this purchase. I and thinking collapsed lifter, bad springs or worst case piston hitting something it should not.

Any help will be much appreciated.

 

you say it sat for a few years,most likely the valve stem got gummed up and stuck in the guide.

 

Hey Stan,
Ive had 3 windsor's bend pushrods.
Dont know how common it is but as long as the rocker shaft isnt damaged(mine was once) throw another in and see what happens.
Make sure there is no other probs maybe wind over by hand and check for tight spots.

 

I think throwing in some new rods and crosing fingers might be worth it. Thanks

 

old gas can cause this....btdt

 

I'm going through the same thing.. The guy that rebuilt my Caddy ***embled my rocker
shaft wrong..the end piece that the bolts go through was on backwards giving the push-rod
a 1/4 inch gap and mangled 2 of the rods.. It also left open 2 valves cause it was cranked down too much...I had zero compression in the first cylinder so a compression
check is a good idea..My car still ran ok..even with ****ty carbs. I get it on monday all dailed can't wait...

Oh ya it bent my rocker shaft as well...

 

I got lots of Fords (including a 71 Conv.) it's a commom problem if they set for a while. The best thing to do is after starting one that has set for a long time is let it just set there and idol with out g***ing it untill everything has some time to get working again.

Starting one that has been sitting and start reving it up, and yea you'll bend a rod.

Yank that push rod out, and replace it, then just let it run in idol for a while, and see if it will work itself out. DONT REV IT UP!!!

Another common problem is lifters not building up. I just replaced one in a 70 Merc conv. I just bought that had been sitting for quite a while.

 

A gummed up lifter could do it as well. Short of tearing the thing apart, replace any broken parts. Get it running, add a pint of Marvel Mystery Oil to the oil and let it idle and possibly take it for a few short rides. Keep the revs down and study it's habits.

If all is well, change the oil and keep an eye on it for a while.

Bob

 

Rocker Shaft???

 

Had the same thing with a 351 Clevo. Heard a loud metallic 'Ping' like something broke then it went off song. Pulled the rocker covers off and found 3 bent push rods. Thought that something major had gone wrong and tore the rest of the motor down ad cant find a damn thing wrong!
WTF was the 'ping', sounded like metal letting go, thought I had done a cam, nope, maybe crank? Nope. Scared to put it back together, kinda ****s genuine 496.2hp at the rear wheels.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Doc.

 

Might be the rocker shaft. Check with Evel and Unclechop above

 

We've seen this quite a lot from cars that sit for a long period of time. Usually the engine will have a huge explosion from a missfire which is caused by fuel that has ac***ulated in a cylinder or multiple cylinders. So the result of the hydralic action and the spark fire will pound the valves so hard as to bend the weakest part--the push rod >>>>.

 

tap on the valve's and make sure their all free it sound like the vavle is stuck closed and the push rod will just bend again if any of the valves are stuck. i have used atf to free up stuck valves on a flat head maybe from up top you can get some on the valve stems and have it wrok its way in.. my .02

 

Same here. My sister had 3 bent also. Just put 3 new ones in, no problems.

 

I had this happen to my 500 Cad after it sat for 8 years. The valve was stuck so hard it couldn't be pushed down. I removed the spring with the cylinder at top dead and rope pushed into the spark plug hole for insurance. I removed the valve seal, put a chuck from a drill onto the valve stem, squirted WD-40 on the valve stem. I worked it by twisting and moving it up and down. I am sure it was the old gas, as it loosened up quickly. I then re***mbled, started it and let it warm up and have been driving it with no problem.
I hope this helps.
Alden