Broke push rod...now what

[crazeetxn]

So my son drives my '86 with a stock 350 while he's working on his. I bought it as a long block about 5 years ago from what I thought was a decent place (but now out of business). He tells me today it's a little rough, backfires, and making a ticking noise. Ok, pulled the valve cover and find this.



Upon further inspection, it looks like there is a nice notch formed on the stem of one of the valves. So obviously the heads are coming off and going to the machine shop. What else should I look at/replace with since it's disassembled? Hopefully the lifter is still good. The rockers on there now are not rollers.

Should I get all new rockers/lifters/rods? I don't know anything about the cam as far as numbers go.

As always, thanks for any help ya'll can shoot this way!

[xrcr]

I wouldn't automatically get all new stuff. Checking that head/valve is a minimum. How many miles on this? What's your budget. You can get by with checking and replacing just that push rod, but you need to look closely.
jmo

[homemade87]

I had the same problem . Broke a couple push rods. I just got two new push rods and two new rockers and installed them. Never had the problem again. I think sometimes the rockers wear funny and put stress on the push rods untill they break. By putting new rockers on as well it seemed to solve my problem. I had put many miles over the years since then.

[crazeetxn]

I'll have to get back to you on the miles thing. I think more than 50K, but less than
100K. I've got it written down somewhere.

I'm hoping not to have to replace everything, I'm just hoping once I get down in there, everything checks out ok.

[crazeetxn]

Got home and checked my book for mileage. About 58K. Also, here's some pics that probably mean the heads are coming off and going to the shop.

The valve may be salvageable, but the stud is toast. Not to mention, these are pressed in. Course now, if ya'll tell me this is any easy fix (pull old stud, put in new, add new rod) then I might attempt it

[hatzie]

Looks like they just used cheap pushrods. I'd want to replace all 16 with decent hardened pushrods. At least look em all over one at a time.

You can pull the stud and install an oversize press-in or drill and tap for a screw in stud. I'd lean toward having a trusted machine shop do it whichever route you choose.
The rocker is a no-brainer.

[crazeetxn]

Originally Posted by hatzie

I'd lean toward having a trusted machine shop do it whichever route you choose.

Reckon this is one time I don't mind giving someone money to work on the truck!

Thanks again for all ya'll's advice.