Fuel pump rod seems stuck - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BB72CHEVKT · 01-30-2012, 06:26 PM

Every time I have changed a small block pump the rod has practicially fallen out. I then have to put some wheel bearing grease on it for it to stay put while I reinstall the pump. This time I am working with a 260 hp Goodwrench motor and the pump rod does not want to come out. Any ideas?

yuccales · 01-30-2012, 06:59 PM

My 283 was all sludged up and I had to use a long pair of needle nose, grab it and twist back and forth. Also, could the bolt on the front of the block be just a tad to long? Hope you get it out.

davepl · 01-30-2012, 07:13 PM

I've had to pull them out before. In theory the cam end of it could "mushroom" a little with wear over time, I suppose.

Haven't worked on a small block for a while, but if you have the cam out it's easier to push it from above than to pull it from below, but if you're just working on the pump you should be able to pull it out with long-nose pliers.

If you can grab it with pliers and get sufficient force on it (ie: a good grip) and it STILL won't come up, then I'd worry, but I bet with a little twisting a pulling it'll come out.

57larry · 01-30-2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuccales

My 283 was all sludged up and I had to use a long pair of needle nose, grab it and twist back and forth. Also, could the bolt on the front of the block be just a tad to long? Hope you get it out.

X's 2

JimKshortstep4x4 · 01-30-2012, 08:55 PM

Make sure that the bolt in the front of the engine is not tightened into the rod. One of the bolts is threaded through to assist in holding the rod out of the way when a fuel pump is changed.

Jim

BB72CHEVKT · 01-30-2012, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimKshortstep4x4

Make sure that the bolt in the front of the engine is not tightened into the rod. One of the bolts is threaded through to assist in holding the rod out of the way when a fuel pump is changed.

Jim

I just came in from removing that bolt and it had no effect. I also turned the motor over by hand and the play that was in the rod is gone and now there is not play and it is stuck completely. THis is a low mile crate motor that is very clean inside.

BB72CHEVKT · 01-30-2012, 09:36 PM

OK I got it out but WTF. I think it might be bent. I am going to get a new one tomorrow. It appears to have been swapped from the original motor when they dropped in the crate. I would never personally even think of running a used one on a new engine but to each their own. If it is bent could it have damaged the cam?

BB72CHEVKT · 02-02-2012, 10:54 AM

rod was bent, the new rod travels freely

yuccales · 02-02-2012, 11:02 AM

Somebody must have torqued the heck out of the front bolt to bend that rod, or put a big burr on it. Glad you got it out!

MobbinINmy69 · 11-20-2013, 04:21 PM

So how did you get it out? Did needle nose pliers work? I'm in a similar situation but had to pull my cam out and it's still stuck

BB72CHEVKT · 11-20-2013, 05:08 PM

I ended up finally getting it out by twisting and pulling at the same time. It is now 11k miles later and no problems.

01-30-2012, 06:26 PM	#1
BB72CHEVKT Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hideaway, TX Posts: 4,950	Fuel pump rod seems stuck Every time I have changed a small block pump the rod has practicially fallen out. I then have to put some wheel bearing grease on it for it to stay put while I reinstall the pump. This time I am working with a 260 hp Goodwrench motor and the pump rod does not want to come out. Any ideas? __________________ 71 Suburban 350/700R4 Project Trixie 72 CHEVY,Highlander,SWB,396,T400

01-30-2012, 06:59 PM	#2
yuccales Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern Calif. Posts: 3,777	Re: Fuel pump rod seems stuck My 283 was all sludged up and I had to use a long pair of needle nose, grab it and twist back and forth. Also, could the bolt on the front of the block be just a tad to long? Hope you get it out.

01-30-2012, 07:13 PM	#3
davepl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 6,332	Re: Fuel pump rod seems stuck I've had to pull them out before. In theory the cam end of it could "mushroom" a little with wear over time, I suppose. Haven't worked on a small block for a while, but if you have the cam out it's easier to push it from above than to pull it from below, but if you're just working on the pump you should be able to pull it out with long-nose pliers. If you can grab it with pliers and get sufficient force on it (ie: a good grip) and it STILL won't come up, then I'd worry, but I bet with a little twisting a pulling it'll come out.

01-30-2012, 08:55 PM	#5
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Re: Fuel pump rod seems stuck Make sure that the bolt in the front of the engine is not tightened into the rod. One of the bolts is threaded through to assist in holding the rod out of the way when a fuel pump is changed. Jim __________________ 1971 Shortbox step side 4x4, 350 sbc, 3:07 rear end 1965 Impala SS 400 sbc, Muncie rock crusher 1966 Impala SS 396 bbc, TH 400 1969 El Camino, 350 sbc, TH 350 1971 Snowplow built on a Blazer frame 1972 GMC Short bed, stepside, TH 400, 427 BBC

01-30-2012, 09:36 PM	#7
BB72CHEVKT Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hideaway, TX Posts: 4,950	Re: Fuel pump rod seems stuck OK I got it out but WTF. I think it might be bent. I am going to get a new one tomorrow. It appears to have been swapped from the original motor when they dropped in the crate. I would never personally even think of running a used one on a new engine but to each their own. If it is bent could it have damaged the cam? __________________ 71 Suburban 350/700R4 Project Trixie 72 CHEVY,Highlander,SWB,396,T400

02-02-2012, 10:54 AM	#8
BB72CHEVKT Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hideaway, TX Posts: 4,950	Re: Fuel pump rod seems stuck rod was bent, the new rod travels freely __________________ 71 Suburban 350/700R4 Project Trixie 72 CHEVY,Highlander,SWB,396,T400

02-02-2012, 11:02 AM	#9
yuccales Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern Calif. Posts: 3,777	Re: Fuel pump rod seems stuck Somebody must have torqued the heck out of the front bolt to bend that rod, or put a big burr on it. Glad you got it out!

11-20-2013, 04:21 PM	#10
MobbinINmy69 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tacoma, Wa Posts: 24	Re: Fuel pump rod seems stuck So how did you get it out? Did needle nose pliers work? I'm in a similar situation but had to pull my cam out and it's still stuck __________________ '69 Chevy Stepside 350sbc 4speed automatic 2wd ~There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure. ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

11-20-2013, 05:08 PM	#11
BB72CHEVKT Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hideaway, TX Posts: 4,950	Re: Fuel pump rod seems stuck I ended up finally getting it out by twisting and pulling at the same time. It is now 11k miles later and no problems. __________________ 71 Suburban 350/700R4 Project Trixie 72 CHEVY,Highlander,SWB,396,T400



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