Bending pushrods

[illegalFSJ]

OK, I'm sure some of you must have seen this problem. I bought my J-10 (360) from a guy who had let it sit for about 10 years. I did some tune-up stuff, got it running OK, pretty well, actually. Didn't drive it much, just around the block a couple of times. I figured that since I had an Edelbrock intake with a modified-for-FSJ Q-jet sitting around I'd slap it on the new truck. Found 3 slightly bent pushrods. Went down to the store and get replacements. Installed new intake. Engine ran, but very poorly. Double checked timing; was perfect, but compression test was very weird; all over the board. Removed new intake. The three new pushrods were extremely bent as well as 3 more of the originals. Any ideas?

[Midnightwagon]

ill adjusted pushrods or rockerarms i dont know if the valvetrain on your jeep is adjustable or not but thats the main cause of bent pushrods you could have also damaged the valve and piston tops from the valve hitting the pistons

[Budde]

Maybe sticking valves? If the valves had stuck, maybe that would put enough pressure on the push rod to bend them. I had one bend on my '79 when I first rebuilt the engine, but I never did figure out what caused it to happen.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

My guess too would be valves sticking due to sitting. Valvetrain is not adjustable. Pull valve covers and turn engine over and see in the valves are following the rockers as they should or if they hang up then snap into closed position or not close or open at all, all should move the same and follow the rocker smoothly. I have had some luck freeing up valves stuck due to sitting by spraying valve stems at the guides with PB Blaster and manualy compressing and working the valve up and down one at a time till they all move freely, make sure the cam is no in the lift position on the valve you are working. Try to spray under the valve seal. You may have to pull the heads and have them cleaned and checked. Good Luck ;)

[Crazy_Jeepman]

My guess too would be valves sticking due to sitting. Valvetrain is not adjustable. Pull valve covers and turn engine over and see in the valves are following the rockers as they should or if they hang up then snap into closed position or not close or open at all, all should move the same and follow the rocker smoothly. I have had some luck freeing up valves stuck due to sitting by spraying valve stems at the guides with PB Blaster and manualy compressing and working the valve up and down one at a time till they all move freely, make sure the cam is no in the lift position on the valve you are working. Try to spray under the valve seal. You may have to pull the heads and have them cleaned and checked. Good Luck ;)