Yesterday I removed my valve covers to set the valves to hopefully clear up my stumble/backfire in the low rpms. I got to looking around and discovered.............A MISSING PUSHOD on the #1 intake. The pushrod must of bent and then round off a rather large opening because I can see all of the#1 lifter in the valley. The other pushrods all pass through an opening that is the diameter of the pushrod. Is the hole the pushrods pass through the headgasket? Do they act as guides? What must I replace, beside the pushrod, the headgasket? the head? I plan on removing the intake and getting the old pushrod/metal shavings out. Is it possible to just slap in another pushrod? (although this does not seem like the best solution, is it possible)

This sure explains alot like my 14.1 @ 98 the last time I was at the track! MAN do I feel stupid!

 

The holes in the head gasket are not guides they’re only to make installation easier. Some aftermarket gasket don’t have the holes and have large opening instead like the fel pro 1074. You can go ahead and change the pushrod after removing the old one and debris like mentioned, but should investigate why it happened in the first place.

 

Thanks man for the info. I am now thinking pushrod and cc305 or extreme 224/236 because the b*@#% is going to get the dope soon. What better time than when the intake is off to do a cam. The pushrod bent due to the lash being off, or I didn't get the pushrod on the center of the lifter the last time I set the valves.