C3 fuel pump push rod - can not move

[Dale P.]

in the process of changing fuel pump on my 68 BB simple task,- right? well everything is out on issues. ready to go back in with the new pump and can not move the push rod. not at all. I thought i would roll the engine over by hand a little to maybe get to a point where i could push the rod back and install the pump. well no luck there either. am I missing something simple here??

[Edward J.]

Re: C3 fuel pump push rod - can not move

Dale I believe there is a pipe plug that can be removed to access push rod. You may want to grease it be installing.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 fuel pump push rod - can not move

Dale I believe there is a pipe plug that can be removed to access push rod. You may want to grease it be installing.

Edward-----


Yes, there is a drilled and tapped orifice and pipe plug and the push rod needs to be installed and removed through this orifice. However, if the push rod is "stuck" in its bore, I don't think the orifice is going to be of much help in freeing it up. I suppose one could try lightly tapping it with a drift through the orifice to see if it frees it up. Otherwise, I don't know what to suggest. I've never had this happen.

If the pushrod has a bronze tip (as many pushrods for use with roller cams do), it's possible it became "mushroomed" and that's preventing it from sliding out.

[Dale P.]

Re: C3 fuel pump push rod - can not move

Thanks for the input guys. To help anyone else who ever has this happen I'll explain my theory. When I removed the old pump the rod slid down and actually created a slight vacuum with the plug as the plug is slightly dished. Normally one get reach inside and slide it back up. However in my case there simply wasn't enough room to get my finger in there and push it back up. Basically with the rod having oil on it my finger just slid across the rod. So i removed the plug removed the rod, greased it up, pushed in back up inside and went on to finish the job. This car simply has a mind of it's own and after sitting for almost 8 years is giving me the impression she would like to continue her rest. I did manage to get her fired breifly and have a lot more check out before hitting the road and I am sure I'll have more questions. Thanks for all the answers over the past few weeks.