The Ford Barn

drolston · 06-14-2023, 04:07 PM

The rear cam bearing got installed back too far; about 1/16" into the hole where the fuel pump push rod drops onto the fuel pump lobe on the cam. Push rod is blocked. Engine is in the car working on an electric fuel pump, but I would like to have it go through the mechanical pump for redundancy.
Suggestions?
Any way to cut out the interfering material without putting shavings into the oil?
Turn down the fuel pump push rod end enough to pass by?
??

Ronnieroadster · 06-14-2023, 04:41 PM

There's no way to open up the area of the cam bearing that's now in the way without putting metal in the oil.

The only option you have is to reduce the diameter of the push rod so it fits into the now smaller opening. BUT each end of the fuel pump push rod if original is rather hard material and each end is pressed into a tube. If the lower area of the push rod can be reduced without touching the tube material it should work at least for a while.
Keep in mind the push rod hole is in the main oil passage especially on early to 1948 blocks. If the push rod is removed the push rod hole needs to be pluged at the top so there's not a big oil leak in the engine.
On 1949 and latter block's the push rod bushing has a small oil hole in the center of the bushing so the oil leak in the main passage would not be as great as the earlier blocks. However the push rod hole still needs to be pluged if the push rod is removed.
Ronnieroadster

Ken/Alabama · 06-14-2023, 06:12 PM

Been running my 59A for 30 years without a pushrod. Never had an oil pressure issue.

Ronnieroadster · 06-14-2023, 08:08 PM

Nice

drolston · 06-14-2023, 08:59 PM

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Ground down the diameter of the bottom half inch of the push rod by about 3/32", slowly and without getting it very hot, so as to not ruin the temper of the contact surface. Pumps fine now. No effect on oil pressure. The load on that pushrod is pretty light compared to the valve springs, so I do not expect to have a wear problem. I will report back if anything adverse develops.

06-14-2023, 04:07 PM	#1
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Rear Cam Bearing Interference with Fuel Pump Pushrod The rear cam bearing got installed back too far; about 1/16" into the hole where the fuel pump push rod drops onto the fuel pump lobe on the cam. Push rod is blocked. Engine is in the car working on an electric fuel pump, but I would like to have it go through the mechanical pump for redundancy. Suggestions? Any way to cut out the interfering material without putting shavings into the oil? Turn down the fuel pump push rod end enough to pass by? ??

06-14-2023, 04:41 PM	#2
Ronnieroadster Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: East Coast in CT Posts: 1,529	Re: Rear Cam Bearing Interference with Fuel Pump Pushrod There's no way to open up the area of the cam bearing that's now in the way without putting metal in the oil. The only option you have is to reduce the diameter of the push rod so it fits into the now smaller opening. BUT each end of the fuel pump push rod if original is rather hard material and each end is pressed into a tube. If the lower area of the push rod can be reduced without touching the tube material it should work at least for a while. Keep in mind the push rod hole is in the main oil passage especially on early to 1948 blocks. If the push rod is removed the push rod hole needs to be pluged at the top so there's not a big oil leak in the engine. On 1949 and latter block's the push rod bushing has a small oil hole in the center of the bushing so the oil leak in the main passage would not be as great as the earlier blocks. However the push rod hole still needs to be pluged if the push rod is removed. Ronnieroadster __________________ I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead , Focus and Finish. "Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block" Owner , Builder, Driver of the First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 in one and a half miles burning gasoline. First ever gas burning Ford flathead powered roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH

06-14-2023, 06:12 PM	#3
Ken/Alabama Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,261	Re: Rear Cam Bearing Interference with Fuel Pump Pushrod Been running my 59A for 30 years without a pushrod. Never had an oil pressure issue.

06-14-2023, 08:08 PM	#4
Ronnieroadster Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: East Coast in CT Posts: 1,529	Re: Rear Cam Bearing Interference with Fuel Pump Pushrod Nice __________________ I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead , Focus and Finish. "Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block" Owner , Builder, Driver of the First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 in one and a half miles burning gasoline. First ever gas burning Ford flathead powered roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH

06-14-2023, 08:59 PM	#5
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Re: Rear Cam Bearing Interference with Fuel Pump Pushrod Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Ground down the diameter of the bottom half inch of the push rod by about 3/32", slowly and without getting it very hot, so as to not ruin the temper of the contact surface. Pumps fine now. No effect on oil pressure. The load on that pushrod is pretty light compared to the valve springs, so I do not expect to have a wear problem. I will report back if anything adverse develops.