Ok I am calling in the experts. I was attempting to start an old Y-Block that has set for 10 years. I removed the valve covers and lubed the top end and checked the valves. One push rod was about 1/2 inch from touching the bottom of the rocker bolt. I took hold of the end of the push rod and it dropped out of sight into the block. Obviously, the valve is stuck. Before I attempt to tap it loose, I am wondering how far that push rod went. In a Y-Block can it go all the way to the oil pan or can it hold up in the oil galley? If I can not retireve it from the head, can I possibly get it by just removing the intake? I believe this is a 292.

Darrell Howard Whitefish, MT Outlaw 56 Ford F-100's

It should be clearly visible with the intake and valley cover removed

99% sure it will be in the valley, and by fishing around with a magnet, with luck you may be able to snag it.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

A strategically bent coat hanger does the trick. I have just such a specialty tool in my tool box. I've not yet dropped a push rod into the valley that I could not retrieve with that tool.


Lawrenceville, GA

I tore an engine apart once that had half a pushrod in the pan, with a lot of other debris!  Pushrod had become tangled up with dist. and cam gear, broke the cam, ruined the crank and broke two connecting rods.   What a mess!

But in your case, there is little doubt it is in the valley.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

As charlie says using a small piece of curved wire will work!, i usually use this 1/16" wire , twisted into small curve then bent at 90 degrees, using small torch, lower wire down below pushrod cup then rotate wire to engage p/rod at cup base and gently raise p/rod.

Regards bill.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

That's pretty much what mine looks like.


Lawrenceville, GA

You guys rock. I would have probably removed the head. I have my wire bent and ready to try it next time I get a chance to run down there. On another note, I disconnected the incomming fuel line from the fuel pump. Was going to drain 10 year old gas and start fresh. Root Beer came out the end......like maple syurp. And the smell.........ewwwwww funky. So changed the plan to use a new rubber hose to the fuel pump from a temporary gas can. This truck is in a remote location. I was looking for a Y-block and a guy found me one, providing I took the whole truck. 2 ton dually with 2 speed axel, 4 speed transmission, and 2 barrell holy. The truck is way too nice not to take on as another project truck. But then thats what retirements for, right?

Darrell Howard Whitefish, MT Outlaw 56 Ford F-100's

My local Ace Hardware sells a very useful tool. A tiny, super-strong magnet on the end of a very long, flexible length of 1/8th " tubing (with handle attached) that firmly holds whatever shape is required. I can think of a few dozen times in the past I would have paid many times it's retail price if it had been available then!

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

I arrived at the scene of the disabled 1959 2 Ton Ford F600 y-Block and put the wire down into the push rod hole, twisted it, and out came the lost push rod! Less than five seconds start to finish.  Once I got it high enough to attemt to reposition it, I could not get it in position to save my life. I moved the rocker forward enough to let the push rod come clear out of the hole. The last two inches of the push rod is bent at about a 30 degree angle. No idea why its bent. I tapped lightly on the valve and it seems to have freed it up. Can I just get a new push rod, drop it in the hole to see if it lines up and stays up, then adjust the rocker loose enough to let the top of the push rod slide under the rocker arm, then tighten the rocker back down on top of the push rod? Or do I have to try and tow the truck without turning the engine over and take the heads off to see what is going on?

Thanks for your help!

Darrell Howard Whitefish, MT Outlaw 56 Ford F-100's