went to all ford car show in southeast Iowa sun  with my 55 vic Did Ok got second in class on my way back engine started to run rough/wasn't making any bad noise so I drove it about a 100 miles on home pull valve cover off and #2 cyl intake push rod is gone/this was all rebuild about 11K ago new cam, push rods, rockers  before I got it /My ? is can I just leave the old push rod in there and replace it with a new one or do I need to get the old one out before it cause big trouble By the way this a 56 292

Leave it where it is if not reachable with a magnet.Wont hurt anything sitting in the lifter valley.I have heard stories about finding 2-3 in the valley when tearing down for a rebuild.Question is- why did it come out?Valve sticking or did adjuster back off?

  

not sure why /adj was tight may be lobe on cam is going away/if 2 pushrod goes awol then I will have to dig deeper into it and see whats going on

Valve stems seizing on the valve guides are a likely cause - try to get them well lubricated soon. Unleaded gas is icky stuff........Sometimes use of the wrong intake bolt length can get you in a bind as some of them will stick down into the pushrod openings. Check it out with a flashlight.

The lost pushrod can't do much damage where it is - they can only lie longitudinally in the galley. Many old engines are found to have a few dead ones in there.

Which pushrods got used in the rebuild? If they are the "skinnies" (small diameter/solid section), I would suggest trying to find a set of the tubular parts for replacements. Tubulars got used after 1957 and they are the ones that you will find as replacement parts - but the length can be off so be picky.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Mummert can provide you with the good push rods in the length you need...

BOB

How often do you run your car? If the gas gets stale, it can cause valves to stick which causes push rods to bend. If you have stale gas, get rid of it. The next episode may be a bent valve and messed up piston.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

I drive it alot 600 miles last week end to car show