Bent Pushrod

[adsman]

Hi All
just fitted a recon 138 into my ute. Motor had been sitting for a couple of years and never been started. Had a mechanic drop it in for me and get it running , was all good with a couple of minor issues with dizzy cap etc.
Bent a pushrod on the drive home doing a little under 50 mph.
Have replaced pushrod and engine seems to be running fine with plenty of power. Is there anything I should be checking...lifter seems a bit noisy, will the tappets need adjusting? What might have bent the rod?
Mechanic has me running diesel oil for the first 500 miles to clean engine out?

Cheers,
Adam

[Blacky]

Is it a stock motor ? There is 2 different length pushrods so it may be that ?

[WayneXG95]

Did ya use "running in oil"?

[adsman]

Mechanic that fitted engine recommended using diesal oil as the detergent in the oil would act ad a cleaning agent for the first 500?

[Craig Allardyce]

You shouldn't need a high detergent oil for a reco motor. It should be clean and spotless after a rebuild. Simply a waste of time for the added expense. I'd also be concerned with the viscosity of the diesel oil. It may be too heavy for a tight motor depending on what it is. Too heavy in viscosity may cause a lack of oil flow in the engine particularly when cold. As Wayne indicated you should be using a running in oil for the first 500 miles or so.

[adsman]

Blacky..I swapped the pushrod with one out of my old engine, was same size.

Craig...so im thinking might be tomorrows mission swapping the oils over? Any reccomendations as to a particular brand? Wr have 2 auto shops in town so could be limited to choices.

[Craig Allardyce]

Adsman do ya research online. Original spec was SAE 20 or 30 mineral oil. SAE 10 was spec for running in. Most oils now are multigrade i.e 20W-50.
Most standard oils available don't have the zinc requirement for old engines i.e. zinc is an anti wear additive especially for those engines with flat tappet faces such as grey motors, as opposed to roller lifters. Zinc was removed oil in later years due to its reaction with the monolithic rock in catalytic convertors.
I would look for something like Penrite's vintage class of oils. They have a direct replacement for SAE 30 and they have a running in oil also.
Lucas Oils Australia actually have a SAE 20 Break in oil. I have got this delivered to my door (online purchase).
I am currently running Joe Gibbs "Driven" http://www.drivenracingoil.com/
I used their running in oil and then switched to their HR 10W-40 conventional oil.

Sorry for the story. Hope this helps.

[Finny]

I had a bent pushrods.
Also had a cracked rocker and blown head gasket.
Something over stressed it at some stage. Replaced them from my spare motor and no problems since.