FE pushrod question, see pic

[elmariachi]

I have my valve covers off checking lash and installing pent roofs. I happen to notice this discoloration on one of my pushrods, which appears to be a crack. Its starts right at the cup joint and travels down and left about 1/4 of the way around the rod. Just down from the cup line (just to the right of the vertical flash glare) I can barely feel a tiny surface imperfection with my fingernail. Do I call Smith Brothers and get a replacement, or am I sweating the small stuff? Engine has 3k miles on it and all the others are fine.

[patrickt]

They're solid -- I would ignore it.

[lovehamr]

El, you could always just pull it and have it magged.

Steve

[RICK LAKE]

elmariachi For the price of a pushrod and a 48 hour wait, you are gambling on doing large damge to the motor. If you have deep pockets, mag it and run it. For $20.00 you have piece of mind. Keep it as a spare. There is no blueing or any rubbing. Replace the pushroll and call it a day. Rick L. If you have a kids little mircoscope look at it under there and see how mad the crack looks. Maging it will tell for sure but what it costs, cheaper to replace. Ps if the motor breaks and the push rod starts the damage will you be getting money to help in the bill of repair????

[undy]

After removing I'd lightly sand the area and do a dye penetrant check.

[Bill Bess]

There's a lot of information on this subject. I broke a socket on one of my push rods due to the outside surface rubbing against the inside of the Dove roller rocker. I later found out that the adjusting bolts must show at least 3 threads at the bottom of the rocker arm to prevent this from happening. After I replace the push rod and re adjusted the valves...I inspected all the clearences using a mirror.
That was 6000 miles ago, no problem since.

Just replace it to pevent any problems.
Bill

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

There's a lot of information on this subject. I broke a socket on one of my push rods due to the outside surface rubbing against the inside of the Dove roller rocker.

But he doesn't have any rubbing, and that doesn't even look like a crack to me. That just looks like a scratch and the damn thing probably came that way. I say just monitor it and leave it alone.

[RICK LAKE]

elmariachi Well you got all ends of this form ideas. You can always fall back on Patrick down the road, he will help pay for your motor. He sees no issues. I know this, there should be no doubt. If you hear a little voice buzzing in your ear, LISTEN TOO IT. There is a good change that the push rod is ok. I would check all of them and rethink about this. There is nothing wrong with having a spare push rod laying around. I have 2 with the custom lengths in my motor. It's insurance. Good luck. By the way Pat's loaded, he carries 30-40 grand in his pocket, chump change.

[Rick Parker]

The horizontal line????

[ERA Chas]

I believe the cups are welded to the pushrod-that may be a heat or weld imperfection from that process.

And it may NOT. Rather than speculate I would:

A. Email that snap to Smith Bros, get their opinion and ask for a free replacement. Failing that, (maybe they're like the now-famous Roush NON-customer service) I would:

B. Just buy a replacement, keep that on the spare shelf.

The cover's off it's easy to do quickly. But that's just me.
Ricks point about blowed-up motor is very valid.

Hopefully, Pat will indemnify all of us who take his advice against breakage. What a guy.

[elmariachi]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice. I spoke with Pierre at Smith Brothers and he is curious to see the rod so he is expediting a new one to me at no cost and I am sending him this one. I have enough crap keeping me awake at night, a $20 pushrod doesn't get to make that list. I'll let you know what they say.

[patrickt]

See, that's the problem with today's world, everybody is afraid to make a mistake and everybody wants "an indemnification" when they ask for advice. The result? Well, you get "defensive medicine," ridiculous legal costs for even mundane issues, and an overall escalation of costs in every sector of our economy. Only men with real balls around here are going to tell him to leave his push rod in. The rest of you are a bunch of pussies.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by patrickt

...ridiculous legal costs for even mundane issues,... Only men with real balls around here are going to tell him to leave his push rod in.:

-Real balls and dickhats- I guess Pierre Smith has no balls.

So what are you gonna charge us counselor?

[RICK LAKE]

Patrickt Pat I make mistakes everyday starting with getting out of bed. As far as balls, I have the normal two, make be small in size but just fine for the other half. People here are not loaded like you. We are fighting over a $20.00 dollar apart in a $20,000.00 motor. You know what happens if that pushrod fails, very possible MAJOR damage depending on what RPM the motor is turning. No oil pressure if the lifter comes out of the bore, broken valves, cracked head, damaged piston and cylinder bore. You know the possible carnage. You can gamble and win or loose, Elmariachi might not. As smart as you are with a PHD in ---, This is about a little common sense. If you had the same problem the same info would go to you. Maybe your cobra is just a toy you will use up and throw away in the next year or too. Some guys here have spent half a life time working for theirs. I know I have. My car will be the last thing I give up if I was broke. My car is part of the family. I don't have the big money to replace the motor for a problem that may have cost me $20.00 in the long run. I have been sitting on the other motor for 4 years. Have block,heads,camshaft,timing belt setup, twm 58 mm throttlebodys, all ARP fasteners, and rods. Still need about 4G's for crank LAE and pistons. Special machine work will be also needed. If I am lucky 2 years from now. I done and getting off the soap box. This is about trying to save this guy a problem. FINAL CHOICE is HIS. Have a good afternoon. Rick L. Ps does that pussies come with or without hair and how old??

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

So what are you gonna charge us counselor?

All advice on this forum is pro bono.

[FUNFER2]

LISTEN TO RICKSTER, HE KNOW'S HIS @hit.

[FWB]

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

LISTEN TO RICKSTER, HE KNOW'S HIS @hit.

i must side with patrick....i see nothing in the pic to be alarmed about. the cups are either swaged or welded and in those processes or just plain handling a pushrod can have cosmetic imperfections that don't mean crap.
if it was cracked it would have failed or your lash adjustment would be out. a simple eye loupe would tell you if it has any real issues. all i can suggest is don't look at your piston skirts or you may be rebuilding your complete engine.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by FWB

i must side with patrick....i see nothing in the pic to be alarmed about.

At last, someone with discerning sense. Hopefully elM. will give us an update after checking back with Pierre who, no doubt, will report that "it was merely a surface blemish, completely harmless, and nothing to be concerned about."

[Cobrabill]

20 bucks(or less)for "peace-of-mind".Is this really a decision that needs to be pondered?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

20 bucks(or less)for "peace-of-mind".Is this really a decision that needs to be pondered?

Yes, because it will usher in the slippery-slope decline down an OCD chute of replacing otherwise good parts because they have a harmless scratch on them.