I had to remove the intake manifold to remove a bent push rod that had fallen into the valley. The heads seem to be machined for a special bushing at the corner of the intake manifold. I found one in the valley and another on the intake--2 seem to be missing. Are they necessary or are they just there to position the intake manifold? Where can you buy them?

 

I just have to ask how you bent the push rod in the first place?

 

Long story--This is my nephew's car and he installed this new crate motor about 2 years ago and it had never run quite right. He works out of state most of the time so the car sat most of the time--maybe was driven 200 miles. When I brought it to my house it had a little ticking sound so I decided to pull one of the valve covers--2 loose rocker arms with one missing push rod (the one I found in the valley ) and one with about .150" clearance. The startup instructions for the ZZ4 don't say anything about adjusting the valves. It is my opinion that the valves were never adjusted correctly when it was assembled.

 

<------------ little experience with this motor.

how does the pushrod fall into the valley if its just bent?? wouldn't it have to be broken??