VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 39 Push Rods

Am trying to get my wife's grandfather's one owner 39 Master Deluxe running again. It had sat in a garage since 63. We have the engine loose but need to replace the lifters, push rods and gaskets. There seems to be some variance on the push rods. Any direction or specificity so that I don't do a lot of returns before I get the right one? Who to get them from and part number or anything?
Thanks, regmudd.

RM

My parts book shows the following:

0.426 Rod, Valve Push

1937-39 ALL ....(12 47/64 long)....838409 {part number}

All the rest listed are for different years and are different lengths.

I would first see if someone like Gene perhaps has a set they would sell you. Lifters too. Used ones would probably serve just fine. Then you'd merely need the gaskets. What happened? Did you bend yours pushrods.

Good luck,
Charlie

Unless the lifters are too worn you can likely reuse them. If you need to replace them they are readily available. The 37-39 pushrods on the other hand can be difficult to find. I had a couple of pushrods bent on my '38 and couldn't find replacements so I replaced all of the lifters and pushrods with those for a '40. I have since read that EGGE sells the 37-39 pushrods but I haven't checked that out personally. The difference between the 37-39 and later lifters is 37-39 are simply deep cups with the end of the pushrod end sitting in the bottom of the cup. The '40 & newer look more like a normal lifter with the shorter pushrod sitting in a small cup on top of the lifter. If push comes to shove you can likely reuse a bent pushrod if you spend some time straightening it.

First please explain why you need lifters and push rods.
If you have some bent push rods it is because the valves are stuck and that problem must be addressed first.

The lifers are down in the block under the push rods....perhaps you are refering to the rocker arms?