Reply to "GT5 Cleveland Bend push rod"

There's really only a couple of reasons for bending pushrods, and that is over-revving the engine, or the engine was badly assembled to start with. The rev-range can be extended with stiffer valve springs and better cam profiles, but the valvetrain geometry must be perfect or you'll have troubles like this. I'd find a shop that is familiar with the Ford 351-Cleveland (or Windsor) engine, or consider shipping it to someone who is familiar (perhaps in Australia). I also suggest a rev-limiter ignition so one does not get carried away again.... I'd also suggest a general overhaul this time around. Easiest way to identify your engine is, the Windsor V-8 has an aluminum nose section under the water pump with the Cleveland has a cast irone nose. So if its a Windsor, NONE were 4-bolt blocks. If its a Cleveland, you'll need to pull the oil pan to tell.