I just picked up a 78 AMC with a 258. Has sat for 5 years, It has a bent pushrod ? I heard this engine likes to turn backwards at times and bends pushrods ? Why ? Thanks
The AMC six is not known to have inherent valve train problems. It's not "known to run backwards" though of course anything can go wrong with bad maintenance!
Stuck lifters and/or stuck valves from sitting and neglect are by far the most common source of this problem. Sitting for 5 years pretty much gaurentees that there is something wrong. Old oil is gaurenteed also to be no good.