Chevrolet Repair: chevy 350 fuel pump, needle nose pliers, mechanical fingers

Question
hello.  just removed fuel pump and am wonderin' how to install new one.  I beleive there's a rod that needs to be pushed in and then the pump lever slid in, but not sure.  if so, how should I push the rod in.  it doesn't seem to move-I have turned the engine a couple of times but didn't notice a difference. I beleive that the engine is an early 80's 350.  it's a replacement engine in a 82 school bus.  thanks for your time.

Answer
Yes, there is a rod that rides on an ecentric on the camshaft. Gravity is pulling it down. With some mechanical fingers, or needle nose pliers, you can push it back up. While holding it up, turn the engine slowly so you can be sure it is up as high as it can go. Then use some heavy grease, a thin screwdriver, a piece of sheet metal etc to hold it up in while you install the pump lever.
Some 350's have a bolt you can remove from the front cover that lines up with that rod. Then a longer bolt turned down at the tip can be screwed into the hole, and wedge the rod up. But be sure to remove that bolt and replace the orriginal if you go that route.
But usually it can be held up as the lever is put in...it just takes some perseverence.
Make sure the rod doesn't drop down BESIDE the lever, or the lever can be bent if you tighten the bolts.
Van