Classic/Antique Car Repair: changing a fuel pump, wheel bearing grease, push rod

Question
I am replacing a fuel pump on a 1950 chevy 235 need information about how to keep the rod that falls on the fuel pump. do I have to take the push rod cover off or is there some way to keep the rod up until I put the pump on

Answer
Is this a 6 cylinder? If so there should be no push rod operating the fuel pump. The fuel pump arm should rub right up against the cam. the push rod was used in the 1955 and up small block V-8. On those we used to take out the pump and then put a gob of wheel bearing grease in the hole to hold the push rod up.
Brad