Yesterday, we were test fitting some different parts on my 454 that I'm rebuilding. My friend was test fitting the fuel pump and grabbed my old fuel pump rod, which was sitting in my old oil pan with a bunch of other stuff. Everything in there was very dirty, with sludge, grime, dirt, etc. He slid it into the shaft, before I could do anything.
So, where does this shaft go? Will any contaminants get into my oil? Is there a way I can clean it out? Am I being too paranoid? (that's what he thinks and was upset I even mentioned it)

The rod is driven off of the fuel pump eccentric on the camshaft which is like a cam lobe but doesn't have as radical opening and closing events.
If anything stuck to the rod when it was installed, it will most likely either just sit there where the fuel pump mounts on to the block, or it will just be filtered out in the oil filter.
I wouldn't be too worried about something like that causing catastrophic failure. If you're really worried about it, remove the fuel pump and pushrod and check it out. Clean off what you can see or get to with either a clean, lint free rag or a clean engine cleaning brush. Just make sure to put a dab of assembly lube on each end of the rod when you re-install it.

Well, it's currently not in. I've cleaned the pushrod up. I was pretty much just concerned with anything that might be left up in the shaft and possibly on the cam (although he said he didn't push it all the way to the cam). But, I guess it's likely nothing to worry about. I'll add some assembly lube and next time I insert it, I'll pull it out and see if anything sticks to it.

By the way, tell your friend that if he does not understand why everything that goes into an engine needs to be spotlessly clean, he should not be anywhere nearby while you are doing this job. Don't "rag" on yourself, you cannot be too clean or too careful when assembling an engine.

Problem is, my wife and I are looking for a house. So, I'm having to do the work at his house.

>>So, I'm having to do the work at his house.

that doesn't give him the right to screw up your engine. Tell him to keep his hands off your stuff if he doesn't know what he's doing. If he gives you any cr@p haul your stuff out of there.

You can bend a piece of wire into sort of a right-angle U shape and use it to drag stuff out of there.

Tom

While you may be paranoid about this, I agree with Billk. You can't keep parts too clean. I mean clean enough to eat off.

I can't count how many times I've seen a mechanic set a part down on a dirty, greasy, dusty floor and then, without cleaning it off, stick it back on.

I don't know why, but that really gripes me. I usually keep my mouth shut (or I grab the part and clean it myself, if I'm real concerned about it). Makes me want to grab them by the collar....