Abstract: The design and construction of past pushrod retainers have required complex components, sliding relationships and additional assembly time and expense. The present invention overcomes these problems by using a retention shelf attached to a cylinder block. Thus, the components are simple to install, inexpensive to manufacture and do not increase assembly time since there is no adjustment necessary when using the device. The present retention shelf assemblies provide a device which prevents extensive damage to the engine caused by a large separation between the cupped end of the pushrod and the first end of the rocker arm which allows the pushrod to fall into other components, resulting in malfunction of the engine. The device is preassembled to the cylinder block and requires no additional assembly time or alignment when assembling the engine.