removed fuel pump on my 71 lemans 350 sport and cannot feel the rod to slide the pump arm under inside the pump hole in block. Should the rod be right inside of the opening????

Pontiac engines...Do not use a fuel pump rod...Instead Pontiac fuel pumps are directly driven by an Eccentric that is located on the Camshaft in front of the timing gear...Just put a drop or two of Motor Oil on the end of the pump arm....Then just slide it into place in reverse order of the way it was Disassembled....Then you should be good to go.....

This episode of Roadkill talks about the fuel pump problems they experienced on a Pontiac 400 engine. There are two chapters of this video you should see. It collaborates Two Lane's point.

 

also one of the bolts will need sealant on it as it goes into the timing cover that is open to oil spray. The other is a blind hole.