My friend is building his own engine and has ran into a problem with his vavletrain. I helped him install the cam and lifters and pushrods, I then installed the heads and rockers and found out the push rod can move up and down about 1/8 inch. I was thinking about lifters having to build up oil in them. This engine is somewhat of a hybrid lol, its a 2bolt main 81 block 350, with L98 heads. I was hoping if someone thinks i should get longer pushrods or whatnot. I also thought that it might be from going from a rollor cam to a flat tappet camshaft. we are using the lifters that came with the L98 heads. I told him that he should just get new pushrods but i dont know what length he should get them.

 

If you went from a roller cam to a flat tappet, then absolutely you need new pushrods. Use an adjustable pushrod to find out the length you need.

 

cool thanks for the help i will tell him to get a adjustable pushrod. and i hope that this will solve our problem when we find what length we need to get them. do you think that the push rods might need to be custom and if so how much do you think it will cost to order a set?

 

Pushrods are available off the shelf in .100" increments. Cost is pretty much the same regardless of length.