What is the easiest way to measure for proper pushrod length. I'm trying to figure out if I could use stock length pushrods in my motor. The basic rundown of it is mid 70's 350 block .60 over with world product s/r torqurer heads, comp cams extreme energy 268h and sealed power lifters. I believe it has pro comp full roller rockers. I know you can get a mocked up pushrod that you can adjust to figure out the length, but just lookin for an easier way. Any input would be helpful. thanks
-tom

 

do you have any stock pushrods layin around. 7.800". Put your cam on the base circle, put the original pushrod in with the rocker and see where the rocker tip is on the valve, then you can rotate your motor over to see the pattern. You should be able to use stock length pushrods. Was your block decked, heads decked?

 

Yes i have stock length pushrods and no neither the block nor the heads have been decked. Now what should i look for, i'm pretty sure the tip is supposed to be in the middle of the valve when half way done correct? Thanks kens86 for the quick respones and info.
-tom

 

Check to where your roller tip is on the valve. It should in the center or a little towards the rocker stud off lift. During peak valve lift it will be towards the center. YOu can take a sharpie marker and mark the valve tip, then replace the rocker and check the pattern that way.

 

What he said^^^ thats exactly how I do it. If ur block wasnt decked......stock rods will do. BUT, I would suggest getting a set of chromoly hardened rods just for safety purposes. Im sure ur new heads have stiffer springs on them that the stockers. Oreillys or autozone both carrie the hardened rods in stock.

 

Worked great for me:

http://www.circletrack.com/techartic...gth/index.html

 

When I did my engine, I used a sharpie on the valve tip. I have adjustable pushrod checkers and lightweight checking valve springs to check with.

With the lifter on the base circle, I wiggled the rocker back and forth across the valve top so that it would mark a line in the ink. I then rotated the engine by hand until the valve was at full lift and again, wiggled the rocker back and forth to leave a mark in the ink.

Rotate the engine so the lifter is back on the base circle and remove the rocker to examine the marks on the valve tip. The 2 score marks should be equal distance from the center of the tip. I had to do this a few times before getting the marks as close as I could to perfect. I then checked the adjusted length and found my engine needed standard tall deck block length pushrods and I have a short deck block. My intake and exhaust pushrods are .400" longer than stock but nothing about my engine is stock.

A combination of cam grind, lifters, head, head gasket, valve length and valve position on the seats can all effect how long the pushrod should be. Typically with most stock replacement type heads and cam swap, standard length pushrods will do but you should always check to make sure the geometry is correct.