FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: FirstEliminator on January 21, 2019, 01:08:48 AM
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Is there such a thing as a Do it yourself "Size your own Pushrods kit"? I have a lathe, arbor press even a cylindrical grinder. Dial calipers and even a Pratt & Whitney Super Micrometer that might accommodate the length of a pushrod. A kit like this seems like something that would be out there. Pushrods with one end off that you size the tube length and press in the end.
Does this exist?
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I just use an adjustable checker from Jegs. i think it was $10 or $15 bucks. You will still need something to measure the length of the checker after you get it set.
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https://www.jegs.com/p/COMP-Cams/Comp-Cams-Semi-Finished-Pushrod-Ends/1498083/10002/-1
Would be handy to do your own, especially if you need multiple lengths. However, sometimes it's easier to just order what you need and spend the time doing something else to earn cash to pay for them LOL
However, since you have a decent shop setup, might be a quick process once you get it down. Additionally I am sure you could buy the tubes and ends from somewhere else in bulk, Smith Bros, Trend etc.
Might even turn into "Pushrod Madness" like Drew and his carbs, having another supplier is never bad if the guy can make a little money!
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There was in the 80s, i dont know now if there is
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Had a situation a few years ago where we didn't discover we needed custom-length pushrods until the afternoon before a scheduled dyno session. I cut a half-inch out of a stock pushrod and bought a proper-sized length of all-thread rod. Tapped an inch-plus inside each piece of pushrod and screwed-in a piece of the threaded rod with a couple of locknuts in the middle. Got the length and called Smith Brothers. The pushrods were delivered the next morning and the engine was buttoned-up in ample time to go to the dyno for 10 AM. :)
KS
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I cut a half-inch out of a stock pushrod and bought a proper-sized length of all-thread rod. Tapped an inch-plus inside each piece of pushrod and screwed-in a piece of the threaded rod with a couple of locknuts in the middle...
I was literally on the edge of my chair at this point.
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Comp cams has the ends, 5/16" and 3/8" cups and balls. They also sell 10" lengths of .080 and .120 tubing.
All told though, by the time you by the cups at $50.oo a set, the balls at $40.oo a set and the 10" x .080 × 16 tubing at $130.oo a set you most likely would be better off time and money wise just ordering a set.
Now I do think it's a good idea to have a set of cups and keep so.e in the trailer for race weekend. Never know when you may need to make a repair, cut down a old long one, etc.
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I got in a bind once building a hyd roller 390. I had a new set of stock pushrods so I chucked them up in the lathe and turned down the weld, pulled the cups out, shorted the tubes to the length I need and pressed the cups back in and a couple spot weld with the tig. They're still in the engine to this day. I wouldn't recommend it, but it was sunday afternoon and monday morning we had to be driving it....always planned on replacing them with the correct length new pushrods when we got back and never got around to it.
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Just keep in mind that different pushrod manufacturers measure pushrod lengths differently. Some do an OAL and some use a gauge point on the ball end. There will be about .010-.012” difference between OAL and the gauge point and if you’re trying to be really accurate with short travel lifters or non-adjustable rocker arms, that .010”-.012” can mess you up. There can also be that much difference between pushrod length checkers because of the different ways they interface with the lifter cup.
I use Trend predominantly for my pushrods so I have a full set of their length checkers.
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As most - I use an adjustable pushrod and a 12" caliper. I would then turn that OAL measure over to someone like Brent and let the expert make the final determination and place the order, based on the application. Brent is very cost competitive, I don't even look at a catalog anymore LOL.
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He seems to be asking for pushrods that he can measure and cut to custom lengths for his engine. Those are available if you will do a google search, but it is a tedious job, and if you measure and write down what you need, Smith Brothers will make them and ship them overnight. Shipping will cost as much as the pushrods if you go that route. BTDT. Joe-JDC