Pushrod Measurement

[scott foxwell]

Well, it's not the stands. They all measure between 2.154" and 2.157. This is shorter than two other stock sets I have on hand, which makes sense for refurbs. Probably why I had to shim these up with valve spring shims to get a good sweep across the valves.

Are you measuring to the shaft bore, or the overall length?

[Pentroof]

Well, it's not the stands. They all measure between 2.154" and 2.157. This is shorter than two other stock sets I have on hand, which makes sense for refurbs. Probably why I had to shim these up with valve spring shims to get a good sweep across the valves.

Are you measuring to the shaft bore, or the overall length?

Great point! I didn't pull them off the shafts. That's overall length, which is meaningless.

[Pentroof]

OK, had a few minutes to break away and measure the pedestals...brought my brain with me this time...

Anyway, I measured from the base of the stand to the bottom of the shaft and found some very interesting information.

I plotted the measurements, overlaying the pedestal dimensions on a secondary axis on top of the pushrod measurements.

[Pentroof]

So, with the exception of #6 exhaust, the measured pushrod length correlates well to the pedestal dimensions.

I turned the motor over twice and re-measured #6 exhaust and got the exact same numbers.

So, it looks like I'll put a .010" shim under the #2 pedestal, maybe scuff a couple thou off #1 and see what I get. Then maybe swap #6 exhaust with whatever turns out to be the lowest and see where I am.

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I looked at the pedestal data again and realized if I swap #1 with #8 after adding .010" to #2, each bank of pedestals will be within a couple thou and Bank 1 can then be shimmed up another .005" to bring them all in.

[scott foxwell]

So, with the exception of #6 exhaust, the measured pushrod length correlates well to the pedestal dimensions.

I turned the motor over twice and re-measured #6 exhaust and got the exact same numbers.

So, it looks like I'll put a .010" shim under the #2 pedestal, maybe scuff a couple thou off #1 and see what I get. Then maybe swap #6 exhaust with whatever turns out to be the lowest and see where I am.

__________________________________________________________________

I looked at the pedestal data again and realized if I swap #1 with #8 after adding .010" to #2, each bank of pedestals will be within a couple thou and Bank 1 can then be shimmed up another .005" to bring them all in.

Good job. The devil is in the details.

[Pentroof]

Did a little reading during lunch and found an interesting thread at the soon to be moving 54 forum.  Well, I know where I now stand on the aftermarket stuff that I thought were refurbished Ford pieces. Not impressed. Mine came in packaging from Engine Quest and the stands appear to be new castings with no Ford reference.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/thread/1487118092

For comparison to the .015" variance demonstrated by my new stands, I measured my original stands from my '66 Cyclone and found them to be much, much tighter.  To be honest, 2 of them initially measured .001" higher, but a light wave of a flat file on the bottom or a slight rub in the bore with some emery removed any edge burr and brought them into .995" like the other six. Only one remains at .992 and will be swapped out with the one Chinese stand at .995"

[scott foxwell]

Now lay a straight edge across your rocker stand pedestals on the heads and see how flat they are, and try to reference them to valve tip height from one end of the head to another. They all may be on the same plane but it may be tapered.