428 pushrods

[happystang]

Hi everyone,

I'm coming to the stage where I'm measuring for pushrod length-

Where would one order pushrods from? I'm using Harlan Sharp roller rocker arms, so I believe I'd need a 3/8" cup one one end and 3/8" ball on the other, but what diameter for the rest of the pushrods? 3/8" or 5/16"? I'm assuming I'd go with a solid pushrod? (Stock Edelbrock heads, roller cam)

I doubt there's an off the shelf size that would fit so I'd have to go custom.

Thanks!

[Joe-JDC]

No to solid pushrod.  Smith Brothers, Trend, Crane, Comp Cams, Trick Flow, even Pioneer, sell pushrods that will work with your parts.  I prefer the Smith Brothers chromoly in either 5/16 or 3/8" depending on spring pressures and lengths needed for street use.  Through the pushrod oiling, or not is available.  Joe-JDC

[440sixpack]

I'm going to be doing the same thing real soon.

I was thinking of going with hollow to reduce weight since the rollers are heavy anyway.    seems logical but is that right ?


+ 1 on Smith Brothers.  they're great to work with.

[blykins]

99.99999999% of your pushrods are made of tubing. 

The tubing is cut and ends are pressed in.  Those ends will vary according to what you need to do.  Some of the ends will be solid cups, some will be tool steel, some will be 3/8" ball, etc, etc. 

The only thing you need to decide on is what diameter tubing you want, whether or not you want them to oil, and what ends you need.

Buy as big of diameter as you can fit in the pushrod tubes in the intake manifold.  If you're oiling through the lifters, then you want a pushrod that you can see through.  If you're oiling through the head, then you can opt to buy pushrods with a tip welded up.  If you're running a factory non-adjustable rocker, then you need a 3/8" ball on one end and a 5/16" ball on the other.  If you're running a factory adjustable rocker, then you need a 3/8" cup on one end and a 5/16" ball on the other.  If you're running some of the new aftermarket stuff, then they use a common 5/16" ball on both ends.

My advice is to buy a good pushrod length checking tool, get the measurements you need, then call Trend, Smith Brothers, Manton, or contact one of the engine builders here who have accounts with the ones I listed.

The weight of the pushrod really has no bearing on anything.  It's seems counterintuitive, but it's kinda like sprung/unsprung weight when we talk about a chassis.   The jist of it is buy as big as you can fit.

[440sixpack]

Not trying to hijack the original poster here, but maybe we have the same questions.

my pushrods I took out were solid with a 5/16 ball on both ends.   so obviously I was not oiling through the rod.    is there any advantage to having oil flow through the push rod ?

[blykins]

Not trying to hijack the original poster here, but maybe we have the same questions.

my pushrods I took out were solid with a 5/16 ball on both ends.   so obviously I was not oiling through the rod.    is there any advantage to having oil flow through the push rod ?

On some setups, it's cheaper, because the pushrod is readily available from a SBF/SBC/BBC/BBF, etc.  However, the rocker arm has to be able to oil that way.  Not all rockers will pass oil from the pushrod tip and oil the fulcrum, rocker tip, etc. 

[440sixpack]

So with the roller lifters and stock rockers I should go with a hollow 3/8 push rod with no oil hole of whatever thickness they suggest I take it ?

[blykins]

Adjustable rockers? 

If so, 3/8" .080" wall thickness, 3/8" cup on one end, 5/16" ball on the other end, non-oiling. 

Non-adjustable rockers?

If so, 3/8" .080" wall thickness, 3/8" ball on one end, 5/16" ball on the other end, non-oiling. 

Typical pushrods are just tubing, not solid.  The ends are either solid or drilled depending on whether the pushrod needs to pass oil from the lifters or not.

[440sixpack]

got it.

So on a stock non adjustable rocker set up if I take my push rod length checker and set it at zero lash on the base circle how much preload should a hydraulic roller lifter have ?   I'm sure if I run it over to Smith Bros they can make a set if I know the proper preload.


Stock rockers are 1.5  ratio correct ?

[blykins]

Stock non-adjustable rockers are 1.73:1. 

I run them at zero lash plus .060" preload on standard travel lifters.

[440sixpack]

.060 seems like quite a bit but I like it. I don't imagine a roller lifter wants any slack if you want them to last. 

So just to make sure I'm clear on this ,  I find zero lash then have them made .060 longer ?

And one last dumb question, does the 3/8 ball go on the lifter or the rocker ?  because both ends on my push rods were 5/16.

[67428GT500]

I'm running Isky 3/8 cup and ball pushrods with Dove roller rockers. I noted that most hydraulic lifters offer no provision for oiling via the pushrod They're high quality and about half the price of Crane. The Lunatti pushrods are 11/32. They offer one length at 245.00 a set. Smith Bros are great quality and available in custom lengths.
                                                                                              -Keith

[blykins]

.060 seems like quite a bit but I like it. I don't imagine a roller lifter wants any slack if you want them to last. 

So just to make sure I'm clear on this ,  I find zero lash then have them made .060 longer ?

And one last dumb question, does the 3/8 ball go on the lifter or the rocker ?  because both ends on my push rods were 5/16.

Zero lash, add .060” for preload.

On a factory non adjustable, the 3/8” ball goes in the rocker. 

I don’t know of any hydraulic roller lifter that won’t allow pushrod oiling but some rockers won’t allow it.

[440sixpack]

got it.  will do.

[67428GT500]

I didn't see anything about a roller cam, just rockers...... I haven't seen any FE hydraulic lifters that provide oiling via the pushrod. Perhaps there are, just not common.