I'm installing a mild voodoo cam in my freshly rebuilt 5.3 is it really necsasary to check the pushrod height? I haven't changed anything but the cam. I do want new pushrods which ones are yall running? I'm thinking lunati or tsp. Thanks for your input and replies!

 

i think you would want a hardened 7.4 inch pushrod, alot of guys here like the comp pushrods, but im sure the lunati's or tsp's would be good also.

 

The cam manufacturers usually recommend 7.4 length pushrods which are what everyone that I know of runs with a cam only swap. If the heads have been milled or the lifters replaced you'll want to invest in a pushrod length checker to be sure.

 

i did just change from 7.350's to 7.375's thinking I needed the longer ones... cant tell a bit of difference... still runs like poo at low speeds..... waitin on valve springs and then takin the asa cam outta the ecsb

 

I ran 7.4 for a long time and when my engine was torn apart for refresh it was determined that I needed 7.425. The engine seems to have less valvetrain noise but aside from that performance is the same.

 

Preload is right on with my 7.350" pushrods... Plenty of deviation from their 7.400 and 7.425 rods. You need a length checker. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

Exactly! We've installed basic 224R camshafts that if you made a thread about what length many would swear it should be 7.400" (stock long-block, just a cam swap), and they required as short as 7.350" to setup the preload properly! It is a $20 well spent for the tool to check this!

 

Ive got a set of 7.350s and 7.400s for sale in the classifieds both sets are TSP brand.

 

Matt - I bought the Pushrod checker from Comp.
It's not very friendly to use since the base sits below the heads surface, so you have to do trial and error in/out.
Are you guys using the adjustable pushrod set to a specific value and then using machinist blue dye to characterize the rocker arm wipe pattern on the stem?
And if so...how do you avoid the large smear of a stock rocker arm?
I'm sure it can be done...but what's the trick?

I'm trying to figure mine out. All the methods online are getting confusing, I wish there was a tried and true method.

 

Yes, we ballpark the length to start and then have to remove/adjust/remove/adjust

Are you asking how to check your swipe pattern to see if you need to shim the pedestals??