What pushrod length checker to start with on SBC?

[Ricko1966]

That’s how Derek from Vice Grip Garage does it. I found he describes it very well in part 2 of his 454 build.

I know nothing about his 454 build and little about him. I don't watch you tube videos for hardly any automotive stuff. Learned it hands on at work over a couple of decades,I've watched a couple of videos friends have asked me to watch because they didn't understand something,or the video was just incorrect,but anyway I use the 1/2 lift method. I told you to look up a video because when I explain it it takes a long time and I have to draw 87 pictures. If any of you have access to a lathe and some skills @Craig Nedrow could do this I'm sure,if he had known about it. You chuck your pushrods up in the lathe,take a parting tool and cut the necessary amount out of the push rod tube tubing itself at 1 end. Then stand the push rod on end on a lifter place another lifter on the other ball end,smack lifter number 2 with a hammer. The ball end drives back,and presto,shorter push rods. This only works if what you had was 1/2 way close though,not drastic changes.

 

[Ricko1966]

Break in rockers is the easiest route but at 3-400 might as well just go roller cam not everyone has the ability/desire to swap springs even though it is cheaper.

Seems going rate on used ones on face book is $150.00,one of you guys needs to buy a set for your next build then rent them to other members doing cam swaps.

 

[xm20k]

Seems going rate on used ones on face book is $150.00,one of you guys needs to buy a set for your next build then rent them to other members doing cam swaps.

Not worth it to me I've done 2 flat tappets in like the last 5 years everything has been OE roller or retros

That’s how Derek from Vice Grip Garage does it. I found he describes it very well in part 2 of his 454 build.

He's pretty good when it comes to his build explanations, he uses the hydraulic lash method I do (one of the few I've seen do it) and has a video on it as well but I think it's in one of his build videos not a video on its' own.

Also look from some you tube videos on doing the 1/2 lift method, that's how I learned and it is dirt simple once you understand it. If you look at a rocker it travels in an arc,not straight in and out like the valve,so if at 1/2 lift your rocker is at 90* to the valve stem then 1/2 the side to side motion of the arc was used getting to 1/2 lift the arc will be pushing the opposite direction the second 1/2 of the lift. Least pressure and wear on guides most in and out travel on the valve itself. And the beauty is you just have to bring the cam to 1/2 lift,adjust pushrod length so you have 90* at the stem. Done, measure the pushrod,no trial and error no rotating the engine over and over.

https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/bbc-489-build.45389/page-6

This is my 489 build. Well I think the whole build is interesting. Starting on page 6 you’ll see what I did to set my length and how to do it. There are many YouTube videos as well but it’s one thing watching a video and another thing doing it. get some dykem steel blue for your valve tips And look at my pictures they give you a pretty good idea what needs to be done. you can buy custom length push rods. I got mine from Manly great company.

I use dye on one valve stem set it up just a hair off towards the exhaust side roll it over the nose as it compresses the valve it'll roll towards the valley and leave a rectangle shaped pattern check to see how centered the patten is and adjust from there if needed. I've done it so many times I can usually get it in just one or two attempts. .550-.600 lift is pretty common amongst the builds I've done.