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pushrod length ls6 heads and hotcam

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Old Nov 14, 2008 | 11:38 AM
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Default pushrod length ls6 heads and hotcam

i have been searching for a long time to try and find an answer and havent found anything set in stone, what i am running is stock 243 ls6 heads with the longer sodium valves, now my understanding is that the ls6 engine itself uses 7.4" pushrods because the cam is physically smaller than that of an ls1's. So my question is if im using ls6 heads with a hotcam, what would my pushrod length be?
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Old Nov 14, 2008 | 12:40 PM
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The only way to tell for sure is to check the length with an adjustable pushrod. Yes, the LS6 heads use longer valves so that the 7.4" pushrods can be used with the smaller base circle of the cam, but I can't remember the difference in the base circle or the length of the valves. Save yourself potential problems and check to make absolutely sure.
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Old Nov 14, 2008 | 03:49 PM
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the only thing that scares me is that i will not be able to use the pushrod length checker, i do my own work on my cars but somethings i just dont know how to do, thats why i was trying to avoid doing it that way, the process seems difficult for the use of a pushrod length tool
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Old Nov 14, 2008 | 05:16 PM
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There are plenty of knowledgable people on this board that can help you. Believe me and other's that with these engine combos you have to check them to be sure. Just ask me, I had two sets of pushrods before I got it correct.
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Old Nov 14, 2008 | 05:26 PM
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yeah im defintely going to have to find someone that knows how to use one
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Old Nov 14, 2008 | 06:19 PM
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Yeah, the only real way to tell for sure is to measure, however, I would have to assume the 7.4's would be fine because both the LS6 cam & hotcam have smaller base circles due to having the same lift (.525). So, if the heads are unmilled 243's with stock valves, you should be ok. I seriously doubt that even if there is a difference in the base circle of those 2 cams, it would be enough to warrant a longer or shorter pushrod.
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Old Nov 14, 2008 | 07:18 PM
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lift is higher on the z06 cam, somewhere around 551 i believe
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Old Nov 14, 2008 | 09:59 PM
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The newer LS6 cam ('01 and up) does spec out at .551" and does have a smaller base circle. I'm not sure what the base circle is on the hotcam. Here's a link to Comp Cams website that should help you with taking the proper measurements. It's really not that bad and if you can tackle a cam swap, you should have no problem checking the pushrods.

http://www.compcams.com/information/Products/Pushrods/

Hope this helps!
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Old Nov 14, 2008 | 11:14 PM
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Originally Posted by fast01
The newer LS6 cam ('01 and up) does spec out at .551" and does have a smaller base circle. I'm not sure what the base circle is on the hotcam. Here's a link to Comp Cams website that should help you with taking the proper measurements. It's really not that bad and if you can tackle a cam swap, you should have no problem checking the pushrods.

http://www.compcams.com/information/Products/Pushrods/

Hope this helps!
thats really good info, thanks

you would think that there is some kind of formula to figure it out, atleast i would think there would be
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