checking pushrod length with oem rockers?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
checking pushrod length with oem rockers? Ok what's the deal with this? Been fooling around for 3 hours with these Damn dry erase markers. My results are inconsistent at best. How do the pros do it? I tried dry erase, sharpie, dye chem, test springs and the springs I'm gonna run. Nothing but halfway crooked wipes and nothing repeatable. When watching, the rockers seem to be running good. Here's a picture of my last attempt.
There's no need to check the wipe pattern with stock rockers. If you shim them you may get a better wipe pattern but they are not going to work the way they were designed. Just check pushrod length for proper lifter preload and you are good to go.
Shims may not be required, you may need to lower the stock rockers with an aftermarket cam. How are you rotating the rockers? Are the heads on or off the car?
if you look at the factory cast pedestals they don't align the rocker tip over the valve stem very well. When you torque the rocker arm bolt it tends to twist the rocker arm which turns the rocker tip off center with the valve stem. Thats what I see when I look at your wipe pattern.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Ok so lifter pre load is something I understand well I've done it 100 times on motorcycles. I'm zero lash at 7.3", and the pushrods Texas speed recommended are 7.4 which puts me at .100 preload. From what I'm reading .075 is max recommended. So looks like I gotta goto 7.35" push rods?
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
What heads? What cc?
What cam? What lifters?
I would not shim the rocker rails.. The rockers are designed to have the scrubbing pattern... I would just set zero lash and add your desired preload..
You shouldn't have bought pushrods before you measured..
Maybe TSP will exchange you?
What cam? What lifters?
I would not shim the rocker rails.. The rockers are designed to have the scrubbing pattern... I would just set zero lash and add your desired preload..
You shouldn't have bought pushrods before you measured..
Maybe TSP will exchange you?
Don't shim anything without verifying it provide positive results. The cam is higher lift than stock so the rocker tip is going to move farther towards the exhaust side. If anything, the rockers likely need lowering.
As for pushrods, I would also go larger OD as well.
As for pushrods, I would also go larger OD as well.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
TSP sold me the pushrods as a package deal with the cam I purchased. I have never messed with solid pushrods, only adjustable, and this is the first time I've done a car motor. I asked TSP what size pushrods I needed, and they told me to get the 7.4". I assumed they knew what size I needed for my application. I've got 243 heads, new OEM rockers, 228R cam.
listen to vettenuts
also, this is why you measure first. regardless of what they tell you, the "cookie cutter" packages don't always work for everyone. doesn't matter if your setup has been done 100 times over or not.
also, this is why you measure first. regardless of what they tell you, the "cookie cutter" packages don't always work for everyone. doesn't matter if your setup has been done 100 times over or not.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
I'm trying to call TSP, must be nice to just open the shop an hour late...
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
I just logged into my account, and I see that I also bought a pushrod length checker that they didn't include. I bought all this stuff months ago but since I'm rebuilding the whole car I'm just now getting to the engine.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Yeah slapping it together isn't my style at all, I'm pretty **** about stuff inside the motor, since it's not easy to check it after it's all together!
Ordered the 7.35" rods, TSP is going to exchange for the longer rods. Thanks again guys.
Ordered the 7.35" rods, TSP is going to exchange for the longer rods. Thanks again guys.
Any successful shop is going to be like that. Good shops are always covered up with business and customers. TSP has a great reputation established over the last 10+ years.