11/32 pushrods neccessary?
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,317
Likes: 20
From: Hurley, VA
11/32 pushrods neccessary? Right now I'm getting a little more drop off up top at the track than I think I should. I can definately feel it in the car. For something turning around 72-7300 are the 11/32s a good investment. I'm running 5/16 now.
From everything I've read and gathered from the people who are much smarter than myself... You always want to go with the widest pushrod your heads can fit as weight on that side of the valve train is insignificant. I went with 11/32 Manton's for my 403ci build that will spin to 7k and wish I would have ran them on my old Ls1 setup.
Idea is to keep the valve springs, retainers and valves light while keeping the pushrods as strong and big as possible.
Idea is to keep the valve springs, retainers and valves light while keeping the pushrods as strong and big as possible.
Just installed the manton 11/32 with .060 oiling orifices. Can't say they helped, but with the new straub bushing and manton push rods my valve train is much quieter.
I was mainly doing it for the restricted oil on the push rods while I had the rockers apart.
Now I will say I went from 4l60e,3.73 10 bolt, aluminum drive shaft to th400, 3.70 9", steel driveshaft, mild steel roll cage, and the car picked up on the top end by 3 mph and about .2.
I was mainly doing it for the restricted oil on the push rods while I had the rockers apart.
Now I will say I went from 4l60e,3.73 10 bolt, aluminum drive shaft to th400, 3.70 9", steel driveshaft, mild steel roll cage, and the car picked up on the top end by 3 mph and about .2.
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12 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,273
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From: Bucks County, Pa.
Now IF I ever build a screamer road race deal which would have the capability to (even if the power dropped off long before this) spin to 8500 or so with a crazy cam, and stupid high pressure springs, YES, it will have the most tree trunk like pushrods I can fit into the heads without weakening them, and the top of the line, shaft mounted rockers as well.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 709
Likes: 2
From: 336 NC
Yes larger diameter pushrods are always going to be better. Even a stock engine can benefit from better pushrods. Larger pushrods reduce valvefloat and help stabilize the valvetrain in general. A flexing pushrod acts like a pole vault... they compress/flex then snap back to release tension.
Of course, but, are they REALLY necessary on a stock internal/cam/lift/springs engine which will NEVER EVER be spun past ~5900 revs?? Now IF I ever build a screamer road race deal which would have the capability to (even if the power dropped off long before this) spin to 8500 or so with a crazy cam, and stupid high pressure springs, YES, it will have the most tree trunk like pushrods I can fit into the heads without weakening them, and the top of the line, shaft mounted rockers as well.
Now IF I ever build a screamer road race deal which would have the capability to (even if the power dropped off long before this) spin to 8500 or so with a crazy cam, and stupid high pressure springs, YES, it will have the most tree trunk like pushrods I can fit into the heads without weakening them, and the top of the line, shaft mounted rockers as well. 
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 332
From: Wilmington, De
But when they can be acquired for virtually the same price as what most companies sell the 5/16" pushrods for, it certainly won't hurt to step up the diameter. Even at 5900 RPM, you'll be adding stability.
12 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 0
From: Bucks County, Pa.
(I just installed some 7.400 stock length trick Flows, and stock rockers hoping that was the cause of my LOUD valvetrain 'clacking', sadly it is still there, so it must be the damned lifters, and I neither have the tools/facilities/skills to pull the heads, nor the $2500.00+ most shops want for the job.
)