Easy way (how-to) to check lifter preload?
Is there any easy ballpark way to make sure my preload is at .060 or whatever it's supposed to be?
Can someone explain what's going on here for me? I think I read something on LS1howto about installing yella terra rockers and ballparking preload to determine if a shim is needed.
Can someone explain preload in dummy terms for me?
The way I see it... zero lash is with both valves all the way up and the rocker finger tightened in place... no compression of the lifter, pushrod on lifter, rocker on pushrod. Then you take that length and add .6"? That'd give you .6" of preload right?
Do you have to account for the oil comming out of the pushrod? What about the fact that pushrods are apparently measured at "guage" length or whateve that means?
This will get you about 0.015" worth of travel before the lifter bottoms out, which is about right for most applications (no flame needed).
I don't like doing it this way and prefer adjustable rockers to make sure that I have the same amount of travel in the lifter.
I do this by bottoming out the lifter then adjusting for 0.014 (feeler guage) between the valve stem and roller.






