I am getting a set of Patriot 5.3 heads and a 228r 112lsa cam. I don't know what size pushrods to use. My buddy said I should be fine running 7.4. What do you guys think?

 

Any milling on the heads? What are the lift numbers on the cam? Stock lifters? As the cam gets bigger typically the base circle of the cam is also smaller, meaning the the lifter will ride lower than before on the base circle, meaning the pushrods will need to be longer.

Most likely you are fine with 7.4, but the only way to know for sure is to check lifter preload using checker springs or solid lifters. Do a search on here for EO/IC method of checking lifter preload. Following that method will take the guess work out of determining pushrod length.

 

.228 .228 / .588 .588 @ 112

 

I had a cam with very very similar numbers using 63.5cc LS6 heads and 7.4 pushrods where the right ones for me. But like I said before, if you want total peace of mind, you should check.

If your heads are coming off anyway (which sounds like they are), checking using EO/IC method or with checker springs and a pushrod length checker it what you really should do.