I am slowly finishing up the LS3 head install on my LS2, while measuring for pushrods I noticed that as I was working my way down bank 1, the length of the pushrod required grew by about .012" or approx 1/8th of a turn of the checker.

Cylinder 1 measured the same as every cylinder on bank 2, but across the length of the head I noticed this change.

Engine is a stock shortblock/stock cam 06 LS2 in a GTO, heads are LS3, valve job and were milled by a very reputable shop, new LS7 lifters. I did notice some variation in the valve tip height which could be attributing to what I am seeing.

While this is obviously not ideal, is this something that is "common" to the LS2 deck surface? Should I pull it back apart to reinspect?

 

are you staying your heads are cut like a wedge and the top of @1 cylinder head is higher than the top of #7 cylinder head. because if that's what your saying... hell no that's not right

so from intake valve #1 pushrod to intake valve #7 pushrod there is a variance of .012"?
how are you measuring this? try using the feeler gauge method to get your zero lash measurements

 

Varying valve tip height is the reason if you know the heights are off

 

I measured using a length checking pushrod, and checked that by using a stock pushrod and counting the turns to get 22 ft lbs past zero lash.

Valve height is off a bit, I am measuring this with a straight edge and feeler gauge so it's just a highest-to-lowest comparison.