440 stroker Pushrod length.

[91r/t]

Ok before I get jumped with knives , I am just going to ask this question as a general rule....I am running a Hydraulic Flat tappet cam in my 500" stroker motor and I was looking at push rods. I am thinking using a hydraulic lifter and an adjustable rocker arm, that there is more room for forgiveness in push rod length than if you were running a solid lifter. Am I correct in this thinking? I am thinking that you can adjust the length to an extent using the lash adjustment in the rocker arm. Now I know too much can put the rocker arm into a bind or into an area it was not designed to work in, but a small amount of adjustment is able to be had in the lash I would think without causing too much issue. Also the cam I am using is .539" lift so it isn't a monster with .600" plus lift. Throw out your ideas here and if I am sorta on the right track or what?

 

[493 Mike]

You should consider rocker to valve tip contact whenever choosing pushrods. The contact area is important to prevent valve guide wear among other factors. But, yes the lash can be varied some and is often recommended to see if the cam timing is correct for the engine combination.
Mike

 

[Bill Monk]

The only correct way to do this is to buy an adjustable pushrod to confirm what you need and then order a custom set at that length

 

[91r/t]

The only correct way to do this is to buy an adjustable pushrod to confirm what you need and then order a custom set at that length

.

Yea I kinda knew this and planned on grabbing one. Just was curious about the two as the solid seemed like it made more sense that it was critical without the hydraulic cushion.

 

[wyrmrider]

are these roller tip or iron rockers?
Iron rockers you want the ball close to the iron
better yet cup adjuster and bal and ball end pushrods
I recommend Magnum lifters and oil through the pushrod pushrods for either Iron or roller tip
roller tip you need a B3 kit B4 getting pushrods
with that lift you can run stock rockers but still recommend oil through the pushrods
your checking pushrod may be different depending on rocker and adjuster

 

[Bicylindrico]

The proper pushrod length measurement will be the same for either. Both solid or hydraulic will have a correct length pushrod. I agree with wyrmrider that if you are measuring for pushrods why not spend the extra $200-$300 to set up the valve-train correctly with the B3 kit THEN get the correct pushrods. There is a 'sweet spot' for the adjuster on the adjustable rockers so you cannot expect to be sloppy and have the adjuster make up for an incorrect length pushrod.

With what we all spend on these motors I personally feel the valvetrain is the most critical to have them running correctly and preventing catastrophe. Spend the time and dollars there if need be.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

You guys are all schooling me. I've assumed what 91r/t is saying is correct. I mean, when I built my current motor 20+ yrs. ago, I used the old purple shaft 292/509, Isky adjustable iron rockers & "off the shelf" Isky pushrods (cup top) and never gave is a second thought about valve train geometry. It's probably not optimized, but it seems to have worked for many years. Just sayin'