marlyman

Just recently pulled heads and noticed the stock pushrods I was using had been rubbing against the guide plates I had to buy since the aluminum gt40's needed screw in studs and guide plates...Is there certain like thinner diameter pushrods that i'm supposed to get?

302 bored to 306
e303
aluminum gt40s
1.6 scorpion roller rockers
cobra intake
65mm throttlebody
24#injectors with pro-m maf
no smog pump, power steering or ac
underdrive pulleys
cold air intake

list goes on but that's it for motor I know this setup is pretty common so anybody know bout pushrods needed for that setup?

tinman

Theres usually just a little bit of adjustment in those guide plates you can get by loosening the rocker stud and moving them.
I think Isky cams used to make some that had more adjustment in them.
If your pushrods are showing any wear at all, replace them.......

mjr46

you can't use stock push rods with guide plates, they are not hardened for such use, so yes you need push rods that are for use with guide plates and you should measure to make sure you are using the proper length to begin with, I have done numerous aluminum head applications and have never been able to use stock length to achieve proper geometry.

marlyman

So I need the hardened push rods? Like heat treated steel ones? ...Could i damage anything besides the pushrods themselves if i used stock ones like damage to valves/valve guides roller rockers?

mjr46

no. it'll just wear them out, get hardened ones that say use for guideplates, also measure for proper length

marlyman

Hey where would i get custom pushrods? my friends got a adjustable pushrod thing to test what the length is gunna be but once i know the length who sells em? from what ive seen so far americanmuscle/latemodelresto/cjsponyparts look like set sizes.. cjs have some dif sizes but...??

tinman

Ok, measure the pushrod when you figure out the correct lenght.
I use a 12" digital caliper to do this, then call Summit Racing and tell them what lenght you need and that it is to be used with guideplates.
Summit has some that they sell for a very good price, all the Summit stuff I've ever used has been good quality.......

mjr46

summit carries any length you'll need, generally, with a inline valve head I find 6.300-6.400 to be the length and on tfs tw's 6.700. this is just a range , don't take it for gospel.....measure, measure and remeasure to verify

marlyman

hey right on guys so damn helpful cant say enuff thanks... my buddy is dropping off his adjustable pushrod so i can find the right length..I was guna see, would it be super stupid to try an set valves with incorrect length pushrods? wat kind of damage could happen? ----i only ask because im kind of in a bind my g/f crashed my commuter an im bout to drop it off at body shop for prolly a month and ima need to get the stang going so i can commute my 55 miles to/ 55 miles from work...hate being in a rush an i know this is def not something to rush with... but like would err could it work for like a week or so until i get the proper length? or just flat out bad idea? ; )

Maxwelhse

Any unintended metal on metal contact is a no-no as far as I'm concerned. It doesn't take much steel in a bearing clearance area to cause all sorts of hell.

Moving beyond pushrod questions... If you're that cash strapped, go buy a beater and park the 'stang then sell the beater when times get better. Or just promote the 'stang to full on "toy"!

I'm being dead serious when I say this, the absolute best cars I've owned were both right about $500 and got over 30 mpg... Total investment in both cars, for a total of about 90,000 miles, is right about $2500 after all maintenance is accounted for.