How Can You Tell?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
Sorry but this is not true, yes some are harder than others but they are all "hardened" Don't think so? try cutting one and see.
The stock push rods do go through a guide which is the slotted hole in the head that guides the rod. Exception is the Vortex heads which use the rocker arm with sides on them that go on the sides of the valve, and they requier longer valve stems above the valve retainer.
Last edited by Manuel Azevedo; Jan 10, 2011 at 12:32 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Sorry but this is not true, yes some are harder than others but they are all "hardened" Don't think so? try cutting one and see. The stock push rods do go through a guide which is the slotted hole in the head that guides the rod. Exception is the Vortex heads which use the rocker arm with sides on them that go on the sides of the valve, and they requier longer valve stems above the valve retainer.
The stock push rods do go through a guide which is the slotted hole in the head that guides the rod. Exception is the Vortex heads which use the rocker arm with sides on them that go on the sides of the valve, and they requier longer valve stems above the valve retainer.The cast in guide is just that, a cast iron guide, not steel.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
I did say there is different hardness of the rods, but they are all hardened. Two like metals do not wear well together. But if you look at any guide plate you will see how rough they are and that they all vary, this is the source of the rod wear in a lot of cases. Polish this area and also be sure and align them not just bolt them on. You also need to open the hole in the head where the rod comes through so as to not fight the top guide plate just added, this is one of the biggest mistakes made (not opening this hole up) when going to screw in studs and guides plates. The result is usually worn push-rods blamed on soft rods.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
From: Bishop CA
Thanks for the help guys, But I guess I still don't know how to check if my pushrods I have now are hard enough to use with aluminum heads?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
From: Bishop CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
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From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
many old OE SBC prs are cracked-collapsing around oil hole ... why waste time, $ and effort
cheap insurance, hardened 1010
stock OE ~7.8" length $23
http://www.jegs.com/i/Sealed%20Power...0002/-1?CT=999
+.100" $25
http://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/x,cata...5000RK100.html
cheap insurance, hardened 1010
stock OE ~7.8" length $23
http://www.jegs.com/i/Sealed%20Power...0002/-1?CT=999
+.100" $25
http://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/x,cata...5000RK100.html
