[Z06] If You Change The Pushrods
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,501
Likes: 1
From: TAMPA BAY FL.
If You Change The Pushrods
On an LS6 motor or any motor for that matter, with slightly longer pushrods and stiffer rocker arms, don't you increase lift and improve high end performance? Wouldn't that give you the same results as a bigger cam without out the duration and lobe separation changing? Kind of like a poor mans cam job?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,501
Likes: 1
From: TAMPA BAY FL.
I'm talking about thousands of an inch, not like an inch. Even a bigger cam would get you closer to the pistons, so I don't think you could go too much longer than the stock rods. Maybe .030 of an inch
8th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8
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From: Avondale Arizona
I have to agree, longer push rods will just leave the valve open that extra length decreasing CR. It would be a wate of time and money. If you want to increase lift easily without going into the motor then go with 1.75-1.8 ratio rockers, Otherwise your looking at a new cam.
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,748
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From: NJ
longer push rod does nothing
a longer pushrod does nothing to open the valve more. The pushrod serves only as an extension of the lifter. The lifter (solid lifter so as not to complicate the issue) simply is a follower of the cam and transfers the lift of the cam to the rocker arm through the lifter. The rocker arm can and often does multiply the lift by offsetting the pivot point. This creates a seesaw effect. So as you can see making the pushrod longer will do nothing but perhaps screw up rocker arm geometry.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Bartlett, IL
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
A larger rocker arm or cam will give you the results you are looking for unfortunately the longer pushrod will not, if you do swap your rockers or cam make sure you replace the springs with something up to the task.
8th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8
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From: Avondale Arizona
Bind rate of the stock 02-04 LS6 spring is .570, Lift is .550 for the stock cam. A rocker arm ratio of 1.8 will increase lift about .025 creating a lift of .575, you will have to replace the stock springs. Also, if you're planning on taking lift above .600 you may want to consider fly cutting your pistons for clearence.