pushrods
At TDC on cylinder 6 push rod is measuring
Intake - 7.384
Exhaust - 7.362
These measurments achieve no play (tap) except a little side (left to right wiggle).
I put some electrical tape on the Acme threads of the Comp pushrod lenght checker when i was really close. I noticed the male cap of the checker would screw/unscrew while putting in and out. The tape made it stay still during handeling.
These rusults were produced by tightening the 8mm rocker bolt by hand with a deep socket.
I tried the same thing at 60 inch lbd (5 ft lbs) and it was the same. At 120 inch lbs (10 ft lbs)the exhaust would be tight with 7.384 push rod lenght. (Same as intake)
So to get equal results i needed to tighten the bolt at 120inch pound) for a 7.384 push rod. This deff means theres a difference. Ive never taken off the heads and as far as I know lifters are stock. Stock cam looked good and wear was all even and you could not feel it with your nails (fingers)
Should i stay with tightening by hand?
Im gonna start now on cylinder #1 and post results.
Thanks
Something is really wrong..
Intake 7.2875 calcullated with turns (7.300 with vernier)
Exhaust 7.2625 calculated with turns (7.276 with vernier)
Im thinking im not at TDC BUT I AM.
or maybe the lifter plugers is depressed?? Is it possible the motor has been sitting to long? Is it possible i didnt install the cam properly?
I need help please!
I will rotate the crank another 90 degrees and try piston 8 and 5...
Last edited by Georgies; Jul 23, 2017 at 01:19 PM.
I did piston 8 and 5 after rotating the motor clockwise another 90 degrees.
Piston 8:
- Intake: 7.325(vernier tip to tip) or 10.25 turn
-Exhaust: 7.261(vernier tip to tip) or 9 turns
Piston 5:
-Intake 7.380(vernier tip to tip) or 11.33 turns
-Exhaust 7.361(vernie tip to tip) or 11 turns
I rotated the motor another 90 degrees to get pistons 4 & 7 at TDC.
Piston 4:
- Intake: 7.379(vernier tip to tip) or 11.25 turns
-Exhaust: 7.360(vernier tip to tip) or 11 turns
Piston 7:
-Intake 7.318(vernier tip to tip) or 10 1/8th turns
-Exhaust 7.270(vernie tip to tip) or 9 1/8th turns
Too frustrated to continue...Will keep going again tmr with piston 3&2 and again, 1&6..maybe im not perfectly at TDC.
Or maybe this MS4 cam is not accurate?
Thanks for all the help
Last edited by Georgies; Jul 23, 2017 at 08:11 PM.
Try another method to examine your conflicting data. First, before starting the measurement and installing the rocker but after you have put the piston at TDC for that cylinder, put in your stock pushrod and push down on each lifter for that cylinder to ensure the lifter is touching the cam. You will hear the lifter "clink" if was not in contact.
Then, use the adjustable pushrod and slowly open using a 0.010" feeler gauge under the rocker tip. Once at zero lash with the feeler gauge under the rocker tip, remove the feeler gauge (should have very little resistance if you are at zero lash) and give the lifter about 5 minutes and then re-check with the same feeler gauge. If the lifter plunger wasn't depressed, then the feeler gauge will go back in with very slight resistance. If you can't get it back in, then the lifter was depressed during your measurement. Find out what feeler gauge will fit and make a note its thickness.
Then use the method of measuring at zero lash you were using before and take a measurement again.
Ok got it, will try that as soon as i get a chance. Thank you very much
Last edited by Georgies; Jul 24, 2017 at 02:14 PM.
Started with cylinder #1
Pushed down the lifters as I did in the past but this time very delicately.
Used a .010 feeler gauge under the tip of the rocker until I found zero lash. The rod would spin just a little and no tap at the tip.
Pulled out the feeler gauge and waited 15 minutes. When I put it back in it felt like exactly the same resistance.
I then proceeded to readjust the adjustable push rod to compensate for the feeler gauge.
-Intake = 7.285 (vernier) or 9 & 1/2 turns
-Exhaust = 7.280(vernier) or 9 & 7/16
Results are good from intake to exhaust(meaning they are close)
Now here is where I'm lost.. I went ahead and did the same thing for cylinder#6
Feeler gauge went in with the same resistance 15 minutes after finding zero lash.
So went ahead and readjust to get zero lash without feeler, result are very different than cylinder #1 !!
-Intake = 7.377(vernier)
-Exhaust= 7.355(vernier)
What the hell is going on??
Last edited by Georgies; Jul 24, 2017 at 08:46 PM.
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Started with cylinder #1
Pushed down the lifters as I did in the past but this time very delicately.
Used a .010 feeler gauge under the tip of the rocker until I found zero lash. The rod would spin just a little and no tap at the tip.
Pulled out the feeler gauge and waited 15 minutes. When I put it back in it felt like exactly the same resistance.
I then proceeded to readjust the adjustable push rod to compensate for the feeler gauge.
-Intake = 7.285 (vernier) or 9 & 1/2 turns
-Exhaust = 7.280(vernier) or 9 & 7/16
Results are good from intake to exhaust(meaning they are close)
Now here is where I'm lost.. I went ahead and did the same thing for cylinder#6
Feeler gauge went in with the same resistance 15 minutes after finding zero lash.
So went ahead and readjust to get zero lash without feeler, result are very different than cylinder #1 !!
-Intake = 7.377(vernier)
-Exhaust= 7.355(vernier)
What the hell is going on??

The measurements have reversed.
I may be a little off as I'm really trying to get zero tap but still maintain the ability for the push rod to swivel.
so
Cylinder #1
-Intake : 7.370(vernier)
-Exhaust: 7.355(vernier)
Cylinder #6
-Intake: 7.283(vernier)
-Exhaust: 7.283(vernier)
I'm guessing i should use the measurement of the longer push rod?
Also, should the preload # that I'm supposed to add to the length when ordering be greater than the distance of the longest and shortest push rod length between cylinder banks?
In this case 7.370-7.283 = 0.087
So my preload should be > 0.087 ??
What should I do next?
I did piston 8 and 5 after rotating the motor clockwise another 90 degrees.
Piston 8:
- Intake: 7.325(vernier tip to tip) or 10.25 turn
-Exhaust: 7.261(vernier tip to tip) or 9 turns
Piston 5:
-Intake 7.380(vernier tip to tip) or 11.33 turns
-Exhaust 7.361(vernie tip to tip) or 11 turns
I rotated the motor another 90 degrees to get pistons 4 & 7 at TDC.
Piston 4:
- Intake: 7.379(vernier tip to tip) or 11.25 turns
-Exhaust: 7.360(vernier tip to tip) or 11 turns
Piston 7:
-Intake 7.318(vernier tip to tip) or 10 1/8th turns
-Exhaust 7.270(vernie tip to tip) or 9 1/8th turns
Too frustrated to continue...Will keep going again tmr with piston 3&2 and again, 1&6..maybe im not perfectly at TDC.
Or maybe this MS4 cam is not accurate?
Thanks for all the help
The measurements have reversed.
I may be a little off as I'm really trying to get zero tap but still maintain the ability for the push rod to swivel.
so
Cylinder #1
-Intake : 7.370(vernier)
-Exhaust: 7.355(vernier)
Cylinder #6
-Intake: 7.283(vernier)
-Exhaust: 7.283(vernier)
I'm guessing i should use the measurement of the longer push rod?
Also, should the preload # that I'm supposed to add to the length when ordering be greater than the distance of the longest and shortest push rod length between cylinder banks?
In this case 7.370-7.283 = 0.087
So my preload should be > 0.087 ??
What should I do next?
I'm thinking that from the point of torque I applied by hand to 22 ft-lb might be 0.002 - 0.004 of downward distance into the lifter...
Should that amount be taken off the preload #'s?
I spoke to Al at Manton, he told me to check push rod length at the for corners(8,2 and 1)
and to call him back. He was saying to get different exhaust and intake rods.... I'm not to sure I wanna do that LOL.
Vettenuts, what would you do?
I'm thinking that from the point of torque I applied by hand to 22 ft-lb might be 0.002 - 0.004 of downward distance into the lifter...
Should that amount be taken off the preload #'s?
I spoke to Al at Manton, he told me to check push rod length at the for corners(8,2 and 1)
and to call him back. He was saying to get different exhaust and intake rods.... I'm not to sure I wanna do that LOL.
Vettenuts, what would you do?
If all measurements come out how I think they will, you should have numbers close to the 7.283 value for your zero lash length.
Last edited by vettenuts; Jul 26, 2017 at 03:33 PM.
The lifters will make noise when you start it, just let it idle until the lifters quiet down. It could take several minutes.
I oraganized them when i took them off and didnt think that it could effect my measurments. I also did the CHE trunion upgrade on em....
Last edited by Georgies; Jul 27, 2017 at 01:09 PM.
















