Pushrods
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 457
Likes: 54
From: Dallas, Oregon
Pushrods
I need some pushrods, but have been unsuccessful in getting any that are what they say they are. I ordered a set of Brian Tooley from Summit; they were supposed to be 7.385" long and were stamped that. However, they were 7.384 - 7.389" long. Can anyone recommend a brand that will be the length advertised and stamped, with minimal variation? Thanks!!
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 714
Likes: 104
From: Springfield Ohio
Hydraulic lifters aren't sensitive to small differences in pushrod length. 5/1000's of an inch isn't going to effect your build. You would probably need a wheel barrow full of push rods to go through to get eight that were exactly the length you want. If you have solid lifters, you simply adjust tappet clearance to account for the difference in length.
Last edited by tbrowne; Apr 21, 2020 at 08:17 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 932
From: Orlando Florida
Hydraulic lifters aren't sensitive to small differences in pushrod length. 5/1000's of an inch isn't going to effect your build. You would probably need a wheel barrow full of push rods to go through to get eight that were exactly the length you want. If you have solid lifters, you simply adjust tappet clearance to account for the difference in length.
+.004/-.001 is already very impressive machining for 16 individual articles. I would have to purchase new tools and fab some fixturing to repeatably measure that a 7.385 inches.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 457
Likes: 54
From: Dallas, Oregon
Pushrods
Hydraulic lifters aren't sensitive to small differences in pushrod length. 5/1000's of an inch isn't going to effect your build. You would probably need a wheel barrow full of push rods to go through to get eight that were exactly the length you want. If you have solid lifters, you simply adjust tappet clearance to account for the difference in length.
What level of variance are you looking for? And, perhaps more importantly, how are you measuring the rods in hand?
+.004/-.001 is already very impressive machining for 16 individual articles. I would have to purchase new tools and fab some fixturing to repeatably measure that a 7.385 inches.
Well, I bombed my request. The length we wanted and paid for was 7.375". What we got was 7.384 - 7.389; a variance over spec of .009 to .014. Yes, we're using hydraulic lifters, and yes, they are somewhat forgiving. However, we're attempting to resolve an engine problem and have pushrods with that much variance is not helping. We'd like to see them in the +/- .004 range.
Thoughts with this information?
What level of variance are you looking for? And, perhaps more importantly, how are you measuring the rods in hand?
+.004/-.001 is already very impressive machining for 16 individual articles. I would have to purchase new tools and fab some fixturing to repeatably measure that a 7.385 inches.
Well, I bombed my request. The length we wanted and paid for was 7.375". What we got was 7.384 - 7.389; a variance over spec of .009 to .014. Yes, we're using hydraulic lifters, and yes, they are somewhat forgiving. However, we're attempting to resolve an engine problem and have pushrods with that much variance is not helping. We'd like to see them in the +/- .004 range.
Thoughts with this information?
Last edited by OregonDan; Apr 21, 2020 at 01:11 PM. Reason: Include responses
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 932
From: Orlando Florida
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 457
Likes: 54
From: Dallas, Oregon
Pushrods
Okay, so the replacements (also Brian Tooley) arrived. Ordered to be 7.375; random lengths from 7.372 to 7.389. These too were unacceptable and have been returned to Summit. FYI, Brian Tooley and TrickFlow are both now owned by Summit.
I did find a real pushrod manufacturer though. Smith Brothers in Redmond, Oregon. Huge building and their main product is pushrods. I asked about what tolerance I could expect and they told me +/- .005", so I bought a set of 16. They were even tighter!! Among the 16, not a one was more than .0015 + or -. Sounds like I've found my source for future pushrod needs. Best to all...............................Oregon Dan
I did find a real pushrod manufacturer though. Smith Brothers in Redmond, Oregon. Huge building and their main product is pushrods. I asked about what tolerance I could expect and they told me +/- .005", so I bought a set of 16. They were even tighter!! Among the 16, not a one was more than .0015 + or -. Sounds like I've found my source for future pushrod needs. Best to all...............................Oregon Dan
Last edited by OregonDan; Apr 29, 2020 at 11:17 AM.
