Johnson 2110R preload - pushrod length
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,161
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From: Virginia
Johnson 2110R preload - pushrod length
What preload are you guys running on Johnson 2110R lifters? I know what Johnson recommends but wanted some real world feedback. Do they seem to like the high side or low side of what Johnson recommends?
Also for anyone using these lifters and stock LS3 heads, what pushrod length did you end up with? I know you have to measure and length will vary with different cams… I have a BTR stage 2 cam and stock heads. I’m currently on a 7.425 pushrod but imagine I will end up with something like 7.350 or 7.375. Thanks
Also for anyone using these lifters and stock LS3 heads, what pushrod length did you end up with? I know you have to measure and length will vary with different cams… I have a BTR stage 2 cam and stock heads. I’m currently on a 7.425 pushrod but imagine I will end up with something like 7.350 or 7.375. Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,616
Likes: 1,808
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
What preload are you guys running on Johnson 2110R lifters? I know what Johnson recommends but wanted some real world feedback. Do they seem to like the high side or low side of what Johnson recommends?
Also for anyone using these lifters and stock LS3 heads, what pushrod length did you end up with? I know you have to measure and length will vary with different cams… I have a BTR stage 2 cam and stock heads. I’m currently on a 7.425 pushrod but imagine I will end up with something like 7.350 or 7.375. Thanks
Also for anyone using these lifters and stock LS3 heads, what pushrod length did you end up with? I know you have to measure and length will vary with different cams… I have a BTR stage 2 cam and stock heads. I’m currently on a 7.425 pushrod but imagine I will end up with something like 7.350 or 7.375. Thanks
I think you were running Morel lifter previously? They call for a 0.060 preload so going to the Johnsons, you would need a 0.025 shorter rod (assuming everything else is the same and you were running that preload). So maybe a 7.400 is what you need.
But of course, need to measure.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,681
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From: Potomac MD
Another point is you need to compare lifter heights from pushrod cup to lifter wheel. This is if you had an oem lifter to start and are changing over. Not all lifters are 2.45 or whatever it is inches. Thae oem lifter take more preload so you may have a double adjustment for lifter height and preload delta
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,616
Likes: 1,808
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
Another point is you need to compare lifter heights from pushrod cup to lifter wheel. This is if you had an oem lifter to start and are changing over. Not all lifters are 2.45 or whatever it is inches. Thae oem lifter take more preload so you may have a double adjustment for lifter height and preload delta
I think the OP is going from Morel's to the Johnsons. I did the same in my car (Morel's to Johnsons) and I measured the cup to bottom of roller wheel distance. I used a ball bearing about the size of the end of a push rod to try to match the fit of the pushrod in the cup. I found the wheel to cup distance was the same. Not sure if this is true going from stock LS7 lifters to Johnson's however.
But again, need to always measure.
In my case, I used the Comp Cams pushrod length checker and also verified the preload counting turns of the rocker arm from zero lash to proper torque and they both were where they were supposed to be.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,161
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From: Virginia
100% true.
I think the OP is going from Morel's to the Johnsons. I did the same in my car (Morel's to Johnsons) and I measured the cup to bottom of roller wheel distance. I used a ball bearing about the size of the end of a push rod to try to match the fit of the pushrod in the cup. I found the wheel to cup distance was the same. Not sure if this is true going from stock LS7 lifters to Johnson's however.
But again, need to always measure.
In my case, I used the Comp Cams pushrod length checker and also verified the preload counting turns of the rocker arm from zero lash to proper torque and they both were where they were supposed to be.
I think the OP is going from Morel's to the Johnsons. I did the same in my car (Morel's to Johnsons) and I measured the cup to bottom of roller wheel distance. I used a ball bearing about the size of the end of a push rod to try to match the fit of the pushrod in the cup. I found the wheel to cup distance was the same. Not sure if this is true going from stock LS7 lifters to Johnson's however.
But again, need to always measure.
In my case, I used the Comp Cams pushrod length checker and also verified the preload counting turns of the rocker arm from zero lash to proper torque and they both were where they were supposed to be.
And I cannot confirm but I’ve heard the Johnsons are the same as LS7 lifters on cup to wheel length.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,616
Likes: 1,808
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
Yep, going from the Morels to the Johnsons. I was using a 7.425 with the Morels and with that I was around .060 preload on most of the intake lifters but a little more on the exhaust side.
And I cannot confirm but I’ve heard the Johnsons are the same as LS7 lifters on cup to wheel length.
And I cannot confirm but I’ve heard the Johnsons are the same as LS7 lifters on cup to wheel length.
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2023
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Yep, going from the Morels to the Johnsons. I was using a 7.425 with the Morels and with that I was around .060 preload on most of the intake lifters but a little more on the exhaust side.
And I cannot confirm but I’ve heard the Johnsons are the same as LS7 lifters on cup to wheel length.
And I cannot confirm but I’ve heard the Johnsons are the same as LS7 lifters on cup to wheel length.
I WILL of course measure and am capable of doing so but I need my daily back on the road. I went through a fiasco after receiving poor quality gm ls7 lifters but have returned in exchange for credit towards Johnson 2110r’s.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,616
Likes: 1,808
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
I know everyone hates reopening a discussion but I am curious if your original push rods fit? I too am weary of installing junk lifters. I’m doing a l83 engine with 7.84 rods. The man at Texas speed is telling me they have been not had any issues from customers using their same rods.
I WILL of course measure and am capable of doing so but I need my daily back on the road. I went through a fiasco after receiving poor quality gm ls7 lifters but have returned in exchange for credit towards Johnson 2110r’s.
I WILL of course measure and am capable of doing so but I need my daily back on the road. I went through a fiasco after receiving poor quality gm ls7 lifters but have returned in exchange for credit towards Johnson 2110r’s.
Now, if there are other changes such as different cam, rocker arms, milling the heads, or the block deck, all bets are off and you absolutely need to measure for correct pushrod length.
The guy as Texas Speed should be punched in the face. You need to get the correct pushrod length for your setup. Just throwing a 7.4 rod in and hoping it will work is just plain stupid. There is a reason there are specifications for the parts in an engine.
The Johnson 2110R's only have about half the plunger travel of the stock lifter. If you have too much pushrod length (and with a 7.4, you likely would), it is possible that the plunger bottoms out and that would be very bad.
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Bringing this back from awhile ago. I'm currently installing 2110Rs I bought from Tony Mamo. They're going in an LS7. However, you've got to measure! Can't just go by different preload specs. Why? Because that's assuming the pushrod cup on each lifter is the same height above the lifter wheel as the LS7. They are NOT!! I recently measured both the LS7 and Johnson lifter height with a 5/16 ball in the pushrod cup. Distance from the wheel to the top of the 5/16 ball is approximately .040" shorter on the Johnson lifter, give or take .001". So if the preload specs were the same, which they're not, you would actually need a LONGER PR for the Johnson. Keep this in mind before changing and ordering new PRs. Best way is to use a PR length checker, which I also bought from Tony. Hope this helps......
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,161
Likes: 257
From: Virginia
Bringing this back from awhile ago. I'm currently installing 2110Rs I bought from Tony Mamo. They're going in an LS7. However, you've got to measure! Can't just go by different preload specs. Why? Because that's assuming the pushrod cup on each lifter is the same height above the lifter wheel as the LS7. They are NOT!! I recently measured both the LS7 and Johnson lifter height with a 5/16 ball in the pushrod cup. Distance from the wheel to the top of the 5/16 ball is approximately .040" shorter on the Johnson lifter, give or take .001". So if the preload specs were the same, which they're not, you would actually need a LONGER PR for the Johnson. Keep this in mind before changing and ordering new PRs. Best way is to use a PR length checker, which I also bought from Tony. Hope this helps......
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,616
Likes: 1,808
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
Bringing this back from awhile ago. I'm currently installing 2110Rs I bought from Tony Mamo. They're going in an LS7. However, you've got to measure! Can't just go by different preload specs. Why? Because that's assuming the pushrod cup on each lifter is the same height above the lifter wheel as the LS7. They are NOT!! I recently measured both the LS7 and Johnson lifter height with a 5/16 ball in the pushrod cup. Distance from the wheel to the top of the 5/16 ball is approximately .040" shorter on the Johnson lifter, give or take .001". So if the preload specs were the same, which they're not, you would actually need a LONGER PR for the Johnson. Keep this in mind before changing and ordering new PRs. Best way is to use a PR length checker, which I also bought from Tony. Hope this helps......
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,616
Likes: 1,808
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
Bringing this back from awhile ago. I'm currently installing 2110Rs I bought from Tony Mamo. They're going in an LS7. However, you've got to measure! Can't just go by different preload specs. Why? Because that's assuming the pushrod cup on each lifter is the same height above the lifter wheel as the LS7. They are NOT!! I recently measured both the LS7 and Johnson lifter height with a 5/16 ball in the pushrod cup. Distance from the wheel to the top of the 5/16 ball is approximately .040" shorter on the Johnson lifter, give or take .001". So if the preload specs were the same, which they're not, you would actually need a LONGER PR for the Johnson. Keep this in mind before changing and ordering new PRs. Best way is to use a PR length checker, which I also bought from Tony. Hope this helps......
Likely Johnson did this on purpose to simplify for people so they don't need to change their pushrods if it is only a lifter replacement. LS7 preload is about 0.080 with a 7.4" pushrod on your typical LS engine (except the LS7). If you only change the lifters from stock LS1 or LS3 to Johnson 2110R's, it would still need a 7.4 pushrod (or 7.8 for an LS7). Well thought out and good engineering on Johnson's part.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2025
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You are correct. When I switched from a standard LS7 lifter to the Johnsons, the pushrod length I needed did not change. Preload is less for the 2110R's (0.035 +/- 0.005 if I remember correctly) but the cup depth is is indeed shorter.Likely Johnson did this on purpose to simplify for people so they don't need to change their pushrods if it is only a lifter replacement. LS7 preload is about 0.080 with a 7.4" pushrod on your typical LS engine (except the LS7). If you only change the lifters from stock LS1 or LS3 to Johnson 2110R's, it would still need a 7.4 pushrod (or 7.8 for an LS7). Well thought out and good engineering on Johnson's part.
im looking to these get these same lifters for my ls3 and I thought they needed a shorter pushrod? Not a 7.4
