I'm currently assembling the 462 that I'm building for my truck. I only had .010" taken off the heads, and I didn't need anything taken off the nice, clean low-miles block I'm using. I am using .040" thick gaskets, like stock. It looks like stock length pushrods will work. What I was wondering, is can I use the old stock pushrods over again, as they only have 66k miles on them, or should I spring for new ones? My main concern was bending these pushrods. The cam I am using is from straightline, 220/235, .470"/.470" lift. It is a fast ramp profile. Spring pressures are 115 closed, 300 open. It uses a dual spring setup. Thanks!
I ran my old pushrods after installing a TA 413 cam without a problem. Mine were not in the greatest condition either. But, as cheap as they are, I would say go with thicker walls and keep the 5/16 ones for good head clearance. I only ran mine because I didn't have the others yet and didn't want to wait. They are now replaced with adjust. ones. You will not need adjust. since you only took a slight amount off the heads and used thick gaskets, so go with good quality non-adjust. ones. IMHO of course.:3gears:
i have used them over a few times. i have never had the stock push rods or steel rockers wear out on a 455 or 350.
I've always been of the opinion that: if a part in the valve train is going to fail, i want it to be the push rod. It is the easiest to replace and cheap. The only time I've replaced was when installing adj. rockers and guide plate on Fords I used to build.
Scott - Your spring pressures are normal.....but, with that 'fast ramp' cam - they may tax the stock pushrods. A new set would be relatively cheap insurance!!:TU: Realistically, this exact same scenerio has probably happened MANY times....with guys running the stockers and getting many miles out of them. I'd rather err on the side of caution.:Smarty:
If it's from a low milage stocker, with little to no end wear, and no sign of any major rubbing on the sides (against the heads), it's probably just fine to re-run 'em. Just 0.010 might not be a problem, but if you get into lack of RPM issues, then you know you reached the limit of acceptable lifter pre-load, and can later swap the push-rods for shorter or adjustable ones. That's best-case. Worst-case is that it's way off (maybe due to slight differences in compressed gasket thickness, lifter cup depth, cam base-circle, that can all stack-up to unacceptable tolerance). In that case, you might eventually wipe a cam lobe? Hope this helps.
