Problems installing new pushrods!


That doesn't sound right, so just to reiterate; all 16 of the lifter's internal pushrod cups should simply be pre-loaded .050" or there abouts from the retaining clip using the rocker arm adjusters. (make sure all the lifters can still spin freely in their bores when you put them in)

The clearance can be measured with a wire gauge, as mentioned above It doesn't matter if you can push the plunger down more or if it feels spongy when you do push it down more, as the lifters will pump up in a matter of seconds or a few minutes at the most.

Assemble the rest of the motor, pre-oil it with a pre-oiling rod & a drill, set the initial timing and fire it up. Your cam is already mated to the lifters. Hopefully, you got each lifter back into the hole it came out of, or you may lose a cam lobe.

After you get the timing set and have heat cycled the motor you can double check everything to make sure the .050" clearance has been maintained, or use the method mentioned above. Many people never touch them again after the initial adjustment. It can be a bit deceiving when trying to find the zero clearance spot to turn the adjuster another 1/2 or 3/4 turn. It just takes patients and for me anymore, it takes the use of my reader glasses.

I've experimented with the amount of the additional turn in from zero clearance from 1/8 of a turn all the way to 2 turns. That's the beauty of hydraulic lifters. They "self-adjust" to take up the remaining slack automatically. There is a sweep spot, but its more of a range of plunger preload.