Thread: Push Rods
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Old 05-19-2010, 07:37 PM
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importsmasher importsmasher is offline
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OK, so I pulled the heads off the car and (as expected) you were correct on the push rod length, b-man. But this got me thinking to an engine I built 12 years ago when I was young and ignorant (now I'm old and ignorant!). I had a tired 67 400 (actually I still have it....it is identical in every way to the one in my wagon...same block code, same heads, etc.) in a 73 Ventura, and in 1998 I rebuilt a 455 for the car. I know for sure that I wasn't aware of the push rod difference in 67 (I thought it was 66 and earlier), and I am fairly sure I pirated the push rods from the 67 400 and installed them in the 455. I still have both engines (I wrecked the Ventura; the 455 is in my 74 GTO now), and the 455 has always had some valve train clatter. I have BBC style adjustable valve train on the 455. What would happen if I did put the shorter push rods in the 455? They are like 4/10ths of an inch shorter; wouldn't that make the valves not open fully? Would it have been so obviously wrong I wouldn't have run the shorter push rods? Or is it conceivable that I could run an engine for years without noticing? I am trying to remember. The push rods are missing off of the old 400, so I think I used them. I may have to pull a push rod and measure it. I have only put a few thousand miles on the 455, but most of those were 1/4 mile at a time.
Again, thanks for your help!
Importsmasher