[screamingchief]

I never base my final decision on pushrod length/valvetrain geometry solely off the pattern you see on the tip of the valve,as that pattern is only telling you part of the story.

Normally I'd tell you a 9.350" long pushrod is waaayyy too long for any iron head pontiac,not unless you were using the "low seat" style of solid lifters (Comp et-al) and a small base circle solid cam (the higher the lobe lift on a solid cam,the smaller the base circle is).

Thing that would help to know here:
What specific cam & lifters are being used here?
What specific length are the valves in those iron heads (look like 670's to me)?
Have the heads been milled or the block decked significantly on this build?

If it's a mild hydraulic flat tappet cam and those heads have more or less stock length valves in them,then the 9.350" pushrods are waaayyy too long IMHO,and understand that situation can inturn cause other problems like running outta rocker slot travel and binding up the valvetrain leading to broken stuff like rocker studs and such.

So,you really gotta understand that there is more to proper rocker geometry than that pattern that's left on the tip of the valve.

To me,that pattern indeed suggests the pushrods are too long.

I've seen that happen a lot when a given fellow is checking the pushrod length with an adjustable PR,full valve spring pressure,and a functional hydraulic lifter,instead of using a true solid "checking" lifter that does'nt compress @ all.

Yeah it's a nice narrow pattern,but you gotta shoot for the best balance of width and centering on the tip to get the correct PR length,all while keeping an eye on other things like rocker slot clearance on the stud,and rocker to retainer clearance and such.

FWIW

Bret P.