Different heights. It has to be the valve seats, different for intake exhaust, and/or the valve/seat combo. Intake and exh take diff. seats and valves, so, the diff combo rides/sits differently.

I hate to quote Sherlock Holmes, but: "When you've eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

 

That's a good quote.

I'll lay a straight edge across the valve stems when I get home. Otherwise, that has to be it. I can't think of much else.

 

Okay, so, here's where I'm at.

I started thinking about the pushrod checking writeups I'd read and every one of them said to use a "dry erase marker" on the valve stem tips. I'd been using a regular permanent marker I had at home.

Permanent marker smudges and smears when it's wet and then doesn't come off when it's dry. (I had to use a dab of cleaner to remove it off the valve). So, I got a dry erase marker and repeated my tests.

This is with the regular 10.08" undersized push rod.



I tested it several times. Pretty dead center.

A few of the others were a little off one way or another, but most were very right down the middle. I think the marker simply may have been my issue.

Can also see the rocker resting to the right of center when it's closed.



And to the left of center when open.



I did lay a straight edge across the top of the valve stems and the exhausts did seem to sit a tad lower than the intakes, you may have been right about that!

My machinist also said that stamped rockers aren't exactly the most precise either. He's found 1.6 rockers to vary anywhere between 1.58 and 1.62, just due to tolerances. He said on one race build, they went through over ten full sets of rocker arms before they got a full set that gave each valve the exact same amount of lift.

I'm not making a race motor, and I don't really feel like doing that.
The 10.08" push rods are also all quite close enough, so I think I'm going to go with them. Otherwise, I'm probably looking at a different length pushrod for every valve, but I just don't have the budget for that.

 

Lay a straight edge across the tips of all the valves to see if the intakes and exhausts are all the same height. Differences in valve seats after a valve job can affect the stem heights, especially if larger valves were installed.

 

The straight edge certainly didn't touch all of them, so the heights definitely vary.


It's good to double check your work. Looks like I'm going to need some custom pushrods. I'll be able to use the "stock" undersized pushrods of 10.080" for 7 of the valves. The majority of the rest liked a 10.000" rod. And one liked a 9.900" (although was "acceptable" with a 10.000")

Front of Engine

Cyl 1

Intake: 10.080"
Exhaust: 10.080"

Cyl 2

Intake: 10.080"
Exhaust: 10.080"

Cyl 3

Intake: 10.000"
Exhaust: 10.000"

Cyl 4

Intake: 10.080"
Exhaust: 10.000"

Cyl 5

Intake: 10.080"
Exhaust: 10.000"

Cyl 6

Intake: 10.080"
Exhaust: 9.900"

Back of Engine

Does anyone happen to know another engine that uses 10" pushrods that would fit?

 

So, I'm looking at these:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/c...2-12/overview/

They look like they'd fit just fine and can be had in a 2 pack, like here:

Crane Cams 20622-2: PUSHROD HEAT TREAT PKG/2 | JEGS


However, their website and a few others say they are to be "used with aluminum rocker arms".

Does this mean only? Or does this mean that they can be used with aluminum rocker arms and are okay with steel ones?

Thanks.

 

Well, I think I'm going to go with FTF's suggestion and call up Trend Performance. I was hoping to get something locally so I could at least TRY it. Sometimes, the actual measurements differ slightly from how they cut them, so real world tests beat everything else.

But, they keep lots of different lengths in stock, and they're decently priced.

Push Rods - Stocking Push Rods

Their catalog says $6.16 a pushrod. Then another dollar for 210° clearance, which I think our push rods have stock, so $7.16ea.

Either way, I'll get two 9.900" rods (1 spare) and five 10.000" rods (1 spare) for about $50 plus shipping.

 

On a side note, I looked closer on the NOS boxes that the rocker arms I got came in.
They're made by Wolverine Blue Racer, which is (was?) owned by Crane Cams. The name Crane Technologies Group is on the box, too.

 

Well, hopefully the 5th time's a charm.

Received my second Remflex gasket and it was the same thing as the first one. Box was too short, so they made a cap out of another box and shoved it on, which bent the gasket, damaging it. I've spoken directly to Amazon about it, and they said they'll address it before shipping another one.
So... guess we'll see!

In other news, my push rods showed up today. At least those are right! I'll dive in tomorrow and start putting it all together.

 

And when it rains, it pours!

I opened up my lifters to install them tonight and after placing them in their bores, I noticed that some of them were sloppy and loose, while others were nice and snug.

Upon further inspection, I have 5 correct 0.875" lifters and 7 incorrect 0.842" lifters!!
The Chevy 292 uses the 0.842" so I'm guessing whoever put the rebuild kit together pick and mixed them.

How frustrating...

I'm just darn glad I noticed. If I hadn't noticed and fired up an engine with lifters that were a little loose in the bores, the cam would have probably been trashed within five minutes.

 

Glad you caught that when you did.

You aren't having much luck with parts are you? Just keep at it and you'll get it done.

See if you would have just ordered 3 sets of lifters you'd be all set to go!

 

I'm sure not! I'm on my 5th manifold gasket, and now the lifters!

Oh well, I'm just glad that caught it. And when it's all said and done, it'll all be a distant memory.

I called my machinist this morning and he said he'll get another set on the way immediately and they should be there tomorrow. I'll bring the other box back and we'll go through them and get 12 correct ones.

 

Ouch! That doesn't build confidence in the supplier. Your experience reminds me to never rush through any mechanical work. Thanks for sharing.

 

No, it really hurt my confidence in them. Granted, it's probably just some guy back in the stock room that wanted to hurry up and get to his lunch, but still.

And K, you especially know how gun-shy I already am about lifters and cams....

 

Yes, I remember. Unfortunately, lessons with engines come at a dear price. I mean dear not just in the monetary sense.

I too got a lesson: always always always have a crank polished after being ground down. I was new to engine work and had no idea. But I got a quick $1,200 lesson.

I'm glad you caught the mismatch. We're all waiting to hear the beasty engine roar.