awhile back I was talking about replacing my pushrods and someone told me to go with the 1968 pushrods instead of the 67 for my 383 due to a design change. can anyone verify that this was correct and that they will still fit with the stock 67 rockers? I found them both online and the 68 is actually way cheaper than the 67, but i dont want to install the wrong parts and damage something. They seem to be different OAL. 8.645" vs 8.575
Your 67 pushrods have a small end at the lifters. You cannot use 1968 and newer pushrods with those lifters. I have used 67 pushrods that are fine if you are looking for some. The rockers arm end is the same size. I don’t know why they did that, I drag raced a 440 with the small end pushrods and never had any problems.
I see...now that I look, the rockers are the same part number but the lifters arent. thank you for educating me on that. I know mine were bent at some point...not much, but enough the previous owner felt the need to straighten them from sticking lifters...I was told to replace them. I dont know if I truly need to or not.
I would think it would be a good idea to replace them. How did they bend? Usually from high rpm and the valves hitting pistons, or sticking valve guides. Well a 3832bbl shouldn’t have the valves hitting pistons because of the low compression and small cam profile. Also a 100,000 miles engine shouldn’t have sticking valve guides.
He said it was from the engine sitting for 30 yrs and the sludge caused them to bend some...I have no idea how bad, the car runs well enough I doubt they were damaged much...just enough that they wouldnt slide smooth from my understanding. I think from sticking valves. actually now that I think about it im sure he said from sticking valves.
Yes when they bend, then they are prone to bend again, and how straight are they! They may be OK. If he never told you you might never know what had happened. But I’d want to swap them out.
so what are you looking to get for them? Im planning on repainting the engine which mean removing the intake and gasket so i will already be in there.
I bet the PO started the engine with shiddy gas still in the tank. Caused the valve stems to varnish up and stick, which caused the push rods to bind and bend.