jbates

hi everybody I have a 87 salon with 85 front end a 68 350 in it. block numbers 395558 2 and head numbs 397742 5. I ordered pushrods 8.234" and too short. the old is 8.375 or 8 3/8" where can I get these and cheap. the prices I see are 100 something or am I wrong with this or maybe the liftrs are collaspt

Octania

Maybe the rockers and pivots are all worn out, which is more common in my experience.

Look at the contact/ wear points
Lots of USED pushrods are around.
All vehicles run on used parts.

don71

Maybe your engine has had some work done to it. Heads shaved,deck etc. This plays along with worn parts.

A typical lifter has compensation for .060. Doing the math your pushrods have a difference of 0.141. Thats more than twice the length a typical lifter can compensate for.

You need a checking push rod. Its adjustable. You measure it. You need one, two actually.

This is one of the last things you measure for when building a new(old) engine.

A hundred dollars is not out of the ball park for new push rods.

oldcutlass

Welcome to the site. Whats wrong with the ones that were on there?

don71

I just looked in an old catalog. It suggests 8.250. for small olds. Depends on whats been done to it.

Thats a starting point.

Welcome and good luck with the project.

jbates

hey thanks for the replys. you are right . I guess I need to quit being in a hurry . I have all winter too and no cash, just take it easy. thanks again.

jbates

I was just thinking if the heads were shaved woudnt the push rods be shorter.....

jbates

oh the lifters are tapping. the ones that are on there are all different sizes like their worn out so I thought I need new ones. my friend says it might be collaps lifters. but I still cant find the 8.3/8" sizes cheap any way.some are off 1/16th to 1/8" thanks for the help