Thanks for all the great content Richard, these are very helpful door answering questions I get from customers at the machine shop.

So many people need this info, and have no clue they need it or why they need it or why length may change... Well described for laymen.

Some of the comments are truly amazing. Thank you Richard. You're a life saver.

I am currently rebuilding my L92 and you are helping me a lot. I wish you all the best.

I love these videos. Sometimes back to basics is great to watch

I used the old comp cam video with you in it from years ago. Thanks for the videos.

Good tips in every video You’re the LS 👑

Love your content, always learn something despite doing this for decades! Keep up the good work

Thank you so much Mr. Holdener. I've spent all day read and watching videos trying to figure this out. Everyone just says tighten till snug and don't explain further. I work construction installing up to 300 pound glass by hand so my grip makes "snug" different. Your video made it so much easier and clear. Wish I would have seen it this morning instead of 9pm. Lol

Great content as always Richard! I learned something

Thanks Richard! Very informative and needed!

Excellent video! straight forward and don't need an adjustable pushrod.

this is a great video. I don't see many on pushrod length

Excellent video Richard

Man! I needed this video for my Hemi build! Thank you

all the other videos i seen on this topic sucked very well explained sir thank you

I actually needed this. Been building up an LR4 as my COVID project, and I'm nearly at the stage for doing this. Thanks Richard.

I use the two finger method as well 💪🏻 works very well

cool, video richard. Never seen it done like that before

thanks man. im from uk and im leasrnign this as i want to venture into the V8 worls and i always wondered about pushrod legnths

Your a life saver fam thanks 👍🎉

I've used this method countless times

Great information!!

I think it would be helpful to explain what the spec should be and how to figure out what size pushrod you actually need

Great tutorial

That’s the way I’ve always done it. I have an adjustable push rod to measure and I’ve done both ways and get the same measurement.

good demo doing this now

Great content

I use a length checker and go 1 ¼ turns and order that length from the checker pushrod. IMO stay away from the short travel lifters. They're noisy and you don't need them to go to 8k rpm.

Fantastic....thank you for doing this video..you explain things well and at the perfect pace..so the guy who put 14 -7.5 pushrods in my ls and 2 - 7.4 under the other 2 rockers is wrong...had a brand new cam put in..a good one! And he says cam is different so it's ok to use 14 of one and 2 of other..I just had a bad feeling all the way home....I asked a few guys and they all scratched there heads..i now have to bring engine to machine shop because it just can't be right like this..If anyone knows,you do...thanks

Thanks Richard..!!!

Richard you are gifted with boost

Think i may have given you a little inspiration for this vid on a live stream lol, cheers!

Thanks for this great video. My ls swap wont start and I think the push rods are too long, will be following your step by step procedures and will see how it does. 👍👍

I watched the entire video. I heard you talk about a safety range for preload. But I did not hear what the safety range actually is for the number of turns.

Hi Richard, love your work. However, throughout the video, I see that the rocker pedestal (Tray) is upside down. Should it not be the right way up (with the writing not upside down) or doesn't matter?

Not dealing with this style rocker yet, mine is still apart, this video made it ridiculously easy to check them. Add in a felt tip sharpie to double check contact and I should be golden.

Thanks once again

Pretty cool.

Hello Richard! Love your content great information. Currently putting together an early 6.0 with 317 heads. Going with the sloppy stage 3 kit from speedway and nobody can seem to give me even an estimate on what pushrods to order. I’m changing the cam without removing the heads so factory lifters an so on. It’s a very low mileage motor so hoping the lifters will survive. I figured if anyone could give me their recommendations and estimate on what length to go with it would be you. I intend to test them like you did here but I’d hate to have to order 3 different sets just to make sure I have the correct ones on hand lol

This was making me frustrated! Thank you! 👍🏽

Is less than a 1/4 turn not enough???? My engine seems to lack power (in my opinion) and was wondering if maybe the valves arent open "far enough". Thanks Richard!!

I have an L99 camaro just got a cam kit ss1 vvt done by gpi, ill be doing install.. head gasket is .040 and pushrods are 7.400 would that be any issues? Is it because the cam lobes are shorter? it should be fine

Thanks dad!

Do more ls nos builds

16 camaro ss stock cam stock rockers only thing changed out was the trunions (CHE) why my stock fitment change? Need help alot of chatter on idle should I go with a shorter or longer pushrods. pushrod stock length is 7.850 should I go to 7.825 lmk thank you

Removing spark plugs, turning motor over to close each valve to loosen the bolts....ain’t nobody got time for that. In the hundreds of times I’ve removed rockers, I’ve never done that and never had threads pull out. I never even considered that. But now I know it, the next time I loosen rockers, it’s gonna pull the threads out. Thanks Richard. Ignorance WAS BLISS. lololololol

It's like he knows what questions I will have...🤔

Just finshed see your video, hear is an improvment to your meathod. The only differance is that you figure out the thread pich. Then after you set the zero lash. you mark with a paint marker one of the hex sides of the bolt. and a paint mark on the cyl. head. now you start counting number of full turns. remove wrench and then count # of flats of the bolt past the one turn mark. Hears the math part since the LS is a modern eng. we know the thread pitch is metric. If the therad pich is 1.5mm then every turn equals a length of 1.5 mm, also each flat past the full turn equals 1/6 of a turn. using 1.5 mm per turn ÷ 1/6 = [ 1.5 ÷ 6 ] = 0.25 mm per flat. With your meathod and some math you can get a very close to acurate measurement. Your fan always...

Hey richard love all your videos.. i have a question on rocker ratio..i run a spec class l/s engine 6.2..can i change to a L/S 7 rocker on the intake side 1.8 ratio can i expect to pick up any power ?? IF so how much appox..

It so simple!🙂

Been doing it like this for years...never had a problem

Great explanation! I see how this works with no special tools, but it looks like it would work even better in concert with an adjustable pushrod, what do you think? Thanks!

Did I miss where you said how much each turn equals length I’m only getting a 1/4 turn on a factory rebuild but probably close to .020 decked between heads and block deck

Video is good to check if you have the wrong size.

This is how I've always measured pushrod length. It's way easier than using the "tool" and trying to get it right. I've used the tool and cost myself a fortune buying different sizes because I was wrong on the length at 100 bucks a pop.

Also, I'm trying to figure out my pushrods. -2005 lq4 Decked heads(not much came off -Ls9 flat top pistons -tsp stage 2 low lift truck cam(112 LSA) -high performance .550 lift springs -ls7 style lifter -stock rocker arms but upgraded to trunions -brian tooley 7.4 in length pushrods. Worried that with the head work, the pushrods might be too long. I see on the head that some was shaved off but only a couple spots so I can't imagine it being much? What do you think?

Greetings from South America. Richard.. I would like see a Test with BTR Cams, like Stage 1, Stage 2, Truck Norris and "Torque Cam". In my Country, there are lots and lots of Trucks. It would be an incredible Test. Thanks again.

Another awesome vid Professor! How do you translate, let's say.....2.5 turns to bottom out rocker, and ordering the correct pushrod? Wanting to change 2.5 turns to 1.5 turns equals what length change?

I always enjoy your tech . Not apples to apples but on my Harleys one is a SS 124 the other is a SS 143 and both have some work done to them . I use limiters in the lifters , I wondered if running a bit longer push rod might do that . I have heard that you can used solid lifter roller on hydraulic roller lifter on some high end builds not that I ever had one lol and set the lash pretty close and quiet. I like running solid lifters as I use to try to tune the engine a bit by the lash

Question for you i put my motor together and had a noisy valve train in the car dynoed at 320 whp, after doing some digging i had about .160 preload and with your method about 1 1/4 turns. The truck ran pretty good just seemed noisy. I put new pushrods in and my preload is closer to .80 about half a turn with your method. Does this seem about right? Also Do you think it was floating the valves before and have i gained any power?

If you knew the thread pitch and the rocker ratio you could actually calculate what the length value is from the turns.

Is there a chart for what pushrod lenghts would work if you were spec'ing an engine to build but dont actually have yet? Or is this a find out as you assemble type of part?

Zero lash and fingertip tight with a nut driver seem to be two very different settings for me. Once I feel like I have zero lash(lifter, pushrod, rocker, and valve tip all touching) I can still turn the bolt another half turn- full turn, just barely using my two finger tips and the nut driver. 🤷🏻‍♂️

So am i getting from this to buy a pushrod length set thats longer and shorter then my stock set and see which one turns less seems like a pushrod length checker would be much easier to use

Check out 187 customs video on ls pushrod length. I think both ways are good options.

I have a 2002 4.8 that I have an ls9 cam in it, I’m going to do this measuring method after I get the lift errs pumped up. Does it matter what kind of pushrods you use?

I recently put my LS LQ4 together with 7.4 p.rods and I only get 3/8 turn to tight. Would dry lifters and fresh engine build cause it to be loose until engine gets some heat in it? Or do I need a 7.425 set of push rods?

Hey Richard, gotta 6.0 ls build. Almost done. Put the 243 heads on it shaved .008 to clean them up. Put a stock pushrod in for test and got a solid turn and 1/8th of a turn. So figured stock size was good. Ordered 11/32 thick 7.4 long btr pushrods and I get one full turn and 1/2 turns. But it compresses the spring jist ever so slightly? Best to send it back and get 7.350? Or is that slight spring compression normal

So would push rods being a little to long cause a lifter tick also? I just did a cam in my car and went up to 7.425 since i was told the base circle was smaller but now i have a lifter tick. Its not bad but can hear it in the cab when the radio and ac is off.

Hello. im trying this myself and having some issues. 99 ls1 ls7 lifters, texas speed ls roller rockers. question is , when i snug it for 0 lash and start counting turns to seat it and i am definitely on the backside of the cam and i see the valve spring compressing does that mean the pushrod is too long?

doing heads cam on my ls7. heads are milled .025 with a bar stage 4 v2 cam. 7.800 is the stock length and the length of the hardened pushrods BTR sent with the kit. Seems like I have about 3/4 to a full turn from 0 lash to tight. can the piston touch the valves with too long of a pushrod? thanks!

How would you determine the number of turns you need if you were using lifters that were not stock LS lifters? What if it is a Morel lifter that recommends 0.060 preload? Clear as mud.

What if I'm using johnson 2110 lifters. I know people set the preload to 35 +/-10 I'm guessing I don't use the same "safety range"? So I'm confused about the preload and length of the pushrods with these lifters.

So, with OEM Rail, OEM Rockers & OEM Fasteners (OEM thread pitch) on OEM Heads on OEM Deck Height.... *From Zero Lash, 1 'turn' of Lash = (roughly) 1/10 of an inch ?* _(2 1/4 turns on the 7.5" vs. 1 1/4 turns on the 7.4")._ How many actual turns does the +/- include for the 'Safe Zone' ? You mentioned 'Safe Lengths' from 7.35 to 7.45 _(for this combo),_ so if 1 turn = 1/10, 1/2 turn should be roughly 5/100 ? Would this mean that the +/- range would be 2 1/4 turns (7.4) *+/- 1/2 turn* ? So *1 3/4 turn--to--2 3/4 Turns = Safe Range* ? (+ 1/2 turn for 7.35, - 1/2 turn for 7.45 ?).

What Rod length should I use on a 454 a 6.135 or 6.385 rod with correct piston for each Rod to keep my compression ratio at 10:00 to 1:00 it will be a street and strip driven big block roughly 500 plus horse roughly 550 on the torque would there be any advantage for me to run a longer rod? Maybe you guys could do a segment or show same engine same compression ratio different Rod length and see the difference it makes and how the engine performs

HEY DUDE, if im gonna do a cam swap and need to change my springs anyways, how much mor cost am i looking at if i get my heads milled enough to jump compression .5 to maybe even 1.0 more compression SO like goin from 9.5 % on stock LM7 to 10 .5 whata is a typical head milling like this cost? so i dont get rookie ripped off .... is pushrod length only thing to worry about goin from 9.5 to 10.5 compression? is that doable on87octane or am i lokking at 92 octane?

In your older video you said 7.5" pushrods made the most power. Here you say it is outside of the "safe" rage of 1/2 to 1-1/2 turns. What do we do?

what is the safe zone? My engine doesnt start after installing a stage 3 turbo summit racing cam and I have about 1 and 3/4 of a turn to get the bolt tight. Stock ls3 heads, stock pushrod length, stock rocker arms and stock lifters

Would be cool if u did a dyno of stock heads with the rocker boss ported out.

This is not correct. Counting turns is correct but you have to add in the additional movement of getting the rocker to 22 ft/lb. On an ls7 or oem lifter you want 90 thou preload. Which if pushrod length is correct it'll be 1.5-1.75 turns when it torques to 22ft/lb. On a Johnson it'll be roughly 1 to 1.25 till it torques down. You will not have such a massive swing in pushrod length as deemed acceptable in this.

Zero lash is taking out the up and down of the push rod correct? What about the turning of push rod ? At what force of trying to turn the push rod is to much ?

Here's an idea for a video (I didn't see one in your library). Mild-moderate LS cam, LS6 or similar valve springs with stock and then hardened pushrods. Is there any difference below 5500-6000 rpm?

So you no longer use the factory torque spec you just stop when the rocker bottoms out and it’s set? Between.5 and 1.5 turns

@richard Holdener when doing this procedure on a new engine with new lifters, would you soak the lifters/pump them up by hand prior to doing this turn method?

Good evening works with sbf stock rockers also.

I ordered 7.4’s to go with my BTR Stage 4 v1 truck cam bc everyone said that the stock pushrod length was fine. I then ordered ls7 lifters bc I read they were a better design but now after using this method to check pushrod length I’m getting 1 5/8 to 1 3/4 turns. Should I go with a 7.35 instead? I did not realize that the ls7 lifters cup sets up higher until after I bought them

I have a question 🙋‍♂️. I have new LS3 crate 6.0. I bought a new cam/springs set. 624/.624 lift pretty much Max lift for valve piston clearance. I have a set of comp cam pro mag roller rockers 1.8. Knowing the 1.8 will give me more lift. How do I compensate the pushrod to give me the same lift as a 1.7. Roller rocker.

I just installed new lifters and factory length push rods. Is this method still accurate, or do lifters need to be pressurized first?

Today I ran a test on the pushrod checker at 7.450 I get half a turn on the preload on 7.475 I get 3/4 of a turn and at 7.5 I get one full turn a preload what pushrod to go with???

So TSP stage 2 truck cam, standard lifters, 7.400 push rods. I get 1.5 turns, is that too long?

Love u Richard

richard would too long pushrods also cause a pac 1218 spring to break? its an elgin ss2 cam with summit lifters and stock pushrods

BTR stage 2 cam, LS7 lifters with 7.4” pushrods and my valvetrain is noisey! Do I need longer pushrods? HELP!!!

Hey brother i got a question what size push rods would i need if i put on a set of 205 trick flow heads and a btr stage 4 cam on a 4.8

Hey Richard need help. I have a 5 3 with Bryan tooley stage 2 torque cam morel ls7 lifters ls9 head gaskets. This may sound like a dumb question. When I first check the pushrod length I get 1 1/8 turn after zero lash. Then I cycle the engine and recheck it changes I have less turns after zero lash. As of now I got a 1/8 of turn. So am I suppose to rotate the motor are the lifters bleeding out the oil and thats why I am getting differant measurements. Hope this make sense.

How much does that extra 360° turn equate to pushrod length? [eg: when ordering shorter pushrods]

How did you determine the safe done of turns?

Hey Richard!! I got about 3/4 to 1 turn on most of my rockers, except for 1. I’m getting maybe 1/4 turn… you think that’s normal? Maybe bad threads..?

What is the max vtc for the Skunk2 ultra 1 cams for a stock k20z4?