(Image/Wayne Scraba)

In most cases, the pushrods in your engine drop into a guide plate of some sort in the cylinder head, with the lower end fitting directly into the cup of the lifter. The top end fits into the matching rocker arm.

It’s a simple install.

On the other hand, if the engine is modified with items such as a small base circle camshaft, non-stock cylinder heads, non-stock rocker arm mounting positions, severely milled deck (or head) surfaces, longer-than-stock valves, changes in pushrod seat height in the lifter, the use of valve lash caps, and other factors, you must establish the correct pushrod length.

Even in a normal situation (where the geometry hasn’t changed due to the factors mentioned above), the tip of the rocker arm tends to sweep across the tip of the valve. If the geometry has changed, and the pushrod length isn’t optimized, the amount of movement the rocker sees across the valve tip is considerable.

In order to properly check the geometry and to establish correct pushrod length, you’ll need a checking pushrod.

There are several available. We have a set from Crane Cams, two from Jesel, and one from Trick Flow Specialties.

The checking process goes like this (and keep in mind this is the CliffsNotes shortened version):

First, color the top of the valve tip with a marker.

Rotate the crank until the lifter is on the base circle of the cam (opposite full lift). Install an adjustable checking pushrod and then adjust the rocker until you reach zero lash.

Roll the rocker tip across the valve tip (according to the folks from Jesel, you should never turn the engine over with a checking pushrod in place — they’re definitely not strong enough to withstand valve spring pressure).

This will provide you with a witness mark on the valve tip. Examine the position of the mark and re-adjust the pushrod length until the witness mark on the valve tip is approximately one-third of the distance toward the intake side from centerline.

This will generate a close approximation of the ideal pushrod length for street engines.

For a race engine, the ideal pushrod length will have the least amount of travel across the valve tip.

As a result, you’ll have to perform more trial and error (shortening or lengthening the adjustable pushrod) until the sweep across the valve tip is minimized. Trick Flow notes that as a general rule, longer pushrods will decrease rocker arm tip travel.

Obviously, to get the job done, you’ll need at least one of the adjustable ‘checking’ pushrods mentioned previously. With the Jesel and Crane Cams checking pushrods, you should measure the final length of the pushrod with a caliper (and in most cases, it will be a long one) to determine the overall length.

On the other hand, the Trick Flow pushrod checking tools do not require a long caliper.

Each of the Trick Flow checkers is marked with a laser-etched alignment line. Each full rotation of the adjustable pushrod represents 0.050-inch.

For example, if you have an 8.800-inch checking pushrod that is fully screwed together and you turn it out one revolution for your setup, then the correct pushrod is 8.850 inches (the standard 8.800-inches + 0.050 = 8.850-inches).

Each of the Trick Flow checkers are manufactured from high-quality steel alloy with a durable black oxide coating for a lifetime worth of pushrod length checks.

They are available in versions with ball tips or cup tips, and in ranges from 5.800 in. to 12.800 inches.

NOTE: If you have a canted valve engine (for example, a big block Chevy), you’ll need two checking pushrods — one for the intake side and one for the exhaust.

As you can see, it’s pretty easy to check and then establish proper pushrod length — especially if you have the right tools in your arsenal. For a closer look, check out the accompanying photos:

Before any rocker can be completely installed, it’s a good idea to check pushrod length. An adjustable pushrod tool is used to determine the length. There are several different good examples out there including (from left to right): Crane Cams, Jesel and Trick Flow Specialties. (Image/Wayne Scraba)
You can buy checking pushrods in different configurations — equipped for ball tips or equipped for cup tips (it obviously depends upon the rocker arm). (Image/Wayne Scraba)
The Jesel and Crane checking pushrods must be measured (for overall length) with a caliper once the length has been established. (Image/Wayne Scraba)
On the other hand, the Trick Flow Specialties checking pushrod comes complete with a laser-etched mark on the body. One complete revolution on the adjustable pushrod increases the length by 0.050-inch. (Image/Wayne Scraba)
(Image/Wayne Scraba)
In order to check rocker geometry (and to determine pushrod length), first coat the valve stem tip with felt marker as shown here. (Image/Wayne Scraba)
With checking pushrod in place (camshaft on the base circle), install a rocker. Next, you can move the rocker from side to side while pushing down. The idea is to produce a witness mark on the top of the valve stem. (Image/Wayne Scraba)
That mark (as pointed out in the text) will tell you where the rocker sweeps across the valve stem tip. Lengthening or shortening the checking pushrod will change the location of the witness mark. Simple as that. (Image/Wayne Scraba)
Author: Wayne Scraba

Wayne Scraba is a diehard car guy and regular contributor to OnAllCylinders. He’s owned his own speed shop, built race cars, street rods, and custom motorcycles, and restored muscle cars. He’s authored five how-to books and written over 4,500 tech articles that have appeared in sixty different high performance automotive, motorcycle and aviation magazines worldwide.