INTERNAL ENGINE MODIFICATIONS Valvetrain |Heads | Strokers | Design | Assembly

The lifter preload game

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Old 07-18-2015, 04:01 PM
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Default The lifter preload game

Okay so my current pushrods (7.4) leave me at a .068 preload, according to my math and the adjustable pushrod measuring tool.

Should I swap these out for 7.425 to get extra preload and come to a .093?

I already have posted the 7.4's in the classifieds.. but I figure I should ask before pulling them out.

Also I have my rockers torqued to 25 ft lbs, instead of the 22 ft lbs that is spec, because my torque wrench doesn't go that low, is this terrible?
Old 07-18-2015, 05:37 PM
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.068 is perfect, leave it be.

Also, you're playing a very dangerous game using that torque wrench on the rockers. Torque wrench is inaccurate at it's extremes of range and you might be putting more torque to it than 25. Those rocker bolts can strip or break pretty easily.
Old 07-18-2015, 06:50 PM
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in reality the wrench goes as low as 20 but I was considering that it must be inconsistent so I turned it to 25 figuring by then it should be atleast a exact measurement. in retrospect this may have been a poor decision.
Old 07-18-2015, 10:15 PM
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somebody tell me it's fine so I don't tear off the valve covers tomorrow and redo it.
Old 07-18-2015, 10:22 PM
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If it was me, I would loosen them up and torque to spec.
Old 07-18-2015, 10:53 PM
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get a smaller tq wrench. I have 2, a small one for 20-25lbs and a big one. The small one is a 3/8 drive, the big one is a 1/2 drive...
Old 07-18-2015, 11:14 PM
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Am I the only one that uses the German torque wrench on the rockers and never had a problem...
Old 07-19-2015, 04:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Atomic
Am I the only one that uses the German torque wrench on the rockers and never had a problem...
Das-Good-N-Tight ???

I think I have about 7 torque wrenches for various torque ranges. If there is ever a question on torque value, I send them out for a rebuild.


FWI, Always back the torque value off when you're finished using a torque wrench. By turning it up to the MAX value, you are collapsing the spring inside. Leaving it like that for long periods of time will weaken the spring and throw off the torque values.

9 out of 10 of my customers wind them all the way up and can't seem to grasp this concept. When I come in to inspect their equipment, I usually have to explain it over again. Yet they never listen or follow my recommendation.
Old 07-19-2015, 06:54 AM
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I am religious about back off the spring after every use. So I hope my wrenches are close to correctly calibrated.

So is the consensus that I should redo it? Or should I just leave them?
Old 07-19-2015, 04:09 PM
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I went back and redid them. 22 ft lbs with loc tite.

And I'm just gonna leave those pushrods in.


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