I have installed a Hughes Whiplash cam in my 440. Also had 0.50 taken off of my 402 heads and went from a .40 to .20 head gasket. Advice from the guys here on the forum was to check my pushrod length. Can anyone tell me the process for doing this? I have stock, non-adjustable stamped 1.5 rockers and hyd lifters. I also made up a homemade dummy pushrod with adjustable length to measure. I need to know how to measure and what to look for so I can either reuse my pushrods or order different. Thanks!

Gonna bump this hope try to get this done today

the best method is get an adjustable pushrod and set it with 0 lash. Then measure what lenght comes to. According with the rest of engine specs mostly sure will require some preload ( I have heard around 0.020 )

I also made my own adjustable pushrods with two looooong bolts an a threated sleeve LOL. Just went to be sure the cam lobes where pointing down and installed the dummie pusrods.

NOW easier is, get shortened from pushrods same what you modified on your engine

It looks if you cut 0.050" from your engine geometry on heads, then get that shortened on new pushrods. The gasket thickness can be the preload for the valvetrain. Thats why they are hydraulic. They self adjust

just an opinion, I'm not an expert

I'd like to go through and measure to make sure. I also have a mag base dial indicator set up on the retainer---just don't know really what to look for in order to get the correct length. First timer here

Bump.....want to order pushrods tomorrow

With hydraulic lifters what you want to do is get the cam lobe on the base circle and then adjust your pushrod to zero play but not enough to push the pushrod down in the lifter. After zero play adjust the pushrod to pushdown into the lifter about .030 thoushands. That would be the lenth you can use with stock nonadjustable rockers. Ron.

What Ron said. move the pushrod up & down slightly to get to zero rather than spinning it then take it out and expand it out .030" further & compare the length to your current pushrods. Then if new pushrods are needed send it in

Before I read my replies I was talking to Hughes Engines this morning {where I am gonna order teh pushrods} and they were telling me to set up a dummy lifter to simulate 085" preload and then adjust my pushrod to get maximum valve lift measured off the retainer. Does this seem correct?
I made up a lifter with an adjustable bolt and nut

I know that Dave Hughes has forgotten more tech than I will ever know