Need a set of pushrods for a 360 LA motor (408 strip only doesn't see over 6500rpm). Has a .571 solid flat tappet cam and eddy heads. I see proform has a set that are .065 thick wall, is that thick enough or should I go with something thicker?

Mike at B3 racing wants .080" & hardened if using guide plates (not sure if you need .080 with your paticular cam/springs or not, just a heads up). Scott foxwell at straub technologies has a utube vid on geometry & getting the right pushrod length which multiple people/shops say is dead on correct (90 deg rocker/valve angle at midlift of your particular cam choice for the rocker height) & with that set, it then sets the "distance" for pushrod length needed for YOUR INDIVIDUAL app. EDIT on the pushrod length, add .020 or so what you prefer for preload for hyd or subtract what your cold lash is for solids.

I would not use Proform. I used them in a hydraulic flat tappet small block and 6 of the ends came off. Buy a quality pushrod.

Smith Brothers will make you some, and not break the bank.

www.pushrods.net

I recommend Trend

i just ordered a set of Smith Bros pushrods for me 360'' W2 engine. 580 lift solid cam. great guys to deal with

If you look at reputable pushrod companies, .065 is plenty (however .080 is more common). Not sure if pro comp would be considered reputable though.

Over the years I have bought PRs from multiple
places.. SB are the highest price and Trend cones
in second.. but Trend was about $40 less.. I also
bought from another local place.. OE pushrods..
they dont offer all the different wall thickness
but are WAY cheaper.. they build for multiple
big companies.. my last set I got from them was
for my W-9.. payed $110 for 20 pieces and 3/8
ball and ball they will make all the different
lengths

Trend or Smith Bros, 0.080" as a minimum thickness

I assume you're using the largest diameter that will fit?

If he's wise he will. The stiffer the pushrod the better.
Stiffness increases as the cube of the diameter increase, IIRC.
R.

Trend in this motor but I have used both with great results. BGR also makes them in house.

My brother has used Smith Bros for many years. The set in my eng is from Manton and they were great to deal with and have a first class pushrod. Ron

If possible ($$) ask the good mfg. what taper they recco - they need your exact block, head, lobe height, and rocker arm + ratio.
Do it once, and it will never bother you again.

I use Smith Bros. or Manton...both have great service and a great product.

Race engine part selection should be like selecting a brain surgeon, do you really want to use the cheapest ones you can find
AKA aside buy the best parts for the application, on pushrods buy better than you need now one time instead of buying better ones later when you decide to make more power
There is HP gained, not lost, in using the best pushrods you can get to start with

There is basically no down side to going to as thick as possible on pushrod wall thickness, .083 is about the minimum. I was reading a good article recently about how when the Spintron machine came along, they learned some amazing things about pushrod deflection, even some of the .083 3/8 pushrods in street type engines were deflecting far more than they realized and were losing up to .027 in lift. I have run Trend, Manton and just got in some Smith Bros. The next set will be the .120's.

Ive run Crane 3/8 alloys in my 440 for decades.First set was for hyd cam.Had to change them when I went solids.This set has been in at least 30 years.Rocky

As long as it's steel, the material selection doesn't affect the stiffness of the rod. That's because the Modulus of Elasticity for all types of steel is pretty much the same, 28 - 30 Mpsi.

Where the material choice comes into play is whether the pushrod stays bent after it flexes or springs back to original shape. Low strength materials are easier to permanently deform than high strength materials, speaking only of steel varieties.

R.