I have never had a stock OEM pump or a Holley or after market Hi Po Carter pump have any clearances between the pump arm and the pushrod, NEVER. They where all preloaded some shruggy
I make it SOP to rotate the motor over on the starter with the pump out and the plug out and use a small thin screw driver to push on the pump rod while bumping the starter over to find the closed position on the cam fuel pump lobe and then finish the pump install by putting grease on the pushrod to hold it in place and put the plug back in before installing the pump scope IHTHs
I do have several stock OEM pushrods as well as some new D.C. Mopar Hi Po pushrods, the new ones aren't worth using down The ends are real course finish, not like the stock ones at all shruggy

Last edited by Cab_Burge; 10/20/16 02:31 PM.
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)