double check my process

[woodsnake]

I am working on my 69 Cougar, with a 361W. I got started on it last October/November, before I moved everything to Colorado. The basic build is a .030 over, .010 over under with a retrofitted roller cam. Trick Flow 170 heads, (I know now, not big enough) and a 670 Holley street avenger. The rear gears are a 3.89 behind a T5. The cam specs out at .513/.513.

http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=894&sb=2

The last thing I need for my engine internally, is a set of push rods. I measured today.... 8.137 inch length. Seems like a lot to me, but Trick Flow said in their instructions that came with my heads that longer than stock PR's are required.

I guess my question is, does it matter where in the firing order you start with the measuring process? I installed the light weight springs, and made a few rotations. Came back to it and did it again today, with a solid converted roller lifter. PERFECT center of the valve stem, narrow sweep.

I have three extra sets of push rods around, I had hoped that one of them would be long enough, but nope! I see that I can get these:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/man-25811-8/overview/

For under a hundred, and then plus shipping.

Do you see anything here that I may have done procedurally that is flawed? After my last go round with PR measurements, I just want to double check my method here.

 

[TommyK]

I am working on my 69 Cougar, with a 361W. I got started on it last October/November, before I moved everything to Colorado. The basic build is a .030 over, .010 over under with a retrofitted roller cam. Trick Flow 170 heads, (I know now, not big enough) and a 670 Holley street avenger. The rear gears are a 3.89 behind a T5. The cam specs out at .513/.513.

http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=894&sb=2

The last thing I need for my engine internally, is a set of push rods. I measured today.... 8.137 inch length. Seems like a lot to me, but Trick Flow said in their instructions that came with my heads that longer than stock PR's are required.

I guess my question is, does it matter where in the firing order you start with the measuring process? I installed the light weight springs, and made a few rotations. Came back to it and did it again today, with a solid converted roller lifter. PERFECT center of the valve stem, narrow sweep.

I have three extra sets of push rods around, I had hoped that one of them would be long enough, but nope! I see that I can get these:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/man-25811-8/overview/

For under a hundred, and then plus shipping.

Do you see anything here that I may have done procedurally that is flawed? After my last go round with PR measurements, I just want to double check my method here.

I have only done this a couple times so I am not speaking from a wealth of experience however your process seems fine to me. I'm not sure I understand your question regarding "where in the firing order you start with the measuring process?" Did you possibly mean where in the combustion cycle? Did you do every intake and exhaust valve? I only did one intake and one exhaust on each side.

The only caveat I would offer is to question the notion that the be all and end all of proper valve train geometry is the centering of the rocker tip sweep on the valve stem. My understanding is that proper valvetrain geometry results from a balance of rocker tip location, sweep and most importantly the relationship of the angle of the pushrod to the centerline of the rocker as well as the valve stem. In other words proper VT geometry ends up being the best compromise between all the variables and that the location of the rocker tip can vary off center either inboard or outboard as long as the tip does not get any closer than .020 to the edge of the valve stem. Here is an article that really light the old light bulb for me as far as furthering my understanding of the complicated subject of VT geometry. Of course both the engines I set up where of the canted valve variety so the windsor may be some what easier.

http://www.circletrack.com/techarticles/ctrp_0611_rocker_arm_valvetrain_geometry/viewall.html

 

[woodsnake]

I don't know where I was at in the firing order, I.E., #3 next, or #8.

I guess it shouldn't matter, as the wear pattern would be the same either way. The pattern looks perfect, I am going to get a picture of it in a few minutes to post.

 

[woodsnake]

You can see if you look, but the pattern is just dead nuts on here..