charlymunozg

Okay here i go, im rebuilding my engine with a lot of changes and it’s the first time i do this kind of job on my own, i have a 302 engine from a 81 mustang, i changed the heads for gt40p and the cam for a 1800 from summit, the point is, i used the same pushrods that the engine had, but the rod have a lot of play even with the rockers full tight, it can even go up and down without leaving the tappet, or the rocker, this were the rods that i had in the engine while it was stock and it worked just fine, so my question is, are the length of the pushrods too short? Is something wrong with the rockers, cam or heads?

Forgot to mention the rockers seems to be the stock of the gt40p heads

this are the specs of the cam: Hydraulic Flat Tappet, Advertised Duration 282/282, lift .498/.498

Thanks for the help with this common issue [img]file:///C:\Users\AMXK9LU\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\0 1\clip_image001.png[/img]

wbrockstar

I believe the early model 302 uses a longer pushrod than the later model 302 HO??
The pr on the 86-95 Mustang/95-01 Explorer was 6.250-6.272 If you used the pr off the Explorer 302 gt40p engine and used it with the early model 302,that would explain why the pr is too short.I think the lifters were shorter in the early 302's compared to the later 302 roller motors??Most guys also replace/upgrade the oem valvesprings on the gt40p heads if the cam has more than .440" of lift
How long are the pushrods you're using??

charlymunozg

Hello wbrockstar, the pushrods that I'm using are the one from the engine that I used as base (flat lifters) , the push rods are 6.812, I also changed the springs that was for sure using gt40p heads, I just bought a single pushrod that my local shop says is the stock for my engine and it's like 3 mm bigger than the ones that I had, and this reduces a lot the play but still have a little movement up and down. Now a good question, should there be any movement at all in the pushrods? Or what is the correct number that I'm searching for? I know the correct way is a pushrod length checker but where I live can't get one and is kinda expensive to import it from summit or some store like that

mjr46

I assume you are not fuel injected? if so you'll be fine cam wise.....if you are fuel injected.....and that cam doesn't carry the h/o firing order...it won't work for sefi

charlymunozg

That's right it's a carburated 302 so it should be fine?

mjr46

you're fine then