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Pontiac V8 Pushrod Tools
Find the Length Before You Buy — Pushrod Tools for Pontiac V8s
Pushrod tools are how you find out what length rod a Pontiac V8 actually needs instead of guessing. An adjustable length checker screws out until the rocker sweeps the valve tip correctly, and then you read the length off it and order that. It is the difference between a valvetrain that lasts and one that wears guides and tips.
Butler stocks Comp Cams adjustable pushrod length checkers in 5/16", including the 8.500" to 9.800" range that covers the common Pontiac V8 lengths and a Hi-Tech steel checker with ball ends in an 8.800" to 9.800" range.
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More About Pushrod Tools
1. Why You Check Pushrod Length
Comp puts the reason on the tool itself, and it is worth repeating.
| Correct valvetrain geometry | checking length is necessary for correct valve train geometry, to obtain the desired results from the cam and to ensure damage is not done to the rest of the valve train. |
| What moves the length | a different lifter family, a milled head or block deck, a longer valve, a rocker ratio change or a new valve job all move the correct length. Any one of them puts a stock rod out of position. |
| What wrong looks like | a wide or off-center sweep pattern on the valve tip, accelerated guide wear and a rocker that runs out of adjustment. |
2. Which Range You Need
Pontiac V8 pushrods generally live between about 8.6" and 9.5", so one checker covers most of what you will build.
| 8.500" to 9.800" | the Comp 5/16" adjustable checker in this range covers both stock Pontiac families, the early 326-389-421 rods near 8.7" and the 350-455 rods near 9.15", with room above for longer custom lengths. |
| 8.800" to 9.800" | the Hi-Tech steel checker with ball ends covers the 350-455 range and up. Each complete revolution of this tool equals .050", which makes reading a measurement straightforward. |
| Construction | the adjustable checkers are made from a thin wall 5/16" pushrod that is cut and threaded with over 1" of travel, with a 5/16" ball on each end so they sit in the lifter and rocker the way a real rod does. |
3. From Measurement to Order
Once you have the number, Butler can build to it.
| Measure on the base circle | set the lifter on the cam base circle, adjust the checker until the rocker tip sweeps the valve correctly, then remove and measure it. |
| Order custom | Smith Brothers rods are built to any length you supply, in restricted and non restricted versions. Butler's own .116" wall chromoly rods are stocked in .050" increments. |
| Restriction at the same time | if the engine runs a solid roller or a retro-fit hydraulic roller, decide on the .020", .030" or .040" restriction while you are placing the order. |
If you are having Butler build the engine or the heads, we will measure and supply the rods with it. If you are doing the work yourself, a checker pays for itself the first time.
Not sure what your Pontiac needs?
Email our tech team at tech@butlerperformance.com. Tell us your engine, heads, car, and power goal, and we will put the parts together as one combination that works.