I decided this weekend to finally put that pile of parts under the hood of my truck. So yesterday me and my dad took off the heads, intake, cam, basically everything but the crank and pistons. Then we cleaned everything up, and I spent the afternoon doing a little port and polish work on my heads.

This morning we started reassembling everything. Put in my new cam and lifters, timing set, intake, etc. But here is my problem: When I went to bolt the rocker shafts back down, I realized that my pushrods are too short. I never knew those motors (88 318) came stock with hydrolic roller cams. I went with a Mopar Performance hydraulic flat tappet cam. Needless to say I am a little embarrased. Anyone know off the top of your head what size I need? I will be trying to find the answer in the next few days.

 

Here is what I have done right.

[IMG]local://upfiles/51353/A52F3CD1D0A14C3294BF5294D751FD56.jpg[/IMG]

 

It should have la dimensions,pushrods from a older 318 may fit.Check with the cam/lifter manufacturer to make sure.

 

I was kind of thinking the same thing. I am waiting for an answer from tech support, but in the mean time, do any of you know the length I should need? I took a tape measure ( crude, I know) to one of my rods and it was about 6-7/8". Summit has sets that are 7.450", 7.513", 7.550". I just need to know what the correct length is. I guess that was the first amateur mistake on this project. Any help you "pros" can offer is much appreciated.

 

i put a bigger cam (230@.050 with .480 lift) in my truck and with the solid rail rocker assembly it doesn't allow for adjustment so i ran into clearance problems on my 360 and destroyed my cam, lifters and rocker arms. so if you are putting a cam in it i would highly suggest you get a set of roller tip adjustable rockers and whoever you order the rockers through, just tell them your application and they will send you the correct pushrods for the job. but i looked in a paw catalog and it says for a roller cam 5/16 x 6.802 and with a hyd lifter 5/16 x 7.500 and both ends are ball style.

 

That was what my research on allpar.com shows, 7.500".I don`t think I will have any problems other than the pushrods, but my research has failed before. Thanks for the help guys.

 

I put in a set of 7.500" pushrods today and everything looks good. Thanks for the help.

 

You REALLY should ask somebody before you try to run that thing.Too short and and it` not gonna run right too long and its gonna break #$@^. If the pushrods are too long, best case you will bend new pushrods you just paid for,worst case youll wipe a lobe on your new camshaft and have to tear it all back down.In my humble,uneducated opinion,thats too much work and money to not be sure.The people who sold you the cam should know.

 

I have asked around online, talked to a few mechanics, gearheds, etc. You`re right, it is alot of work to risk without knowing, but I have got the same answer from everyone I have asked. I don`t see any real problems (famous last words). Besides, it`s a Dodge, you know it can`t be broken. That tree didn`t stop it.