LS6 heads or cam

[NITROUS]

Ok, I'm totally confused now. After extensive research this is the information I have on the LS6 cam pushrod length and LS6 head pushrod length. I've talked with various shops mainly Motorsport Technologies Inc. and they say If you install an LS6 cam in a 5.3 you should stay with the 7.4 pushrod length unless the heads have been milled. They also told me when I install the LS6 heads on my motor that the longer valve stem length won't make a difference either and I need to stay with the 7.4 pushrods unless the heads have been milled.

Give your input on this if your running an LS6 cam or LS6 heads on your 5.3 or 5.7.

Thanks

[Defunct SO]

The '02 and up LS6 (Z06) cam is ground on a .050 smaller base circle.
http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/1981/produ...er-Camshaft.htm
Unless you have the LS6 heads to match (longer valve stems) then you need push rods.

[RedHeartbeat]

Sounds like someone like me needs 7.425 long push rods. My 7.4s are too short and I get a lot of clatter. I was told to take the aluminum rocker trays and have .025" mill off the bottoms to save buying the 7.425 rods. Anyone have a Bridgeport mill I can borrow?

[NITROUS]

You can send them to me and I'll mill them for free RHB. I have 4 Bridgeports and an Emill.

I totally agree with you guys and this all goes back to the LS6 cam write up that I posted. How is MTI installing these heads and cam with stock 7.4 pushrods? I'm going to call some other shops and talk to them.

Here is what the LS6 head info indicates - 88958622 - LS6 CNC Ported Assembled Aluminum Cylinder Heads .055" machined from deck surface of head-Intake pilot pin bosses will need chamfered, and 7.325" pushrods should be utilized.

This indicates to use shorter pushrods with these heads. I'm feeling a little ignorant here.

[RedHeartbeat]

I wonder if they are talking LS6 to LS6 - .055" milled heads need that size rod? I keep hearing that the sodium filled valves are longer. How much exactly I don't know. I also don't know if the installed height of the valve tip on the LS6 sodium filled and hollow valves is the same as non-LS6. Time to just quit worrying about it and buy some adjustable rockers.

Lance, PM me your address and I'll let you butcher up my spare rocker trays.

[NITROUS]

I'm gonna check the height on these heads. I'll probably end up buying a pushrod length indicator just to be safe since there are so many questions about the LS6 components.

[RedHeartbeat]

The next question after you get a length checker is how many turns of compression are you supposed to have on the hydraulic lifter. CompRs use only .005" but the standard lifter is similar to the old fashioned small block amount which differs from builder to builder. 1/2 turn on some and 1-1/4 turns on others.

[chrisj6]

ahhhhhhh! Another topic to confuse me more on this. Hell if i can just figure out to stay w/7.4" rods or go with longer I will be a complete man

Chris

[NITROUS]

chrisj6, I shouldn't have made the phone call but now that I've got these heads, I need to verify everything before I install them. I'm starting to get confused myself so you're not alone. According to the LS6 write up I still feel you would need the longer pushrods with your cam. It just doesn't make since that MTI tells me different. I'm sure there's someone here thats upgraded their LS1 with the LS6 components that can answer these questions a little better. I'm going by write uops and hear say. I'm fixing to know first hand once the heads are installed.

[Defunct SO]

We installed an '03 LS6 cam WITH longer push rods in a '99 5.3 and everything works as designed. Thats why I posted the link to Scoggin Dickey.