440 power gains/ aluminum head advantages?

Remember IF you find rhe timing is off, you can play the game of using offset bushings or keys or whatever or even in combo with a tooth off to get the cam where it belongs. I've done that before as it really doesn't matter "how you got there" so long as the cam ends up where it's supposed to be.
got around to messing with the dart some more. been busy working on my firebird. got the pans welded in and seam sealed! i've ran into a problem tho on my dart. did they use a different length pushrod for mechanical lifters vs hydraulic on 440s? put the solid lifter in and it's way off the pushrod won't even seat in the lifter with the rocker rail all the way down. the lifter says it's for mopar and i believe it's stock lifter seat height. 1.630" seat height. do you think i could use an adjustable pushrod? max it out when it's on the lowest spot on the lobe and just make sure it doesn't adjust when i'm rotating engine?