440 source/push rod clearance issue

[wirenut]

Hi Folks,
Installing 440 Source Stealth heads. 3/8 push rods are hitting spring side of head at top and intake manifold side at bottom. So much that I cant get the rocker adjuster ball to sit in the pushrod socket. Any body had to deal with this. I am thinking a dremel and some kind of grinder bit. Any shared wisdom or experience appreciated.

 

[draginmopars]

i ran into that problem-2008
had already ported the heads and installed
no room left to clearance the push rods
ended up using 11/32 manton push rods

 

[bOb shingler]

i had the same problem with my 440-1's after I went to a 7/16" pushrod. they only touched on lash which kept it at zero. I ran the motor a few times to get the witness marks on the heads. I removed them and clearance them with the air grinder and carbid bit and wd-40, it keeps the bit from loading up with aluminum. manton will make you a pushrod with thick tubing in a smaller diameter so you don't have to grind the heads but will cost a lot more than grinding.

 

[don440]

Went thru the same issue last fall,like the other guys said ,you can call manton or smith bros.and they can make you some smaller dia. pushrods,You did not state how big your cam is,but distance travel and spring pressure figure into this as will lenght,I had to grind along side port runner and in the push rod travel area,end up pulling heads and completely dissassembly to remove any chance of shavings getting into motor.I would definitely mock you motor up as you are going to run it ,rocker arms included and slowly turn you engine over.take a maker and mark where pushrods are hitting(refence point)just in case the smaller dia. pushrods still hit, kind of a cya (cover your ---) don

 

[wirenut]

Went thru the same issue last fall,like the other guys said ,you can call manton or smith bros.and they can make you some smaller dia. pushrods,You did not state how big your cam is,but distance travel and spring pressure figure into this as will lenght,I had to grind along side port runner and in the push rod travel area,end up pulling heads and completely dissassembly to remove any chance of shavings getting into motor.I would definitely mock you motor up as you are going to run it ,rocker arms included and slowly turn you engine over.take a maker and mark where pushrods are hitting(refence point)just in case the smaller dia. pushrods still hit, kind of a cya (cover your ---) don

Thanks for the info. Yes mocked up with a set of lightley painted push rods so there are tell marks on the rods and heads. I will price the push rods and weigh that against the time and effort or grinding. But I think even with smaller rods I'm still going to have to grind.