Re: My Teardown @ St Louis.....
 

I remember a 283 racer of immense merit from Div.6 years ago talking about how he went through about a hundred stamped Chevy rocker arms to get the 16 that he liked.It never hurts to have an assortment of push rods of every length from .200"long through .200" short in .050" increments. It's unbelievable how much that can affect lift.Lifter plunger and pushrod cup depth can vary by .100" or more,depending on the brand of lifter,as well.A tall lifter combined with a long pushrod could affect the overall height of that part of the valve train by as much as .500" from the extreme of a deep cupped lifter and a short push rod. Try those extremes and see what happens to lift. You might even run past the design limits of the rocker arm slot to further add to the madness,mayhem,and misery,not to mention the issues in teardown.

Re: My Teardown @ St Louis.....
 

Also it is good that the total length of the push rod and lifter to be checked are taken into consideration as Travis noted. If not, there is no assurance that the "checking" lifter seat profile and the push rod end profile from the engine fit together at the same height. The checking lifter seat I use is machined to form a conical "V"shape with a large enough radius that the pushrod cannot be deflected up through out its range of motion.

Another variable is the flatness or how parallel the retainer is around its diameter. For example: Spin the retainer around and check lift at several places and you will get different readings on some depending on the accuracy of the machining. In extreme examples, where the spring winding ends will slightly cant the retainer in that spot.

As others have stated, minus .010 lift won't affect much, however, +001 will ruin your day. So plan on cutting it as close to possible to the edge but keep it within the limits regardless of the circumstances.

Re: My Teardown @ St Louis.....
 

There was some really good info talked about in this thread. I'm also currious as to how temprature will affect readings during tech. Do they allow the engine to cool completely before teardown. Also, what about during fuel check, is there a certain temp. they use? Doesn't temp. affect specific gravity?

Re: My Teardown @ St Louis.....
 

Wade, hold your head up high, you're a great guy and a great racer. Some of the best professional engine builders in the game have been bitten by the exact same thing, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You and your family should be very proud of what you have managed to accomplish.

Re: My Teardown @ St Louis.....
 

Wade -

The way you have handled this situation moves you to a position of respect in my eyes. Using a venue for communications like this forum to come forward with the facts, readily admit mistakes and errors and ask for forgiveness is exemplary for the entire Stock/SS community. It is such integrity that has built value into this form of racing that is rarely found anywhere. Believe me, there are very few if any racers who have been involved for a period of time and who have gone fast enough to get torn down multiple times who have not been caught by honest mistakes. The complexity of the machinery and the rules we race by makes the challenge formidable and the successes inspiring. We learn from every situation and build on that experience for excellence.

I have not met you, but will be honored when we do. I have followed your performance and been impressed that you can make a 283 run as fast as you do. Periodically a racer will exhibit a performance level that will grab my attention, but this situation has added respect for character to my opinion of you.

Re: My Teardown @ St Louis.....
 

Dwight, You are right that 283 run's great and Wade haves that POWER from BES Racing Engines!!!:D:D:D