69 302 block 75 heads, pushrod problem

[thesals]

ok so i've got a problem with this setup... supposedly the 75 302 uses the same length pushrods as the 69 302, but... when i bought the stock 6.905 pushrods, they seem to have some up and down play when i tighten the rockers all the way down, the whole valve train is stock with hydraulic lifters and positive stop rockers. anyone know a rod that will work the geometry without paying a grip of money to have custom cut rods?

also i do have some 69 heads, but i'm not sure if they'll work, they dont have an ID # instead there is a steel plate with the letter B covering them, I've tried unscrewing them to see if there is a number below, but they wont come out even with a heavy duty makita hammer drill

[GT Dan]

You can get yourself a single measuring (adjustable) pushrod. Take several measurements and then give Summit a call. Most cam manufacturers make a variety of sized pushrods that you can go with (Manley, Trickflow, Comp cams, etc. even FMS).

Remember that if you are running guideplates that you will need hardened pushrods otherwise they will prematurely wear on the spot where they rub on the guideplates.

[vara4]

Thesals; Listen to GT Dan he's got it right,You have to take into account the kind of cam you are using, lifters, rockers, screw in or press in studs, all these things can make the push rod legnth different. The plate that you are trying to unscrew on that ford head, is cast as part of the head if its what I'm thinking of..a lot of Fords have these and they don't unscrew. Now about IDing the heads look under the intake ports on the bottom of the head, there should be an ID there. Ok in 1969 a 302 had a head chamber size of 56.7cc In 1975 the head chamber size was about 67.5cc The compression in 75 was 8 to 1 and 122HP in the 302's. In 69 the compression was 9.5 to 1 with 220HP in a 302 with a 2V. These heads will fit but if you have changed your pistons you will have to watch your valve to piston clearance and you may have to order a specail head gasget. because the water ports are a little differant. I ran the same set up a few years back and it works great. It's a good way to get extra horse power. Oh and I had the same problem, the push rods were to short and made a taping sound. But I was also running a Sig Erson cam, it was a TQ30 and ran like a raped Ape. That was my favorite car to this day, I would still have it but some one decided they wanted it more and stoled it. hope this helps you


Vegas

[thesals]

thanks for the help, today i took my 69 heads down to a machine shop to be cleaned up, valves seats and valve guides done. the guy is doing the work for free in return for an intake for an rx7 motor i have. so i hopefully today i will finish assembling my engine and maybe even paint it, I'm planning on using a high gloss heat proof red to match my red 69 galaxie 500 convertable.

[thesals]

new light on the situation!... stupid napa gave me the wrong valves, even though i ordered the longer ones, they gave me shorter valves, and so its the valve stems that are too short, now i have to pull my heads again and replace the head gaskets this time :/ but at least i can finally get this car back on the road