Do I need new / different push rods?

[dryheat]

Putting the finishing touched on my 64 - 383 engine and was planning to use the old push rods. The existing push rods have a smaller tapered end that don't seem to fit well in either the lifter or the rocker. I'm assuming that the older engines probably had different lifters for these style of push rods.

 

[66chargerpat]

If the heads and rockers are stock, you could use the push rods from say 69 and later. that is what I did. I take it you are using the later hld lifters for 68-69 and later?

 

[Ski 61701]

If the lifters you took out of the motor were in fact oem 64 lifters, yes they take a different pushrod due to the cup dimensions. The pushrod end that goes into the oem cup is almost tapered to a point. If you try and use the 64 oem pushrods in the newer style lifter it wont seat correctly, and I can see all kinds of problems happening from the oem pushrod probably being too long for your current set up, possibly popping out and bending things. The best bet would be to get a checking pushrod with the correct ball end to make sure things are correct, specifically the length.

 

[dryheat]

Thank you gentlemen ... the existing push rods do almost taper to a point so they are apparently OEM for 64.

I installed a new Mopar Performance "magnum" cam and was planning to use the MP lifters that came with it ... but I also have a new set of sealed power lifters that work with the existing push rods.

I'm feeling that I should go the with new push rods and the MP lifters but would like to hear other opinions.

 

[moper]

You must replace the pushrods when early engines get a later camshaft. Early being '67 and earlier IIRC. Later being '68-up. Everything aftermarket is geared for the later design, and most catalogs have notes referring to that mandate.