SBC push rod checker?

[Reed Granrt]

Originally Posted by rod

i read the entire discussion about push rod lengths. all very interesting.
so i want to know your thoughts on the push rod length checker [manley or proform].
what is the correct way to use this and what are the secrets to success using this checker?
thanks rod in AZ

What most of the checkers that you see or saw on the market dealt with trying to get the rocker arm in the middle of the valve. At that time, most people thought that was the best rocker arm geometry. Today, we know that is not true. You may end up with a rocker in the middle of the valve, but you just got lucky. In today's racing mode with angle milling heads and moving of valve guides even slightly, being in the middle of the valve is damn lucky. And also what contributes even more to this is the accuracy or lack of, is the rocker geometry. The short side of the rocker could be accurate and the long side could be long or short or vice versa. So you may could never get the valve in the middle.
reed