Ok, Ive searched, found many people having the same problems, but no solutions or answers in the threads.

I did a head/cam install on a buddies car last year (stock LT1 castings, CM cam, 1.6 promags, trickflow pushrods) and Im now tearing it down to put my old 381 in it. His heads are going on my shortblock so I need to work out this issue.

He complained of valvetrain noise so I wanted to resolve the issue before I pulled the engine since the whole valvetrain is going back onto the stroker. So I checked for a loose rocker, and found two so far worn guideplates. One of them the pushrod has worn into the plate about 1/8".

Now, I guarantee these guideplates were adjusted properly when I put it together. Everything IS straight. All the rockers are in perfect condition. Everything checks out.

So what is the problem? Is it inconsistencies in head castings? I would like to fix this problem with GM guideplates, but if I have to Ill use the isky adjustables.

I know a lot of people have issues with GM guideplates not being hard, but in my opinion thats ideal. Had they been hardened, and this problem was going on, instead of wearing the plate it couldve possibly worn through the pushrod and caused severe problems (the pushrods look brand new by the way, no wear whatsoever).

 

Its my understanding that oil between 2 hardened surface will reduce wear considerably.

Thats why you run hardened guideplates and hardened pushrods. Even with a prefectly aligned guideplate the pushrods WILL contact the plate. They guide the pushrod into alignment.