Not that I know of....I can't remember if the hardened end looks any different than the lifter end either....sorry.

 

Eh guess If I did it wrong I'll find out eventually

 

I Rockwell tested each end of a 6.5 push rod today. Each end tested to a HRC of 62. I would try to keep them exactly the same as they where but wouldn't lose sleep about maybe having one upside down.

 

Okay thanks. Where did you get a hardness tester if you don't mind me asking?

 

I own a machine shop.

 

Ah well that explains it

 

Then I'd say you have a set of aftermarket/replacement/non-OEM/ or perhaps worn out pushrods on your hands or you missed the copper colored tip that is supposed to be "up" to the rocker arm:

http://www.justanswer.com/chevy/2p93...-push-rod.html

Says essentially the same thing in the FSM I have on the shelf in the garage.

OEM pushrods have a different hardness on each end.

Also, the cracks in the valve bridge often strike water. There's even a fix That involves a sleeve tube for the water jacket in the 6.5 head. These cracks were eliminated by GEP when they redesigned the heads for the "optimizer" designated 6.5's. Mostly handled with metallurgy changes but the cooling passages were also redesigned.

I've yet to see a gm 6.5 torn down and magnafluxed without cracks in the mains at either the outer bolt holes or the cap registers. I'm up to personally seeing over 10 scrapped blocks now and not one rebuildable core. They were still running, most cracked OEM blocks are. Same with the valve bridges; cracked but still running, even with them allowing compression into the cooling system. Most of the yards here won't even sell a used 6.5 (not even as a core). They know it's coming back if they do and its just not worth the hassle. They just yank 'em an chuck 'em in the scrap weight pile.

Personally, I just wouldn't bother putting any money into rebuilding any cracked core. Head or block.

YMMV......


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It's a factory push rod. The hardness is the same on each end. You have a gold friction modifier (like TIN on drills and other cutting tools) on the rocker arm side but most likely its gone by now. The push rod I tested only has it left where the rocker arm didn't ride. A 62 rock well it's as hard as bearing steel and will likely wear through the stamped rocker arm before it wears down.

I would make every attempt to keep them exactly as they came out of the engine but would not let it keep me up at night.

 

So you have a worn out factory pushrod on your hands then.

If gm could have saved money and skipped a two stage production process, they would have and pocketed the difference. The softer material is there for a reason, and it's not to look pretty.

Anyways, this could go on forever so I'm outta here....


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I noticed that the 'polished' end on the low end to be very consistant where it contacted lifter, upper end had larger 'polished area' where it contacted rocker. Mine also had a punch mark near 1 end but that wasn't consistant in regards to up or down.
Monday Engine?