How to cut steel pushrods, Valve Train Set-Up Options

[Highland]

How to most people get their pushrods cut? Should I take the pushrods to the same machinest that worked on my engine parts (crank, cylinders, rods,...) or to a regular machine shop?

Also, what tolerance should I give them? +/-0.001"?

Below are my numbers for a Raby 9590 cam with 0.426" lift for exhaust and intake. Are these numbers typical?

Cylinder.....Intake Lift....Intake Rod Length
1...............0.432................10.567"
2...............0.433................10.607
3...............0.431................10.640 (required 0.03 shim)
4...............0.424................10.578


Cylinder.....Exhaust Lift....Exhaust Rod Length
1...............0.410...............10.623"
2...............0.409...............10.618
3...............0.412...............10.663 (required 0.03 shim)
4...............0.410...............10.612

[worn]

How to most people get their pushrods cut? Should I take the pushrods to the same machinest that worked on my engine parts (crank, cylinders, rods,...) or to a regular machine shop?

Also, what tolerance should I give them? +/-0.001"?

Below are my numbers for a Raby 9590 cam with 0.426" lift for exhaust and intake. Are these numbers typical?

Cylinder.....Intake Lift....Intake Rod Length
1...............0.432................10.567"
2...............0.433................10.607
3...............0.431................10.640 (required 0.03 shim)
4...............0.424................10.578


Cylinder.....Exhaust Lift....Exhaust Rod Length
1...............0.410...............10.623"
2...............0.409...............10.618
3...............0.412...............10.663 (required 0.03 shim)
4...............0.410...............10.612

I used a lathe. I also used a home made adjustable rod to get the length correct and the angles right. Centering on mid lift is a good approximation to optimum valve train, but the angles are what you are really going for.
If you use a saw, you can true the ends by putting them in a drill press and running them down on an abrasive to grind away the high spots. If you are careful you can even chuck into an electric drill and go against a grinding wheel.

I took a machining class in college. The first assignment was to make a 1 inch steel cube with a file, flat within 0.001, square all around. A LOT harder than it sounds, and worth the effort put in.