{"id":19803,"date":"2012-05-20T10:32:55","date_gmt":"2012-05-20T17:32:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/5-things-to-know-about-performance-pushrods\/"},"modified":"2013-02-19T13:54:11","modified_gmt":"2013-02-19T20:54:11","slug":"trend-pushrods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/trend-pushrods\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Things to Know About Performance Pushrods"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Ftrend-pushrods%2F&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2FTrend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-1.jpg&amp;description=5+Things+to+Know+About+Performance+Pushrods\" class=\"pin-it-button\" count-layout=\"none\" rel=\"lightbox[19803]\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/PinExt.png\" title=\"Pin It\" \/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button_count\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/trend-pushrods\/\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/trend-pushrods\/\" data-via=\"myrideisme\" data-text=\"5 Things to Know About Performance Pushrods\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/trend-pushrods\/\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=5 Things to Know About Performance Pushrods&amp;body=https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/trend-pushrods\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/icons_small\/email.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Email\" title=\"Email\"\/><span class=\"mr_small_icon\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/trend-pushrods\/\" data-text=\"5 Things to Know About Performance Pushrods\" data-desc=\"Trend Pushrods - New Ways to Combat Pushrod Troubles Seeking and finding stories about great engine builders and the high performance parts they use, every once in a while, you find yourself asking. \"What makes xyz so special?\" In this case, I got to talking about high performance pushrods and\" data-image=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-1.jpg\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><h2>Trend Pushrods &#8211; New Ways to Combat Pushrod Troubles<\/h2>\n<p>Seeking and finding stories about great engine builders and the high performance parts they use, every once in a while, you find yourself asking. &#8220;What makes xyz so special?&#8221; In this case, I got to talking about high performance pushrods and didn&#8217;t know much about them. Luckily, Trend Performance makes pushrods for everybody from the weekend warrior to the best of NHRA and NASCAR. So I asked a few questions&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>An interview with Bob Fox, founder of Trend Performance<br \/>\nBy Sam Logan with photos by Moore Good Ink<br \/>\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-19843 alignleft\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Bob Fox, founder of Trend Performance\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-1.jpg\" alt=\"push rod engine, trend pushrod, pushrod maker\" width=\"300\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-1.jpg 575w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-1-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-1-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" \/>Today the Michigan firm Trend Performance is the largest manufacturer and supplier of pushrods in racing and the performance aftermarket. But in 1988 when Bob Fox founded his pushrod company, after working the phones as a tech rep at Diamond Racing, things were different. During his time at the piston company, he noticed that the performance of competition pushrods was little better than adequate\u2014their lengths varied and their ends failed\u2014both ends! Manufacturers would reduce the material thickness of the cup ends in order to form them, and as a result they would crack. Further, their lengths were so inconsistent that each pushrod had to be inspected and graded accordingly. It was this encounter that caused Fox to contemplate life as a pushrod maker.<\/p>\n<h3>1. What are the biggest challenges that face today\u2019s competition pushrod maker?<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Excessive surface roughness contacting the pushrod<\/li>\n<li>Pushrod balls bound in tight cups, especially V-cups\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;Point loading&#8221; of pushrod end<img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-19844\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Ball vs. V-cut in pushrod end\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-2.jpg\" alt=\"trend pushrods, pushrod end, performance pushrods\" width=\"200\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-2.jpg 575w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-2-150x133.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-2-300x266.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cRacers seeking to exploit every tiny advantage tend to select lighter and lighter weight oils, many of which are impaired or even deficient in lubricity at high loads and high revs. Also, installing pushrods positioned between lifters and rockers with contact surfaces rougher than 1Ra expose the pushrod ends to severe abrasion. For example, a rocker arm adjuster ball with a rough, hard contact surface can act like a file. Plainly, it\u2019s prudent for the engine builder to inquire about the surface finishes of the parts that operate in conjunction with the pushrods.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>What&#8217;s 1Ra? Ra refers to the surface roughness average (Ra) also known as the arithmetic average (AA). It&#8217;s the average of a surface&#8217;s peaks and valleys expressed in micro inches. 1Ra is about as smooth as you can get.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Another factor that leads to premature failure occurs when pushrod balls are bound in tight cups. It\u2019s imperative they have sufficient operating clearance. A further problem arises when you set the ball end of a pushrod in a V-cup. The V-cup presents a very narrow contact seat which significantly increases the loading on the pushrod ball end. If its seat is heat treated to a very hard condition, it will eventually pound its V-shape into the pushrod ball. Much more desirable is to set the pushrod ball end in a radius cup and reduce the point loadings.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, I was reminded by Jon Kaase, the race engine builder, of the severe environment in which the pushrod operates. \u2018Assume,\u2019 he said, \u2018you have an open spring pressure of 1,400lb and a rocker ratio of 1.9:1, therefore, the loading on the pushrod equates to around 2,660lbs. This is then transmitted through the tiny area of the pushrod ball. If the surface area of a V-cup is 100th of a sq. in., the loading could be somewhere around 300,000 psi!\u2019 In addition to these loadings, increased rocker ratios and engine revs further increase surface speeds on the ball ends.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>2. How long do pushrods last in racing engines?<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>In NASCAR &#8211; one or two races<\/li>\n<li>In NHRA &#8211; until they show signs or wear or discoloration<\/li>\n<li>In Short track racing &#8211; several seasons<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19845\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"NASCAR Pushrods from Trend Performance Pushrods\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-3.jpg\" alt=\"trend pushrods, performance pushrods, engine pushrods\" width=\"575\" height=\"321\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-3.jpg 575w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-3-150x83.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-3-300x167.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" \/> \u201cIn Sprint Cup, the top teams might use them only once or twice and then switch them to their Busch Series engines. Other Cup teams will run them much longer. In NHRA<br \/>\nPro Stock, most of the teams will run them until they show signs of wear. The same is true in Top Fuel and Funny Car, except those pushrods might show signs of discoloration on their ends instead of wear. If they begin to turn blue from excessive heat, it\u2019s time to replace them. In short track oval racing, engine builders will use the same pushrods for several seasons\u2014often six to eight thousand laps\u2014providing they are not bent and show no signs of wear.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>3. What percentage of your pushrod business is racing?<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cProbably ninety percent of our production is devoted to racing. But Trend also produces piston pins and tool steel flat tappets for racing, particularly NASCAR. About one half of our valve train production serves professional race teams; the other half is dedicated to the weekend racers and to the high-performance street users.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>4. Do you make single-piece or three-piece pushrods?<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cTrend doesn\u2019t make three piece pushrods, but we do manufacture two-piece. These allow the engine builders to cut the pushrods to length and install the tips as required. Our tips are pressed into the pushrod using a hydraulic press and an installation tool. But a few years ago, when we introduced a Quickship program, we discovered most engine builders preferred one-piece pushrods. These were finished to size and length\u2014 they required no more work\u2014and they\u2019re shipped within 24 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>5. What materials are used to manufacture pushrods?<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cThe biggest proportion is made from chrome molybdenum, a type of alloy steel known as 4130. This material possesses an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and is considerably stronger and harder than standard 1020 steel. Sprint Cup engines use it as do much of Pro Stock and Pro Mod. In contrast, Top Fuel and Funny Car teams use H13 tool steel in solid bar form. The 4130 pushrods are produced from thick-wall tubing. Their hollow center passage is pressurized by oil destined to lubricate the rocker adjuster.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Strength-to-weight ratio&#8217; is a commonly measured attribute of steels known as &#8216;specific strength&#8221;. Specific strength is the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">strength or yield stress<\/span> divided by the material <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">density<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>Source:<br \/>\nTrend Performance<br \/>\n23444 Schoenherr<br \/>\nWarren, MI 48089<br \/>\n(586) 447-0400<br \/>\n<a title=\" 5 Things to Know About Performance Pushrods\" href=\"http:\/\/www.trendperform.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"> www.TrendPerform.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19845\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Trend Pushrods inspected by CMM machine \" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-6.jpg\" alt=\"trend pushrods, pushrod checking, engine pushrods\" width=\"575\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" \/><br \/>\nPushrod ball ends are checked for size by a coordinate measuring machine. Trend holds this tolerance to plus-or-minus 0.001in.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19845\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Custom pushrod laser etching for Comp Cams\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-8.jpg\" alt=\"trend pushrods, custom pushrod length\" width=\"575\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" \/><br \/>\nTrend\u2019s laser etching, which occurs at lightning-fast speeds, is dictated by the customer and usually specifies relevant details.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19845\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Happy Birthday from Trend Pushrods\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-7.jpg\" alt=\"trend pushrods, custom laser etching pushrods, custom pushrod\" width=\"575\" height=\"1020\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" \/><br \/>\nBut sometimes Mom\u2019s have their say in the laser-etching process!<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19845\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Hand inspection of Trend Pushrods\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-5.jpg\" alt=\"trend pushrods, checking pushrods, bent pushrod\" width=\"575\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" \/><br \/>\nThis checking fixture examines pushrod straightness in 3 places; it also monitors its overall length.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19845\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Is your pushrod bent? Trend Pushrods - made straight\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-10.jpg\" alt=\"trend pushrods, bent pushrods, engine pushrods\" width=\"575\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" \/><br \/>\nThis automatic straightening machine, which is chiefly used on 5\/16in and 3\/8in., rotates each pushrod, monitors the rod for straightness, and corrects if necessary.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19845\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: 2px solid black;\" title=\"Manual Straightening of Trend Pushrod\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Trend-pushrod-length-push-rod-performance-11.jpg\" alt=\"trend pushrods, straight pushrods\" width=\"575\" border=\"2\" hspace=\"4\" vspace=\"4\" \/><br \/>\nManual straightening is performed on larger diameter pushrods\u20147\/16in and greater<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Ftrend-pushrods%2F&amp;media=&amp;description=5+Things+to+Know+About+Performance+Pushrods\" class=\"pin-it-button\" count-layout=\"none\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/PinExt.png\" title=\"Pin It\" \/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button_count\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/trend-pushrods\/\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/trend-pushrods\/\" data-via=\"myrideisme\" data-text=\"5 Things to Know About Performance Pushrods\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/trend-pushrods\/\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=5 Things to Know About Performance Pushrods&amp;body=https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/trend-pushrods\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/icons_small\/email.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Email\" title=\"Email\"\/><span class=\"mr_small_icon\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/trend-pushrods\/\" data-text=\"5 Things to Know About Performance Pushrods\" data-desc=\"Trend Pushrods - New Ways to Combat Pushrod Troubles Seeking and finding stories about great engine builders and the high performance parts they use, every once in a while, you find yourself asking. \"What makes xyz so special?\" In this case, I got to talking about high performance pushrods and\" data-image=\"\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><p>Email Trend Pushrods &#8211; New Ways to Combat Pushrod Troubles Seeking and finding stories about great engine builders and the high performance parts they use, every once in a while, you find yourself asking. &#8220;What makes xyz so special?&#8221; In this case, I got to talking about high performance pushrods and didn&#8217;t know much about [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[384,1815],"tags":[689,635,2512,1466],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19803"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19803"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22471,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19803\/revisions\/22471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}