Auto Parts: Milled Chevy heads, chevy 283, aluminum heads

Question
Mike,
 I am re-building a 1964 Chevy, 283, block # 3849852, intake # 3840905, heads #3795896. I plan to use the original crank, original pistons--notched flat top,. The heads have been milled .005", the block has not been milled. Using a new stock/original hydraulic camshaft & new stock hydraulic  flat lifters. The heads have been rebuilt with new stock springs, valves, guides & seals. Is there any concern using the stock pushrods as far as length??? Is there a concern as far as matching the intake to the head ports??? With the heads sitting .005" closer to the block will the difference be compensated for by the  adjustment at the lifters??? I assume the .005" is a small difference & all of the valve train parts will function normallY. Thank you.

Answer
    If you are using stock type rocker arms and nuts (always use new nuts with a rebuild), then the original pushrods should be fine.  Examine each one to make sure that the balls on the ends are undamaged and polished smooth.  Then, on assembly, coat them with some moly lube, both ends.  As far as the manifold goes, matching a cast iron manifold to the head is a job, as cast iron is very hard.  In this case, I really doubt if you will get any noticeable gains out of doing so.  You have to remember that, back in the day, most of these speed tricks were aimed at generating hundredths of a second gain at the track.  Modern tech is a lot different.  A set of modern aluminum heads and a modern manifold could actually double the horsepower you will be making, but it wouldn't have the cool factor of all original type parts.  And, if you wanted more power, you would have used a 400 block, anyway.  Have fun!