LIM gasket and pushrod/compression issues

[SappySE107]

I saw another post with this issue on gaoc, so I am posting this here so we can have it for both search engines and a site article (ha).

If your lower intake gaskets go and you get coolant in the oil, that coolant/oil mix is now in your lifters. The lifters won't bleed and you will essentially have solid, not hydraulic lifters. This will cause the valves to hang open even though you got the pushrods in the right order, and thus no compression. Loosen the rockers and you get compression.

Its a good idea to bleed the lifters and tear them apart so you can clean them out completely. Do not fill them with oil. Lifters should be installed empty.

[05colorado]

Can you go a bit further with this. I'm going to be measuring pushrod length fairly soon, 3.1/3400 hybrid w/h272, and do not want to buy pushrods twice.

When I measure them the lifters should be collapsed, new, and then I subtract a certain length from my measurements so that the lifters can pump up?