Replacing a flat tappet with a roller cam
Replacing a flat tappet with a roller cam This is a 83 Chevy C10 Silverado with 305c.i. small block V8. I'm doing the heads and cam. The owner was a performance cam. Can I swap in a roller cam for the flat tappet. Is there a kit available with everything in it like cam, lifters, pushrods and rockers as a package deals. Something with a good torque and HP gain. What sponsors have this kit? thanks
Its a pretty penny to step from a flat tappet to a roller set up. Just the lifters wit the tie bar set up are a little bit over 400 bucks and the cam is not going to be cheap either then you need pushrods. You are looking at close to a grand to convert that over. In my opinion unless you are putting in a solid roller to go racing its not worth it to convert it. If you still want to go thru with it call up Comp cams and they can set you up with everything you need to convert it.
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To me its seems like it would just be easier/cheaper to buy a 87+ 1piece rear main seal block thats already setup for a roller. Thats what im planning on doing when i get the cash. My motor runs good now but eventually I want a roller motor and a manual tranny. I have seen some really good deals on vortec(96-99) 5.7s lately. Of course, you are limited how much lift you can run..but whatever....there are tons of these motors floating around. I bet you could find a running long block for 500-700..they are getting cheap, then get a vortec carb mani and a carb.
If you plan on using a vortec motor out of the 96-99 chevy pick ups you are right about the camshaft lift in the heads. They only allow .450 as they come. Scoggin&Dickey has a spring package that will allow more lift without machining the valve guide down on the head. My cousin ordered this package a couple of weeks back for a build he is doing.
