Flat tappet in a roller block?

[Corey]

First let me explain. I'm broke is the quick and simple answer.

I'm building a budget 350 and had purchased an engine I planned on rebuilding. I had all the parts picked out and created my plan. With it being tax season I decided to get the bottom end finished before spring. Unfortunately, the engine I bought had some major ring ridge bumping up the cost of machine work. After doing some simple math, I determined that purchasing a short block from ATK part# SP04 (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hpe-sp04) was more economical and less of a headache then the machine work and parts I would have to buy to finish my engine.

So here's my dilemma. I purchased a cam shaft that would have worked with my original block, (1989 GEN1). The block I have now is a 1996-2001 roller Gen1 block.

What are your opinions? It seems like the only difference is the lifter bores are deeper, but that can just be made up with proper pushrods. Am I missing anything?

 

[lilbowtie]

Google - flat tappet in roller block -

 

[Yav8]

Simple to do. The plate that held the roller cam from walking in the block is deleted. You will need to get a timing chain for the flat tappet cam and just not use the spiders and dog bones from the roller set up. Push rods are just the standard ones for a flat tapped cam.

 

[liquidh8]

it is not too hard to do, there may be some thread floating around on the net. I would be inclined to return/sell that cam, go to the junkyard and get yourself the lifters, dog bones and spider and run the roller. I know you are on a budget, hard choice.

 

[Rick_B_86]

Just don't forget if you're running a flat tappet cam, you will need oil with a high zinc content or special additives.