Thread: A solid roller in a '70 400 small block???

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.....Hi everyone, Is there any special machining or any trick to putting solid roller lifters in a 400 small block Chev.??? Is this what they mean by 'retro rollers'???? THANKS Bill

There is no special machining to install solid roller is 400 SBC. Retro lifter mean after market Hyd Roller lifter. Now if you chose to use 350 Rods in a 400 you'll need to be sure order small base circle cam for more rod and cam clearance.

You will need the retro rollers..... and new pushrods........

Originally Posted by billlsbird

.....Hi everyone, Is there any special machining or any trick to putting solid roller lifters in a 400 small block Chev.??? Is this what they mean by 'retro rollers'???? THANKS Bill

If you do decide to go soild roller just make sure you don't "over cam" it.

.....Thanks Race car, Shawnlee & Eric! But now I'm confused, Shawnlee said I'd "need retro rollers" but Race said that "retro means aftermarket Hyd roller lifter". So I need 'retro solid roller lifters', correct??? or do they not make them???
Eric, quote; "don't go to big', glad that your keeping on eye on me!!! Yes, I was probably thinking 'too big'. What would you say is the BIGGEST cam that I could go with; 413 cu. in., 10 to 1 compression {my 'forgot the what you call it' compression is a little under 8.5 to 1 {dymanic?}, AFR 195 heads {but I was also thinking maybe bigger AFR heads, the 210's?}, dual plane manafold {but I'd go to single plane}, 3000 true stall, 4:11 true track rear gears. Cam now is 230/236 @ .050 duration, .522 lift {w/ 1.6 rockers}.... Is there a reason why you can't go to big w/ a sollid roller that's a different why you shouldn't go to big w/ a hyd roller??? THANKS, Bill

NO you need RETRO roller lifters ONLY for going in a older flat cam engine not set up for GM stock hyd roller block... Soild Roller you do not call them retro just the hyd rollers. I WOULD PUT A BIG ROLLER CAM IN THE DAMN THING PUT SOME CR TO IT if not why bother with it???? you have a light car it is not like your going to pull a fifth wheel with it ???

Originally Posted by billlsbird

.....Thanks Race car, Shawnlee & Eric! But now I'm confused, Shawnlee said I'd "need retro rollers" but Race said that "retro means aftermarket Hyd roller lifter". So I need 'retro solid roller lifters', correct??? or do they not make them???
Eric, quote; "don't go to big', glad that your keeping on eye on me!!! Yes, I was probably thinking 'too big'. What would you say is the BIGGEST cam that I could go with; 413 cu. in., 10 to 1 compression {my 'forgot the what you call it' compression is a little under 8.5 to 1 {dymanic?}, AFR 195 heads {but I was also thinking maybe bigger AFR heads, the 210's?}, dual plane manafold {but I'd go to single plane}, 3000 true stall, 4:11 true track rear gears. Cam now is 230/236 @ .050 duration, .522 lift {w/ 1.6 rockers}.... Is there a reason why you can't go to big w/ a sollid roller that's a different why you shouldn't go to big w/ a hyd roller??? THANKS, Bill

With your comp. ratio,stall speed,and gear ratio. you might as well run a hyd. roller cam.
I would guess no more than 240 degree's at .050.
I would keep the 195 cc heads but I.M.O. it would be a toss up between the RPM Performer and the Victor intake above 4,500 RPM'S.

......THANKS Pat, I don't want to get to carried away cuz I want to run pump gas. As it is my motor pings like crazy on regular.... Eric, ok so I'll look for one that's not more than 240. I though the bigger heads would be better with a bigger cam? Guess not, but that's ok as it's cheaper to not change them ... Isn't the single plane better at higher RPM's?? Bill

Originally Posted by billlsbird

......THANKS Pat, I don't want to get to carried away cuz I want to run pump gas. As it is my motor pings like crazy on regular.... Eric, ok so I'll look for one that's not more than 240. I though the bigger heads would be better with a bigger cam? Guess not, but that's ok as it's cheaper to not change them ... Isn't the single plane better at higher RPM's?? Bill

Sorry,I wrote that very poorly.
You are right about the manifold.
At 4,500 and above the Victor is the way to go.
I would not even look at the bigger heads un-less your wanted to turn the engine above 7,000 but you don't have the comp. ratio to support it.

....Thanks Eric, Nope, don't want to spin my motor to 7000!!! I'm afraid at 7000 it'd spin my parts right out the bottom end! AFR has a new Eliminator head that they say puts out way more HP & TQ. It comes in a 195. I'll try to attach a link...... Oh Eric, Would you use the Victor or the Victor Jr. ??? Thanks again, Bill

AFR link; www.airflowresearch.com/eliminator.php

Originally Posted by billlsbird

....Thanks Eric, Nope, don't want to spin my motor to 7000!!! I'm afraid at 7000 it'd spin my parts right out the bottom end! AFR has a new Eliminator head that they say puts out way more HP & TQ. It comes in a 195. I'll try to attach a link...... Oh Eric, Would you use the Victor or the Victor Jr. ??? Thanks again, Bill

AFR link; www.airflowresearch.com/eliminator.php

Yes,the Eliminator's are great heads.
You will be able to build an easy 500+ on pump gas with either a hyd. roller cam or mech. roller cam.
I would run a Victor JR with a 1 inch open spacer.

Originally Posted by billlsbird

....Thanks Eric, Nope, don't want to spin my motor to 7000!!! I'm afraid at 7000 it'd spin my parts right out the bottom end! AFR has a new Eliminator head that they say puts out way more HP & TQ. It comes in a 195. I'll try to attach a link...... Oh Eric, Would you use the Victor or the Victor Jr. ??? Thanks again, Bill

AFR link; www.airflowresearch.com/eliminator.php

Hi Bill That sounds like a good combination you are putting together. With 10:1 Compression and pump gas you will want a cam with at least 250* at .050 " . If you run less duration your have to run less than 36* total timing. I have a very similar setup in my 55 Belair.
415 CID 10:1 Comp. Sportsman 210cc heads Crane solid roller .556/252*565/260* at .050" Victor JR Demon 750DP. Pulls like a big block and i get 18 MPG.I have had this engine in the car for 7 years. Good luck Chris

Originally Posted by Sidedraft Deuce

Hi Bill That sounds like a good combination you are putting together. With 10:1 Compression and pump gas you will want a cam with at least 250* at .050 " . If you run less duration your have to run less than 36* total timing. I have a very similar setup in my 55 Belair.
415 CID 10:1 Comp. Sportsman 210cc heads Crane solid roller .556/252*565/260* at .050" Victor JR Demon 750DP. Pulls like a big block and i get 18 MPG.I have had this engine in the car for 7 years. Good luck Chris

He has already stated he does not want a 7,000 rpm engine.
If he get's a cam that has 250 or more at .050 he will be back in the 7,000 rpm area.
He does not have enough stall at 3,000 rpm to run a cam that is 250 at .050

yes thats a big cam 050 mild 250.. i would say he will not care for it much at low rpm

Originally Posted by erik erikson

He has already stated he does not want a 7,000 rpm engine.
If he get's a cam that has 250 or more at .050 he will be back in the 7,000 rpm area.
He does not have enough stall at 3,000 rpm to run a cam that is 250 at .050

Then He should run a Mechnical and save $400.00