Thread: ROller set in a old motor

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i would like to change my cam set up to a roller i wanted to know if it could be done the block is a 1977 5.7 vortec stock heads 9:5:1 comp can it be done

You can do anything with the right amount of money. It sounds like it would be total overkill for what you are running. Unless you have bigger plans for this motor that you have not mentioned. But yes it could be done. Most of the cams listed on www.jegs.com are a roller cam, 1955 thru 1998, but would it be worth the 500 bucks just to have a roller cam. Not to mention most of them listed are probably going to have more lift then your stock valve springs cam handle, theres another several hundred bucks to deal with there. Then the heads would have some flow issues after that.

I'm going to put one in my 76 stroker motor. I do know you've gotta get the lifters with a bar tying each pair together, so they don't spin in the bores. I'm also going to get a set of springs matched to the cam so everything should be in harmony.

roller is far better then flat lifter if it was not then why are all the new engines built this way ? not really new old air plane engine used them .with oil the way it is with no zinc and some stuff not very hi in quality. roller is the way to go failure from wiping a cam on a bad break in is not going to happen with a roller .if a mildHYD roller cam your not using much spring and for a good build up it is about the same spring as you would use with a soild flat lifter cam the lifters and cam is were the money will be at .i build all my mild and race engines with roller cams. i like the hyd roller cams for mild street it will cost a bit more but if you wip a cam then it is a cheap way to go in the long run and i sleep better at night knowing enging i built for a guy is not going to wipe if he can not fire it rigth off roller are not bullet poof if you over rev a hyd cam you can break the tie bar and bust stuff up or bend valve s and if you run a big cam and not check stuff like springs or lifters for wear them you will get what you ask for i have a customer like taking has 427 to 7500+ all the time and never checks any thing but oil i told him to check stuff so every 4 or so years i re build his 427

Wouldn't it be less expensive to start with a roller block in the first place. Chevy small blocks had one piece rear main and roller cams by 1987/88 in automobiles and trucks a little later I believe. That's what I'm starting with next time.

Originally Posted by techinspector1

Wouldn't it be less expensive to start with a roller block in the first place. Chevy small blocks had one piece rear main and roller cams by 1987/88 in automobiles and trucks a little later I believe. That's what I'm starting with next time.

yes that is the block i look for some were not roller cam engines but the towers in the valley for the spider if you have a old block lifters are 2 x times the cost but still not bad if you have a engine done you can shop around and get a better deal on parts then jeg /summit