I've been thinking about a hydraulic roller for my 327 but the cost of the retrofit rollers is rediculous. Based upon what I can see from the machining, theres no reason that they should cost that much. But anyway, can the stock roller lifters from a vortec style block be used in the older flat tappet style blocks? I know that I will need a cam button and bronze distributor gear as well. I can get a set of good stock rollers for cheap.

Clyde

(you might want to edit your title to include the word "roller", makes a huge difference.)

I don't think so. I think the lifter bores on the roller blocks were taller than the flat tappet block bores.

In other words, there's a longer distance from the center of the camshaft to the "deck" of the lifter bore.

And the roller blocks also had a "spider" that held the lifters down and prevented them from side to side movement or spinning, one or the other, I'm not sure which. Or I might be wrong. But for sure there is the "spider" hold down, my 305 roller block has it.

I bet it would cost more to make the stock block work that it would to buy the retrofits or a roller block.

Clyde,
The stock roller lifters are taller than the normal lifters. The oil hole is up much higher and it is uncovered when the valve opens and you loose oil pressure. Ask me how I know :rolleyes:

Well i guess that puts that to bed. Bill, It sounds like you learned the hard way. But as you probably well know, our failures make us stronger. The good thing about our TC club is we get the benefits of others failures and we all get smarter in the process. This club has been great and I have learned so much.

Thanks everyone!

Clyde

You can do it, but it uses a hydraulic roller from a smaller engine. You have to machine the tops of the lifter bores perfectly flat for the dogbones or they'll bind. Also have to drill for the spider. By the time you get all the machine work done and paid for, you could have premium aftermarket tie-bar pieces. If you have the machine tools to do it and can do it your self, it would be more than worth it. Main reason for that is that the lifters that work are very light and would probably rev quite a bit higher than stock or aftermarkets.

Clyde,
Fortunately it was an engine I built for my own truck, and not a customers. Took me almost a week to figure out why the thing did not have good oil pressure !

I believe the roller lifters from the 3100/3400 V6 are the lifters to use.

Steve