[Importtech]

Helping a buddy put together a 350 sbc circle track engine using 882 iron heads.. He has an 87-95 1 piece crank and roller block and rules mandat that we use a flat tappet cam. The block is drilled for a mechanical fuel pump so we are good there. Im alittle unclear on a couple of things... Do we use a timing set for a 2 piece block, what timing cover early or late? I know we need to use a late flex plate, what about the balancer early late? Anything else I need to know? thanks in advance

 

[Nightmare]

The factory roller blocks put in trucks almost always have flat tappet cams.

You use the regular SBC timing set, just like would have been used before '88. In '87 they had a one-piece rear seal and no roller cams, so the one piece seal is not of importance here.

Use whatever you want for a timing cover. Your late one would be fine.

For the balancer use whatever you want, these weren't unique to the engine.

Basically all you are doing is just eliminating the cam retainer plate, dropping on a standard timing chain of your choice, and throwing in a good old fashion flat tappet cam. There isn't really much magic going on here, or anything the factory didn't do themselves.

 

[Importtech]

Hey thanks for the response... That certainly sounds easy enough and was what I was hoping for. That also goes along with what mortec says about this casting number 14093638 1 piece for roller or flat tappet cams. For some reason I had it in my mind that the one-piece engines were external balance and that their might be some time of clearance issue with the timing set, cam walk etc. I wouldn't mind finding one of these blocks myself since it will go either way. thanks again!

 

[Importtech]

Wanted to bring this back up.... I'm still unclear as to what I use on the flexplate, and balancer. I keep reading that the 1 piece rear main seal cranks were externally balanced.... This is the stock factory crank that came in this 87-95 block which accomidates either a roller or flat tappet cam. All the 1 piece rear main flexplates i keep seeing say external balance. What do I do regarding the balancer and and flexplate. I want to get this right as it is not my engine and I don't want to buy it Please clear this up for me.. thanks in advance!

 

[BillK]

Jack,
You have to use a flywheel or flexplate that is made for the one pc crank. It will have a weight on it, similar to the 400 small blocks, but not the same. The reason for this is the fact that when they started making the one pc seal crankshafts, they had to do away with the "oblong" shaped crankshaft flange, which was actually a counterweight of sorts to help balance the crankshaft assembly. Otherwise, all of the above information is correct.

 

[Importtech]

thanks Bill I appreciate it! :thumbsup: