[TGSXR]

Hi, I have a quick question for you SBC guru's. I've searched through all of the old posts and haven't found the answer to my question.

How can I tell if my 350 is made for a hydraulic roller cam? (without dismantling the engine if possible?)

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and let me know if more info is needed.

Thank you,

Tyler

 

[NXS]

You are pretty much going to have to pull the VCs or intake...but if you tell me the year maybe...

 

[454me]

I dont quite understand what your asking. If you want to know if you have a roller cam in it with out removing the intake, You can remove a valve cover and run the engine. If its a roller cam the push rod wont spin. If it just a regular cam they will spin. Check several of them because you could have some that wont spin due to a lifter worn so that it cant spin. At least thats my story.

Gary

 

[strikingthematch]

As far as I know if you look down the dis. hole you will see a spyder which holds the lifters in place. Thats not on all blocks but on some I don't know the exact years. Other then that the lifters on later blocks have a flat side on part of the lifter that holds them in place so they can't turn in their bores you might be able to see this on the back lifters in the block. What would be really easy would be to take the mani. off and check.


Chris

 

[TGSXR]

I dont quite understand what your asking. If you want to know if you have a roller cam in it with out removing the intake, You can remove a valve cover and run the engine. If its a roller cam the push rod wont spin. If it just a regular cam they will spin. Check several of them because you could have some that wont spin due to a lifter worn so that it cant spin. At least thats my story.

Gary

Thanks for the replies guys,

I will find out what year the block is, I dont have the info handy.

I just want to know if I can put a hydraulic roller cam into this motor.

I DO know that motor has '68 307 heads, intake and 2bbl carb. Does that help?

Thanks,
Tyler

 

[NXS]

9 outta 10 says no factory roller cam but you can retro fit a Comp or other brand.

 

[TGSXR]

What would be involved in the retrofit process?

 

[NXS]

$$$$$

 

[TGSXR]

$$$$$

So in other words, it aint worth it! Thank you very much.

I can pretty much assume that it'll have hydraulic flat tappets then....?

 

[Siggy_Freud]

Worth it if you have the dough. Your looking at a new cam, a set of roller lifters, and then all the gear to make them work in your setup.

Looking at 200+ for the cam, 200+ for the lifters, and probably 150-200 for the retrofit kit.

But if they (car manufacturers) went to a roller cam design and havent since gone back you know something is good about them

 

[TGSXR]

I see the logic, thats forsure. Makes sense, I'm just unsure if the expense is necessary for the application.

Truth is, its not my car, I'm just sourcing info for a brother in law, and he's on a tight budget. He isn't building the 350 for crazy horsepower, he just wants some inproved street performance.

This is getting a bit off topic, but I think he's looking at intake, carb, headers and a cam. Internals other than a cam will be all stock. With these upgrades, in your guys' opinion, is a roller cam/roller lifters worthwhile?

We really appreciate the help and input, thanks a bunch,

Tyler

 

[strikingthematch]

Without the money to reto fit a block i'd have to say no. A roller cam is great it really is and like others have said there is a reason why new engines have them in.
Heck any dyno test will show you what they do. I too am building an engine and have looked at the roller cams. I just can't bring myself to spend that kinda money on them though.

Put it this way I can buy a kit from comp cams for $240 with cam/lifters/timing set and a roller cam will cost over that much just for the cam!
I could then buy over 7 cams at say $80 before before im at the same price as a roller set. Not to metion if you go with a roller you have to buy the full set with cam/resto fit lifters/ spyder/timing set with cam button/ shorter push rods/ springs/ the works.
So in my thinking no without a lot of extra cash just sitting there it's not worth it for a street engine.


Hope that helps

Chris

 

[TGSXR]

Nail in the coffin. Flat tappet it is! Thank you very much for all of the replies.

Tyler

 

[robertg]

350 stock cam

Nail in the coffin. Flat tappet it is! Thank you very much for all of the replies.

Tyler

what are you trying to do with the motor.

 

[TGSXR]

Re: 350 stock cam

what are you trying to do with the motor.

Right now it is a stock 350 in a '68 Chevelle mated with a th350 transmission I believe.

Looking to add a bit more punch to it strictly for the street. Plans include headers, intake, carb, and a cam. Sticking tightly to a small budget.

 

[sbchevfreak]

I think the first SBC (regular production) to have a roller cam was the Vortec V8 castings.

BTW, where in Sask. are you at?

 

[TGSXR]

Saskatoon.