74' 351w block to roller question
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74' 351w block to roller question
Ok this might be the stupid question of the day but I have no way of measuring right now since my block is at the machine shop so...............
I have a 1974 351w block that I want to run a roller cam in. Can I retrofit a low mileage used 302 setup with "spider" plate in it? If so--Just drill two holes and tap them and bolt it down? Will it sit the right heighth or does it need to be shimmed to a certain heighth? Is there any other modifications that need to be done to get a roller cam in this block. Basically gimme a how to on the subject, pleeeeeeeease.
If it won't fit what do I watch for when buying lifters?
Thanks guys.
I have a 1974 351w block that I want to run a roller cam in. Can I retrofit a low mileage used 302 setup with "spider" plate in it? If so--Just drill two holes and tap them and bolt it down? Will it sit the right heighth or does it need to be shimmed to a certain heighth? Is there any other modifications that need to be done to get a roller cam in this block. Basically gimme a how to on the subject, pleeeeeeeease.
If it won't fit what do I watch for when buying lifters?
Thanks guys.
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74' 351w block to roller question
there are to differnt roller type cams, one is for motors that never had a roller cam and the other is for a motor that came or was factory machine for a roller, the diferenc is in the oil passenges. make shure you buy the right cam kit, as far as the intake im not shure what you asking but a 302 intake will not bolt on a 351. hope this helps DW
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74' 351w block to roller question
Ummm I didn't mention anything about an intake. I was talking about the tin spider plate. Was just wondering if maybe there was some molded bosses in the factory blocks or anything that might make it sit in a different position then if you drilled holes in an old style block yourself.
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74' 351w block to roller question
I thought you were were talking bout a (spider) intake, duh! are you talking bout using tha cam and lifters out of the 302? if there the factory roller cam and lifters then to the best of my knowlege you cant put them in the 74' block. DW
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74' 351w block to roller question
as ive tried to explain if the cam and lifters in question are factory FOMOCO parts then no it wont work, generaly speaking 302 and 351 cams are interchangeable, but the factory roller block have different oil pasenges because the lifters are diferent, this is acording to CompCams. my understanding is it takes a different set up if its not a factory roller block, and a 74' is not. DW
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74' 351w block to roller question
hey, this is what I'm doing to my old 66 289. I got a conversion kit from competition cams which consists of a spider plate and two screws to hold it down and bone-shaped lifter links. It looks like a stock setup from a 5.0 to me. You can convert a non-roller block to a roller block, but you need: 1) the spider kit, 2) a reduced base-circle cam. competition cams sells these as well. 3)You must drill and tap your block to accept the spider hold down screws.
I may be wrong, but it looks to me like you could use all of the stuff off of a stock roller block except the cam. Don't forget about the distributor gear. Cast iron won't work.
I may be wrong, but it looks to me like you could use all of the stuff off of a stock roller block except the cam. Don't forget about the distributor gear. Cast iron won't work.
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74' 351w block to roller question
what part of these post are you not reading? they make retro roller kits for older blocks, but you cant make a older block into a roller block, the oil pasenges in the block are different, ther fore the lifters in the retro kits are differnt so they will have proper lubrication in the older block, this is PER COMP CAMS! call them and ask them. DW
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74' 351w block to roller question
The basic steps to retro-fit a roller cam are well documented.
The main part is a reduced-base-circle cam. Crane sells one that's a pretty good piece. Just right for a carbed engine on the street.
You need the spider, H-bars and rollers from a 5.0 HO roller cam motor - 1985-up.
Oh, you need to to a little fabricating. Use the spider to locate some holes for a Red-Head or similar jam-fit nut and bolt system. The holes get drilled into the bottom of the lifter valley. When you do this watch for interference between the cam and the end of the bolt. You may have to cut the end of the bolt off.
You need to swap out the gear on the distributor for one what will work with the steel cam. Crane can help with that. You need to make provisions for a thrust plate under the timing cover.
You need valve springs that are compatible and a screw-in or bolt-down rocker setup. The pressed-stud style rocker assembly used on early Ford small-blocks will likely pull a stud when you use those heavier springs.
Pushrods to match and, presto, you've got a 5.8 with huge torque. I have an 86 Mustang GT and it has very nice low RPM torque.
The main part is a reduced-base-circle cam. Crane sells one that's a pretty good piece. Just right for a carbed engine on the street.
You need the spider, H-bars and rollers from a 5.0 HO roller cam motor - 1985-up.
Oh, you need to to a little fabricating. Use the spider to locate some holes for a Red-Head or similar jam-fit nut and bolt system. The holes get drilled into the bottom of the lifter valley. When you do this watch for interference between the cam and the end of the bolt. You may have to cut the end of the bolt off.
You need to swap out the gear on the distributor for one what will work with the steel cam. Crane can help with that. You need to make provisions for a thrust plate under the timing cover.
You need valve springs that are compatible and a screw-in or bolt-down rocker setup. The pressed-stud style rocker assembly used on early Ford small-blocks will likely pull a stud when you use those heavier springs.
Pushrods to match and, presto, you've got a 5.8 with huge torque. I have an 86 Mustang GT and it has very nice low RPM torque.
Last edited by pcmenten; Sep 7, 2003 at 02:03 PM.
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74' 351w block to roller question
Hey DW, what part of roller cam conversions have you not been reading? True, the oil passages in 5.0 blocks are different, the lifter bores are taller too. When putting a conversion roller cam in a non-roller block, the smaller base circle cam allows the stock 5.0 roller lifter to sit lower in the lifter bore thus aligning the oil passages of the roller lifter to the oil passages in the older block, effectively causing the older block to function exactly like a roller block. There are no 'special lifters' in this kit. I know because I bought one. The kit was designed to be used with the stock-type roller lifters (as long as open spring pressures are less than 350 lbs). This is PER COMP CAMS, and I did call and talk to then about this conversion twice before I bought their kit.
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74' 351w block to roller question
yes exactly but it was mentioned earlier about using stock cam and lifters from a roller motor, to best of my knowlege you cant do that, IMOP its better to just buy a cam and roller kit for the older motor, roller's are not new, roller cams have been around long before they were ever factory parts, but maybe i misunderstood somthing, but you cant just make a non roller block into a roller block, was my point. ?? now im confused! DW
DW
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