Can anybody tell me what years Ford made a 351W roller engine and what vehicles they were put in? Is it a 351 HO?

 

It is my understanding that a lot of the 96 f250 351's had the actuall roller cam. However there were many block that were roller compatible such as the gen1 lightning (around 93/94 351w blocks and up) which means you can use a roller setup but actually it cam from the factory with a flat tappet cam. The block either way will have F4TE stamped on it. Good luck. Also heard that the roller retrofits available work as well just cost a little more and you don't have to rely on the factory spider for dependability. You might take that into consideration as the actual strength of the roller block isn't superior to the non roller block. Good luck with your search someone will be along shortly with specific years but the one I gave, was a good place to start, later

 

It’s not the strength I’m looking at it’s the ability to use a roller cam for a more radical profile for less. What makes the block roller capable?

 

The lifter bores in the roller block are taller as opposed to the shorter ones in the non roller.

You have a couple of ways to skin this cat, so to speak.

Roller block F4TE. If it already has a roller cam then any old roller cam of your choice would work. The easiest way by far. Or aquire a roller block F4TE that has a flat tappet cam installed. YOu can take the spider retainer, H-bars and lifters out of a 5.0 HO and either use the 5.0 HO cam or install a grind of your choice in your 351. ONe way to tell the difference might be the gear on the distributor as roller require brass and non roller use steel gears. Another option, take the intake off and look for a spider retainer. Pretty easy.

Non roller block. You can drill and tap holes to accept the 5.0 spider retainer, H-bars and rollers lifters from a 5.0, but you will need to use a reduced base circle cam. Another easy option for a non roller block is special lifters from crane that do not require machining of any kind you simply drop the lifters in as usual. They have bars connecting them so there is no need for a spider retainer. You can also use any of the shelf roller cam. All the ford "alphabet" cams etc.. You will need to install a brass gear on your distributor. Hope this helps some

 

new to engine mods, what exactly is a roller cam? and is it somethign that you only do if you want to build up your engine or is it just one of those things that is good all around? thanks

 

On a roller setup the lifters have roller tips where they contact the camshaft which basically causes less friction. Most vehicles today are using them.

 

Trucky18

Flat tappet is fine but roller allows for a more radical profile, a smoother idle and overall performs better, but not required at all to make decent hp. Good luck

 

so were all the 351w's non-roller? and is it hard to change over?

 

All were non roller up to 93 1/2 model year blocks which became roller compatible. The blocks that are compatible or existing roller are identified by F4TE. later

 

So there was actually a factory produced 351W with a roller cam in it!

 

 

They also if I am not mistaken put out some old style 3/4tons+ in 1997 so if there is a 5.8 in a 97 then it probably has the roller cam as well. It's what I have been told so don't hold me too it. Good luck

 

so would there be any way to tell if i have rollers other than takin ***** apart?

 

Maybe it has the tall type valve covers like the 5.0 HO does. Just a thought!

 

Start first by determining that there is F4TE stamped on the block, look near your starter. Later