Does anyone have a set of Retro fit SBC roller lifters?

victor3ranger · 10-30-2009, 07:39 PM

I am wanting to swap my setup over to hydro roller but I need a set of retro fit roller lifters to use in my non-roller block, the ones with the tie-bars.
I can't afford to buy all new to make this swap happen so I was hoping that someone might have a used set laying around they would want to sell.
I know this is a long shot but I figured I would try.

ZONES89RS · 10-31-2009, 04:02 AM

Man, most people want to sell the good ones that are 4-500 a set and they go for 2-300 used. Get the cheap set for 250-300 used if you arent going over 6500 RPM.

victor3ranger · 10-31-2009, 09:59 AM

I am really hoping that I can find a good set used, so far that hasn't been easy.

ZONES89RS · 10-31-2009, 12:57 PM

Yea, it wont be, Ebay is your best bet and since there are so many people looking for a set, the price still goes up too much.

That is why i use the 87 up SBC blocks. They use original equipment roller lifters and they are cheap, i steal them out of LT1s, 305 engines and L98 corvette motors all day. The retainers work forever, so if you got the retainer setup a new set of AC delco lifters are about 100$.

Might want to go that direction if possible.

87silverbullet · 10-31-2009, 03:58 PM

Competition Products carries a retofit set from Howards for 269.95. I know people who have used Howards products and have no issues. Here is the link

http://competitionproducts.com/prodi...p?number=91164

victor3ranger · 10-31-2009, 11:10 PM

ZONES89RS,
I do have one good roller block that is a 4 bolt main 350, but it is just the block, I just don't want to go thru the expense of building a new motor just to use the factory roller stuff, besides if I can retro fit my 406 it will have more HP potential I think.

87Silverbullet,
Thanks for the link, if I can't find a used set then I will have to save up the money to get some of those.

Do either of you know what all I will need for setting up the roller cam? I know that I will need a roller bushing, thick timing cover. Will I need to use some sort of shim or thrust washer to set up the end play of the cam??

Razor · 11-01-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Do either of you know what all I will need for setting up the roller cam? I know that I will need a roller bushing, thick timing cover. Will I need to use some sort of shim or thrust washer to set up the end play of the cam??

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...cam/index.html

SoxXpupPeT · 11-01-2009, 08:43 AM

why not just drill the block to fit the retainer ?

victor3ranger · 11-01-2009, 02:57 PM

I didn't know that could actually be done.

I also thought that the lifter bore area were higher than the roller blocks.

87silverbullet · 11-01-2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxXpupPeT

why not just drill the block to fit the retainer ?

His block would have to be the block with the 3 nubs sticking up in the lifter valley to use the factory roller set up found in 1 pc rear main seal blocks.

ZONES89RS · 11-01-2009, 07:30 PM

No, you can actually make the stock OE roller stuff work on any older small block. Just still need to use a cam button and thrust plate.

victor3ranger · 11-01-2009, 08:20 PM

Thats what I was thinking Zone, that I couldn't use any of the factory stuff.

87silverbullet · 11-01-2009, 09:43 PM

Never knew that. How do you mount the spider piece?

ZONES89RS · 11-02-2009, 03:07 AM

Just requires some drilling and tapping. I would have a machine shop do it, but you can do it yourself if you are confident enough.

victor3ranger · 11-02-2009, 05:59 PM

Zone, I thought there were some other differences in the top of the lifter bores, I thought that the factory roller ones were milled down further so the dogbone retainers would fit flat and keep the lifters from coming out of the dogbones?? Am I wrong??

brokenbird · 11-02-2009, 11:01 PM

you can do it you will have to drill some holes for the lifter tray and grind on them to clear the block but it can work since i did it in a .060 400 sbc

ZONES89RS · 11-03-2009, 12:30 AM

Exactly.

victor3ranger · 11-03-2009, 12:33 PM

Hmmmm, so the dogbone lifter retainers will work in a old non roller block without any mods?? Other than drilling and taping for the spider tray??

ZONES89RS · 11-03-2009, 12:51 PM

Well, some grinding needs to be done for the dog bone too.

Oldsmobility85 · 11-03-2009, 09:50 PM

If you have pictures of that 406 block converted to fit factory hydraulic roller lifters and retainers I sure would like to see them. Thats very interesting.