86 sports coupe

Im pretty sure i know the answer to this( but my brother always knows more according to him). I dropped off a late model trk 350 4 bolt 1 piece rear seal.The engine from the factory has bosses on the top (not drilled) it is machined for the little aluminum pieces that go around a factory roller lifter.
i have been told 3 times that this trk block is not set up for a factory roller cam.I was told that it wasnt machined for4 the aluminum roller lifter retainers.Then i was told your right.Then i get a phone call today from my brother informing me that you dont have a roller block(The front cam area has a pad machined for a cam thrust plate not tapped)He said a person at his shop is rebuilding an lt1 and that the lifter bores on my engine arent tall inough for the factory hydraulic lifters.Please tell me who is right! thank you for your time

Acidtalons

what is the casting number on the back of the block?

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Here's a good picture of one that has been machined for the roller lifters https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=212936 .

Compare yours to it (the machine shop probably has one, too).

I'm not sure I've heard of anyone who turned an unmachined truck block into a factory roller-ready block. I've heard people say you can do it, but nobody that has.

Hmmmm, wonder if the factory made truck engines out of their casting blems...

86 sports coupe

Where is the casting # again? Im use to the old blocks. it says gm 5.7L can make out the other little numbers it looks like a little tag that is casted in the block. on the front pad reads as follows
V0213FHF any ideas? Like i said im use to the old blocks.

Acidtalons

take some brake cleaner and spray it on the little casted pad that is opposite the 5.7 liter. That is the casting number.

86 sports coupe

I shouldnt have to use cleaner the block has been burnt shot peened and mag. I looked and there is to much casting flash to make out the numbers on the pass side of the block. Right next to the GM 5.7 LG is the numbers b117.
I did find out that the newer LT1 uses a different lifter. thats all the info i have like i said it has all the provisions for a roller cam set up as far as i can see. My brother was saying that inside the lifter bore wasnt high inough for the taller roller lifter. I think he is wrong my block looks like the 1 in the pic.

Acidtalons

look for the casting pad right here. With this number you can look up the make of the block online and end any further dispute.

The pad is attached after the block is cast so there shouldn't be any casting flash, it may be dirty but its there.

As far as not using cleaner, i'm not sure what any of that stuff has to do with using cleaner on the block. its a solvent on iron, it shouldn't hurt it.


check the number here
http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm

86 sports coupe

I think im wrong the last engine photo, my engine is exact exept if you look at the lifter bore it goes all they way up, mine hamgs down a 1/4 of an inch or so.Im told that the oil wont flow right Im about to cry oh well thats what our hobbeys about sometimes you have diapointments like this. Thanks, i couldnt make out the casting # to much casting flash.

86 sports coupe

ok ill take a wire brush to it maybe i might make something out, any ideas on the lifter bore itself? Like i said mine looks just like it exept the lifter bore how much to bush them? start with another block?The short block was free, it sat outside for 1 yr with no heads on it, so all i have is labor(2 weeks to get it apart soaking it with pb blaster, trainy fluid ect. Thanks that is a good photo i was hoping mine would look like that if the lifters will work.

jmd

iTrader: (4)

1987-02 Gen I & Gen II roller lifters will fit any 87-up Gen I or II block.

If you have a one piece rear main seal, but the lifter valley is setup like an "older" SBC (i.e. not flat machined on top of lifter bores,) then it's an 86 block. Period.

The lifter valley spider and figure-8 retainers from an 87 Formula 350 will fit a 1996 Caprice will fit a 2002 5.7L GMC van.

Damon

If the block's got the "towers" cast into the lifter valley to take the "spider" that retains the factory roller lifters then it will take a set of factory roller lifters in the lifter bores. I have taken apart a few 87-up 350 boat engines and they all came with flat tappet cams just like your truck engine did. The flat tappet lifters look a little funny sitting way down in those extra-deep roller lifter bores (vs. roller lifters that sit level with the tops of those same lifter bores) but they work. They factory apparently used the same basic block but just performed a few less machining operations on the boat/truck motors since they only used a flat tappet cam.

Doesn't surprise me that the pad for the retaining plate isn't drilled and tapped either- wouldn't need on of those with a flat tappet cam either. I think you should be able to drill and tap for the retaining plate as well, kinda like you would have to for the lifter spider.

As for the oil passages in the lifter bores being different depending on whether it's a roller cam or flat tappet... I don't think so. I think the oil feed hole is large enough it will line up with the lifter oil groove regardless of whether it's a short (flat tappet) or tall (roller) lifter. I would go do a compare-and-contrast on 86-down and 87-up with engines I have out back but it's freezing outside and there's 6" of snow on the ground right now.