i am planning on building a carb. engine and throwing it in place of my 305 tbi

roller or non-roller block? that is the question

keep in mind
low price
simplcity
still want power (prob. 350-400 hp)

 

The answer is simple, actually.

"Yes".

Doesn't matter which way you go. Roller is the "latest", and unless the engine has been severely neglected you can reuse roller lifters. However, a new camshaft with be 2-3x the cost of a new flat tappet cam & lifter set. Some money can be saved by finding a factory/crate take-off roller cam such as ZZ4 or LT1/4, since, like the lifters, roller cams can be re-used.

Find a 350 core that is rebuildable. Put the right parts for that type of engine in it, chosen for your intended use, and you will achieve your goals.

Of course, "power" and "low price" don't belong in the same sentence. You can go for "power" and "least possible cost", however.

 

thnaks i kinda figured that but wanted to ask anyway