Hey guys, my car has a 305 TBI in it right now and it is giving me that valve seal smoke. Only it is not at startup anymore it's whenever I hit the gas. So I was going to look into a 350 TBI setup. I was wondering which 350 motors came with the roller cam and lifters like my 305 has. I like that setup and would like to keep it. The only engines I know that came with it are the one's in the fbodies. Are there any others? Thanks in advance for any info you can give.

 

For blocks, any '87-up 350 block will do.
For lifters, any '87-up 4.3, any '87-up car 305, including Caprice, any '87-up 'vette, any '87-up F-car, any '96-up pickup. You can also use LTx and / or LSx lifters. They were carried over unchanged.
But since you already have a set in your 305, you can just transfer those over.

 

just keep in mind that if you change cams, you want new lifters. never wanna use used lifters with a new cam...

 

I was always told that you could re-use roller lifters. Are you sure you can't reuse them?

 

rollers yea, i still had flat tappet stuck in my head...its still early

 

Thanks guys for the help. I was under the impression though that the truck motors that set of years had standard flat tappet cams and lifters. At least the ones I've found in the local junk yards have. Perhaps I am reading the VIN's wrong. If memory serves I can't put a roller cam into a non roller cam block can I?

 

you can put a roller in a non roller block, but it requires retro fit roller lifters....which are WAY expensive.

 

All of the '87-up blocks will accept the stock roller lifters from your 305.
None of the '87-'95 SBC trucks came with roller lifters.
It doesn't matter.
You already have a set of roller lifters, which all of the '87-up blocks are machined for.
Buy the non-roller 350 from any '87-up pickup, then remove and discard the stock cam and lifters.
Next, install the hydraulic roller cam of your choice, and install your 305 hydraulic roller lifters.
At that point, you have a roller 350.

 

are the 305 lifters the ones with the bar connecting the pair?

 

No, those are retros. Stock lifters use the "dogbones"

 

Ok cool. Just to be sure though...My block has the 'dogbones' that connect the lifters but it also has a bolt in metal retaining plate. The truck blocks, to my knowledge, are not cast with the bolt holes for this retaining plate. But I could be wrong.

 

How did you become such a doubting Thomas?
Look, you have to pull the intake manifold anyway, to be sure there are no cracks in the lifter valley. At the same time, you'll see if the provisions are there.
Those blocks came from at least 2 different foundries, one of which was in Canada. I've seen one, but couldn't disassemble it.
Back to the American blocks: Even the '86 blocks had the spider bosses. They weren't drilled and tapped, but they were there.
I have seen where a Rebuilder was using older 350s for LO5 replacements, and you may find that. It makes some sense, since LO5s didn't need rollers.
How was the foundry supposed to know which 4-bolt blocks were destined for 'vettes, and which for 1-tons? How were they supposed to know which 2-bolt blocks were going in Camaros, and which for 1/2-tons?
You now have all the correct info you need, please switch from typing to wrenching.

 

OK cool. I'll keep my eyes open for the blocks specified. Thanks for all the help.