Still planning my mods on my 91' truck (forgive me for the intrusion). I am trying to clear up one item.
I would like to install a roller Cam when I rebuild the thing. I hear that my engine is roller Cam compatable. I assume that means a roller Cam can be installed with no machine work to the block. Is that correct? Am I restricted to certain roller lifters? Is this as simple as installing new valve train componants or am I missing something?

 

You are correct that your block will take a roller cam. I would stick with a GM roller cam and lifters just because...

Doesn't sound like you've missed anything to me.

 

For an OEM roller setup, you are going to need the roller cam hardware... this includes the lifter retainer hardware, the cam retainer and a new timing chain for a roller cam. All this stuff can can be used from a donor motor. Your block is already machined for this roller hardware.

The other option is to go with an aftermarket roller setup. The lifters in this case use a bar to link them together so they dont rotate. This eliminates the need for the OEM stlye lifter retainer system and does not require a specially machined cylinder block. The aftermarket cams that are not designed for an original roller motor dont use a cam retainer like the OEM setups, they require a cam button in the timing cover to keep them from walking forward. These aftermarket cams use a standard timing chain.

 

I also have a blown burb.....what year is yours? It might be a good idea to save email addresses as I dont know of many other people with this "setup". Could you tell me what youve done to yours and how well it runs. I blew the 700R4 the first time out and havent installed the headers yet but man this thing is crazy.

thanks , Nick

 

Just food for thought...I had an 89 pickup 5.7 and when I took it apart I found that while it had the provisions for the roller cam it did not have a the machine work done to it. The bosses for the spider tray were not tapped so I did not bother to check anything else. A couple of years later I took aprt a 90 truck 5.7 and it was machined for the roller cam so maybe they decided to do them all after that.

 

Thanks everyone. Great info.

Vortecfcar.
I have a 91' 4WD. With me in it it weighs in at 6000lbs. It's had a Whipple on it for 110K miles now. Only other mods are headers and Transgo kit.
It's not fast but at least it gets out of its own way since the Whipple install. I did manage to break the wimpy 10 bolt.
My tranny has held up well until a month ago and I attribute the durability to the Trango kit and not having as much torque as you.
The tranny is showing signs of wear. Under hard throttle it is gliding into third now rather than a firm shift.
The 700R has limitations but it can be built relatively stout. There are a few builder out there who can do it right. Sounds like a good search or post under transmissions is in order.

You can reach me at d.savage@worldnet .att.net

 

I bought the complete LT1 cam and valve train on ebay for around $100. Came with the spider cradle, lifters, pushrods, rocker arms, valve springs. Worked great in my 92 GMC truck with the 350 TBI.

Some parts info I pulled from this board may also come in handy for you.

GMPP P/N 12371043 = timing chain/gears and roller cam retaining plate kit (1st and 2nd design plates!)
GMPP P/N 12371042 = 2nd design (higher ball preload) roller lifters (16) with (8) lifter aligners and (1) spider hold-down and (3) spider attaching bolts/washers.
GMPP P/N 10456413 = bronze HEI (large-cap, non-computer controlled internal-coil HEI) gear for use with steel roller camshaft.