http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...2175&pid=89538

i was looking at this setup and was wondering if it would be a good buy, everyone says vortec heads are great, i know they are, but why hydraulic roller and what is that? these heads are upgraded with better rated springs for higher lift cams, so i think the already upgraded heads are great. and im going to get the intake to so what im wondering is why the roller i guess? and this is a street car so would i need it to sustain this much lift?

basically whats the difference between roller and hydraulic roller, and flat tappet? the rockers?

 

I have the same heads and the Hotcam, but I went with the Performer intake(doing a TPI to carb swap) Looks like a sound street combo to me, but I'm a rookie at this stuff!

 

There are self-adjusting tappets (hydraulic), and those you have to adjust the lash (mechanical). The way the tappet interfaces with the cam can be roller or flat (there's another variation of flat called mushroom).

There are flat-tappet mechanical, flat-tappet hydraulic, roller mechanical, and roller hydraulic. In addition, "factory" roller and "retrofit" roller (roller lifters in an older, non-roller block).

You cannot mix roller lifter cams with flat tappets, and vice versa.

The rocker arms in the kit are self-aligning (required with Vortec heads). They are not roller-type.

FWIW, I am using those springs and retainers on my 305. It has rev'd to 6300 RPM numerous times with no float.

 

I dont think buying new vortecs is the best thing to do. Save up your money for a little bit longer and buy some good aftermarket heads. The best thing about vortecs in my opinion is they can be found cheap and perform well with no modifcations. Once you take away the cheap factor they lose their appeal to me. Afterall they are just GM truck heads.

 

Hey five7,
Would you honestly reccomend those Z/28 springs that SD listed for a roller cam? I always thought those were a little small at 1.25". I have the H-11 springs in mine with the cam below. I have been worried from day one that they were to weak for a heavy setup such as a hyd. roller. I was about ready to buy some 1.46" springs, and the appropriate cutter to make them fit. What do you think?