i dont really want to buy retro roller. ok heres the situation. i have 2 blocks. 1 rollers block which is bad. and 1 non roller block which is good. is there anyway that i can take the roller cam + lifters and move them over to the non roller block? if so whats involved? id really like to convert over to roller cam.

 

There is no way to use an OEM roller setup on an early block.
1. Thrust plate bosses are not cast into older blocks.
2. The lifter bores must be taller and machined to accept the lifter guides.
3. The lifter valley must have 3 bosses in the center to accept the sheet metal "spider" that holds the lifter guides.

One thing that I have heard of is people cutting the OE thrust plate ears off so that it takes up the lip in the front of the cam. Then they use a cam thrust button and a standard timing set as a way of controlling foward movement. The only other things you would need is after market roller lifters and push rods to match.
This seems almost like retrofitting the whole cam lifter setup but it does allow you to keep the roller cam you already have.