i've researched this and want to clarify this in my mind. all i need to install a roller cam in my 400 is the cam button to keep the cam from walking forward? and the retrofit lifters and custom pushrods?do i need that retaining plate on the front of my block?

 

no retaining plate, just a button. And either get rid of the stamped steel cover (if you have one) or get a water pump with an adjustable cam stop.

 

The Milidon reenforced timing cover is really nice and only about $30-some bucks through Summit. It is built from much thicker steel than a factory one right from the start and has an additional plate of steel welded to the inside of it to absorb and spread the load from the button.

HTH

 

You will need a cam button, crane has one for about 10 bucks, you will also need the bronze spacer that goes between the cam and the block. you will have to use a retro fit roller cam and will require different pushrods. Thats why i did with my 406. Oh and you have to get a melonized distributer gear from GM.

 

with a billet cam you'd need a bronze distributor gear, not sure what a mellonized gear is, it may work. see it posted here a lot but never used one. the push rods aren't really custom, unless you need a odd length, you should be able to buy them from stock, just not stock length

 

you have to use a melonized gear when you are using a steel cam, thats what comp cams retro fit cams are. A bronze gear won't last a month on a steel cam. And you have to buy new pushrods, the best thing to do is to get an adjustable pushrod length checker. Comp cams recomended a 7.3 length pushrod for my application, and then i had .100 longer valves, so i was assuming a 7.4 inch pushrod, well i got a checker and i ended up needing a 7.2in instead. if you don't get the right lenth you will wipe out the valve guides.

 

Check this thread, its almost the same click here

 

Here's a good link with some stuff others might not have mentioned.

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...ler/index.html

I suggest an aluminum timing cover. They can be had all day from eBay for about $30. Like this.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33625