I have a 93 L98 motor out of a truck, i just got all the stuff to change it over to roller cam, except the retainer plate that comp sent me does not fit the holes machined in the block for the plate, on the block the holes are closer togather than the holes on the plate, I could just drill the holes but that would suck... the screws they sent me fit the holes just they dont line up... is there more than 1 plate? Thanks in advance for any help.

edit: and I read that if that plate is there I dont need a cam button and lock plate, which would be good... summit said that I would need them for a roller cam but the lock plate fits the bolt patern for a hydrialic cam I just took out... ???

 

Yes there are two. Go to a GM dealer and tell them the casting number on your block and they will get you the right one.

 

so is it true that I dont need both... or do i still need a cam button?

 

You don't need both a retainer and a cam button.

Just make sure the cam you're going to use has the outter lip ground out.

 

any one got the time to look up what the 2 different gm part #'s are for this retainer plate... compcams has no idea that 2 even exist and gm dealers want to know an application, obviously going by application is not going to get me anywhere cause this motor is out of a truck and never used a retainer plate.

 

'96 and up use the narrow bolt pattern.

 

OK im not followin that at all... how did my 93 block get a 96 pattern cast into it if it is a 96 pattern?

 

here is the plate...

 

here is the cam plate holes

 

What's the casting number on block?

 

I'd wonder about the block too...I don't think the L98 was available in '93, and not in a Truck for sure.... although 350's were available.

 

14093638... acroring to mortec.com.... 14093638...350...87-95...2 or 4 bolt main...Roller or flat tappet cam, one-piece rear seal

 

That's the block I have.

Give me a second and I'll get the GM part number for you.

GM (AC Delco) Part # 10088128

http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...=1004&pid=8358

10168501 is the smaller bolt pattern. You may have that one (the one that won't fit).

If it helps, the one I have has "GM" stamped on one side and the letter "P" on the other.

Just so you know, you can get it a little cheaper at www.gmpartsdirect.com

 

YES... mine (the block) is the one with the closer bolt patern, and you are saying that yours (the block) is the wider patarn, yet the same casting numbers on the block... WTF GM ... the plate i got now has GM on one side and a P on the other side too... it dont fit... im confused.... THANKS THO :hail:

 

I may have the retainer plate you need...I had a late 80's TBI 350 from a Suburban that was rebuilt and the guy had it converted to factory roller setup...I sold the lifters, retainers, etc...but pretty sure I have the plate and stuff, send me the hole dimensions...just measure from inside of one to outside of the other, and I;ll compare to what i have...if it's what you need, just pay for the shippuing and it's yours.

 

I need a retainer plate that is 3.294"... thats by default since I dern well know the plate that is 3.62 does not fit :lala: = me (goin crazy)

 

That's very possible.

I have a suspicion that someone had those holes drilled and tapped, and just happened to use what they had laying around for a guide.

The only reason I think that is the #638 block was known to come with all the bosses for the roller cam setup, yet no holes were drilled and tapped.

I got lucky with mine. Even though it came from a '90 3/4 ton, all the holes were there.

 

well... after all that waiting... here it is... the one I need has a B on it with GM... the one I dont need has the P on it... here's the pic... I figured out the problem... my block is a type 2 cast???!!! whatever that is... this the only difference I have found with in the last 2 years... well, so far.

 

Gee that sucks..I have a 1990 638 block too and the retainer I used is the GM/P one that came out of my L98. BTW you mean L05 out of a truck since I know that GM never put an L98 in a truck much less in 93. Besides you are having to change it over to a roller setup then it is NOT an L98 since they all had the roller cam since 87.

 

yeah that was a typo... was thinkin of another motor i was workin on the other day.

 

Maybe "2nd cast" means it was cast after the bolt pattern change?

Which obviously wouldn't have any affect on the spread of the bolt holes, but it could mean that they used the guides/templates for the closer bolt pattern since they had them conveniently laying nearby.